Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) made his on-screen EastEnders return after six years, and be still our beating hearts.

The popular character, who viewers have wanted back on their TVs for years, was seen receiving a phone call from Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), who has been having a tough time as of late.

Zack Hudson (James Farrar), who is dad to Whitney’s unborn child, encouraged her to confide in her sibling following her discovery that her baby’s test results had been delayed for two weeks.

Whitney agreed to do just that, telephoning her big brother to share the news that her baby has a condition called omphalocele, which is is when a baby’s organs have developed on the outside of its body.

The market trader, however, struggled to say the words aloud and instead told Ryan that Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), his 12-year-old daughter, is pregnant.

‘Lily’s what?’, he exclaimed as the realisation sank in.

Viewers saw his reaction for themselves, marking actor Neil McDermott’s first appearance in the BBC One soap since 2016, when Ryan showed up for Whitney’s big day as she married Lee Carter (Danny Hatchard).

Ryan, in fact, appeared numerous times during the year in question, which came after a number of stints in 2014.

The character’s full-time stint aired between 2009 and 2011 and can be relived over on BBC iPlayer, which drops four episodes from 2010 each and every Monday.

Back in the present, Ryan will arrive home to Walford on Tuesday (February 14), giving us all the Valentine’s Day gift we deserve, but while viewers will no doubt be delighted by his comeback, it’s safe to say that Stacey (Lacey Turner) isn’t too pleased upon setting her sights on her ex.

But just what does the future hold for all involved?

What’s more, is there more to Ryan’s comeback than meets the eye. Neil reckons so, with the actor hinting at a secret agenda for his character.

Consider us very intrigued.

EastEnders continues Tuesday February 14 at 7:30pm on BBC One.

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