The news broke last night when the official EastEnders Twitter account posted the following:
The actor confirmed the news this morning by tweeting:
Kemp’s return to the show, he played Grant from 1990-1999 and returned to Albert Square in 2005 and 2006, will reunite the soaps most popular family, the Mitchell’s.
His comeback storyline will see Peggy, who returned to the show last Friday, die of cancer.
Speaking about his decision to re-join the show, the 51-year-old said: “When I was approached about returning to EastEnders for Barbara’s final episodes, it was something I could not turn down.
“Barbara is a very close friend, so when I learned of the storyline it felt right that the Mitchell brothers are reunited with their mother for the last time.
“I am really looking forward to going back to EastEnders and filming what are set to be some classic EastEnders episodes.”
The show’s executive producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins added: “Grant Mitchell is an EastEnders legend and finally he is returning home to Walford to say goodbye to his mother and be reunited not just with his old loves but also his brother.
“To have the Mitchell brothers come face to face again, having to face losing their mother, is an opportunity to show Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden at their very best.”
Check out some of Grant’s best moments in EastEnders below: