EastEnders fans spotted 'confirmation' that Letitia Dean is due to return to the BBC One soap in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment last week.

Actress Letitia, 58, has played Sharon on/off on the BBC soap since 1985.

Her first stint in Walford was between 1985 and 1995, followed by 2001 and 2006, and she then returned to the show in 2012 and has been on our screens since. 

However her alter-ego went missing in October last year, and not much has been said about where Sharon has gone, apart from that she is in Florida with her pal Michelle.

But on Thursday (12 March), Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) had a conversation about the The Boxing Den, which led on to Sharon getting a mention. 

Mark visited his uncle at the gym and Phil brought up his ex in the chat - which has left many fans convinced that she's due to come back soon. 

'You can start taking this place [The Boxing Den] seriously and all. 

'You can manage it until Sharon gets back,' Phil told his nephew. 

Mark replied: 'Yeah, anything..'   

Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their excitement over the mention. 

'Yeah but the fact that Sharon is still getting referenced when she's not been mentioned in months makes me optimistic for a return at some stage. #EastEnders.'

'OMG SHARON IS RETURNING!!' 

'Sharon mention #EastEnders.'

'She always comes back in time for Grant lol.'

'Yay! We'll get her back for like a couple of weeks before she goes on yet another break/holiday!' 

Daily Mail contacted BBC for comment. 

Fan favourite Sharon has not appeared on EastEnders for any of 2026.

She was last on our screens on October 16 2025, after getting caught up with drama relating to Zoe Slater's (Michelle Ryan) return to Walford.

Zoe lied to Sharon that her long lost kids were Sharon's ex husband Dennis Rickman's (Nigel Harman) children. 

But then that came out that was a lie and they were actually Anthony Trueman's (Nicholas Bailey) kids. 

EastEnders fans will be happy to know that a fan-favourite character is due to make her return to screens TONIGHT after seven years away from the BBC One soap. 

The episode which is due to air at 7:30pm today (March 16), has already been made available to watch on BBC iPlayer - confirming the return of the star. 

The episode, which is set on Mother's Day, will see the Beale family coming together to celebrate with Jacqueline Jossa's Lauren Beale inviting her father, Jake Wood's Max Branning, to join them for the special moment. 

Scenes will see Lauren's husband Peter, played by Thomas Law, reveal he has a surprise in store for his wife, bringing back a blast from the past to Albert Square. 

Much to Lauren's delight, she will come face to face with her grandmother, and her father Max's former mother-in-law, Cora Cross. 

Beloved family matriarch Cora, who is played by Ann Mitchell, was last seen on the soap back in November 2018 during a guest appearance on the soap. 

EastEnders airs on BBC.