A fan-favourite EastEnders 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. 

Her character formally left the square in 2015 after the death of her partner, Stan Carter - having first appeared on the long-running series in 2011.   

While it might spell for a happy reunion for Lauren, the same might not be said for Max - who was last seen alongside Cora in 2018, with the two engaged in a fierce argument. 

It followed on from tense scenes in 2017, where Cora was seen slapping her former son-in-law across the face after after his daughters plummeted from the pub roof while trying to stop his suicide in dramatic Christmas episode.

Earlier this month, EastEnders fans potted two major blunders in a terrifying kidnapping scene - as Max Branning held business investor Tim Walton hostage. 

The character, who is played by Jake Wood on the BBC One soap, was seen taking Tim, portrayed by Tom Ratcliffe, in the boot of his car, back on March 4. 

Desperate for the attention of Kellie Bright's Linda Carter, and stopping at nothing to get what he wants - Max skipped the romance by kidnapping her son Johnny's (Charlie Suff) investor, who forced Johnny to sleep with him in a blackmail plot.

In order to get him in the car, Max pretended to be Tim's taxi driver, purposefully driving around Walford with no clear direction to keep him inside the vehicle while he came up with a plan. 

Tim soon began to realise something unusual was going on, and when he urged the taxi driver, secretly Max, to get back on the route - Max claimed he had a flat tire.

Pulling over on a dark road, Max asked Tim to help him look at the tyre, and when his back was turned, pushed him into the boot of the car. 

As Tim screamed out for help, Max warned him never to mess with Johnny again - and to cough up money to pay Johnny's company, Carter and Carter.

During the tense scenes, however, fans found themselves distracted by two on-screen blunders, taking to social media to complain.

One BBC viewer posted the clip of the kidnapping on TikTok, noting that when 'Max' revered the car, someone else was clearly seen driving the vehicle. 

While Jake's Max is known for his bald-headed look, the driver of the car had a full head of hair, and therefore could not be Max. 

A second blunder was then spotted, as fans noted down that the number plate on the vehicle, previously a '25' plate, was now showing as 59. 

Sharing the clip on TikTok, the viewer penned: 'Anyone else notice the guy driving off in Max's car isn't Max? Poorly done EastEnders.'

Another agreed: 'I NOTICED THIS,' as a third chimed in to explain of the driving swap: 'They would have used a stunt guy. He has hair!'

Someone else then pointed out: 'I swear the reg changed as well...'

It comes after EastEnders fans were left certain they have 'worked out' the identity of the mysterious gunman targeting Max - after an ominous flash forward teaser.

The BBC soap's New Years Day episode gave viewers at peek at one year ahead in Walford, on January 1, 2027.

In a tense cliffhanger, fans learned an anonymous person was holding Max's children at gunpoint.

Both Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Mouiller) looked terrified, as Max, played by Jake Wood received a text telling him to choose one of them.

Online sleuths think they have cracked who the hidden villain is - although the official answer is months away.

They reckon Walford's new bad guy Tim Walton is who will turn out to be responsible.

As of late, Tim has been tormenting his old university friend Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff).

The antagonist revealed he had career ruining footage of Johnny's boyfriend Callum Highway (Tony Clay). 

And Tim leveraged this by telling Johnny that sleeping with him would ensure the footage got deleted.

Spoilers for upcoming scenes reveal that Max, as well as Johnny's mother Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) are set to become involved.

Although Linda confronts Tim, he remains unmoved - prompting her to confide in Max.

Linda is worried over what Max may do, although he makes it clear to Tim to stay away from Walford. 

One viewer theorised: 'Tim will be the gunman.'

Elsewhere, EastEnders legend Gemma Bissix is set to make a return to the BBC soap almost TWENTY years after her last appearance.

The actress, 42, first joined EastEnders in 1993 at the age of just nine as Clare Bates [Tyler], the daughter of Debbie Tyler and stepdaughter of Nigel Bates.

She starred as a regular on the soap from 1993 until 1998 when she left Albert Square, before making a brief return in 2008.

Now Gemma is again reprising the role for a short stint this spring as she returns to EastEnders as part of her stepdad Nigel's dementia storyline.

Despite being estranged from Nigel, Clare will return to Walford when news of his worsening dementia reaches her - but is shocked when she arrives and is confronted by his fragility and the reality of his prognosis.

On reprising the role, Gemma said: 'It was a real pleasure to be asked to reprise the role of Clare for Nigel's storyline.

'I was hoping to get the call as I think the fans wanted EastEnders to revisit their relationship. Nigel and Clare were a formidable pairing in the 90's with a very unique stepfather/stepdaughter relationship!

'It has been so great to reconnect with Paul and Karen after all these years, and it's crazy how time felt like it had stopped when we did!'

She added: 'I grew up on the set of EastEnders and essentially learnt my craft there, so it's been a real full circle moment!

'Whilst it will be an emotional reunion, I hope the viewers will be pleased to see Clare and Nigel on screen together once again!'

Clare's arrival will reportedly be a dramatic one, but her return will be essential as Nigel's loved ones collectively decide what is best for him n the next stage of his dementia care.

EastEnders has been working with Dementia UK and experts in the field on Nigel's storyline to ensure it has been portrayed as sensitively and as accurately as possible.

Ben Wadey, EastEnders Executive Producer added: 'We always knew we wanted to bring Clare Bates back to Walford as we continue Nigel's storyline, and I'm delighted that Gemma said yes.

'The stepfather and daughter duo share a complicated history and have been estranged for many years, but it was essential for us to revisit this relationship as Nigel's dementia progresses and the family start to consider his additional care needs.' 

EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer