EASTENDERS legends Charlie Brooks and Sid Owen have delighted fans with a surprise reunion outside of Albert Square.
Charlie, best known for her role as the devious Janine Butcher, shared a heartwarming snap of Sid on her Instagram story.
The soap star, who played Charlie’s on-screen brother Ricky Butcher, could be seen cradling her puppy in his jumper.
Charlie captioned the photo: “Uncle Sid’s in charge”.
The unexpected meet-up has sparked excitement among fans of the soap, particularly as both characters have been central to some of the most memorable storylines in EastEnders history.
Neither of them have made an appearance on the BBC show in years and viewers are hoping there is a chance they might come back.
Sid Owen, who first graced Walford in 1988, has had a long history with EastEnders.
The actor left the soap and then returned to it multiple times before his last appearance in 2012.
Earlier this year, hopes for his return were dashed when negotiations reportedly broke down over financial disagreements.
In 2021 a source told the Sun: “Sid was in advanced talks to return to EastEnders earlier this year.
“Bosses thought it was an ideal time for him to go back to Walford as his on-screen sister Janine has been written back in.
“But Sid’s expectations for pay were well out of sync with what the BBC were willing to give him.”
Fans were left disappointed as Ricky Butcher’s return seemed like the perfect opportunity for a great storyline, particularly with Janine back in the Square.
However, Sid has previously indicated that he had no intentions of returning to acting.
He shared that he was much more content with his quieter lifestyle running a restaurant abroad.
In 2012 he told the Sunday Mirror: “I’ve retired. I’m now living permanently in France… I’ll never be back.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Brooks has also taken a step back from TV after her controversial third stint on EastEnders ended in dramatic fashion.
Her character Janine was last seen driving a car off a cliff in a storyline that received mixed reviews from fans.
Since then, Charlie has focused on stage work, including her role as the Childcatcher in a touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
When asked about a potential return to the soap, Charlie has remained noncommittal, saying: “It’s a bit like a home, to be honest.
“I’ve kind of been back a few times, so it’s always really lovely to see everyone.”
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had “quit” the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would “quit out of boredom” over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
