EASTENDERS shocked fans this week by revealing the news Liam Butcher is on his way back to Walford.
The son of Ricky and Bianca will soon arrive back in Walford just weeks after his aunt Janine made her own explosive comeback.
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But what happened to the rest of their family?
Pat, Frank and even Ricky were all huge parts of EastEnders.
So what happened to them after they left the soap and could they return?
Pat Butcher
Played by Pam St Clement for more than 25 years, Pat Butcher is an EastEnders legend.
A former prostitute and a woman who was still slapping anyone who crossed her silly well into her seventies, Pat had some of the biggest storylines in the soap’s history.
So it came as a huge shock to fans in 2012 when she quit the soap.
At the time of her exit she said: "I have enjoyed 25 and a half wonderful years in EastEnders creating the character of Pat but feel it's time to hang up her earrings.
“Leaving the EastEnders 'family' will be akin to a bereavement.
“But I'm looking forward to the other work and life opportunities that I will have the time to pursue."
However she made a shock comeback from beyond the grave in 2016 when a vision of Pat visited dying Peggy Mitchell.
Since leaving she has acted in Casualty and Leonardo as well as making documentaries on cannabis use in America.
Ricky Butcher
Sid Owen joined EastEnders in 1988 as Ricky Butcher.
But it wasn’t until Ricky got with Bianca and a screaming catchphrase was born that he became a true Walford legend.
He played him until 2012 when he decided to leave and move abroad.
In 2016 he appeared in short film Cowboys and Angels.
Sid famously moved to France and lives in a nine bedroom mansion complete with swimming pool.
Recently he was left needing reconstructive surgery being hit by a golf ball while playing on holiday in Thailand.
The TV star had his jaw shattered with several teeth going flying when the ball smashed into his face during a round.
Speaking to The Sun at the time the actor said: "One minute I'm playing a round and the next I’m in total agony and on my way to hospital.
"But actually I've almost been lucky because they've told me if it had hit me two inches higher up I'd probably be dead from that sort of impact."
He was recently in talks to return but they fell through in a row over money – but he has insisted he is open to making a comeback.
Frank Butcher
Mike Reid played Frank Butcher in EastEnders from 1987 for 13 years before taking a break.
He later returned in 2002 and 2005 – most notably for daughter Janine’s murder trial.
Frank seduced ex Pat to get her to change her testimony and help save Janine, who for once hadn’t killed the person she was accused of murdering.
He left having succeeded in his mission, but was devastated when Janine fled without him.
In 2007 actor Mike died and EastEnders took the decision to kill off Frank too.
He died of throat cancer off-screen in France with his ashes being scattered in Walford by Pat.
She had a plaque made for him that stands to this day which reads: "Frank Butcher 1940-2008, Husband, Father, Pilchard".
Diane Butcher
The lesser known Butcher, daughter Diane was barely a blip in the family.
Lasting just three years into her first stint, Diane was axed in 1991 when storylines dried up for her.
Actress Sophie Lawerence made several brief returns in 1993, 1994 and 1997 as the character.
In 2008, Diana returned to Albert Square for her dad Frank's funeral and once again in 2012 for her sister Janine’s wedding.
Since leaving the soap actress Sophie has enjoyed some minor chart success as a popstar with a cover of Donna Summer’s Love’s Unkind.
It went in at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart in 1991.
She later appeared in an episode of Men Behaving Badly.
Liam Butcher
James Forde has ditched acting to become a builder.
Forde played the role of Liam Butcher on EastEnders from 2008-2015.
The troubled teenager struggled at school after being diagnosed with dyslexia.
Liam always wanted to please and at times would times would do anything for the approval of others, such as when Lola Pearce and Abi Branning encouraged him to steal alcohol and take a bag from Phil Mitchell.
He was part of some memorable storylines, such as when he joined a gang, which involved him getting arrested and stabbed by one of the other members of the crew.
And it has now been revealed that Liam will be back in Walford soon – but who will play him?
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