EastEnders stalwart Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) seems to have distant relatives crawling out of the woodwork every few years, and her family network in Walford is about to extend again as Vikki Fowler returns.
In 2021, Sharon discovered she had a half-brother, Zack Hudson (James Farrar), while attending the funeral for their dad Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas), and the duo now live together in Albert Square.
Fans of the BBC soap will also remember when Sharon's adoptive father, Dirty Den (Leslie Grantham), returned from the dead in September 2003 sparking the arrival of his biological son and her adoptive brother Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman).
Vicki Fowler, the daughter of Dirty Den, and Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully) also arrived in Walford the same year, giving Sharon the adoptive younger sister she never wanted.
Vicki is the product of a sordid fling between Sharon's dad and her best mate, and doesn't appear to have a strong bond with her sister.
Vicki was born in 1986 after Michelle and Den had a one-night stand; 16-year-old Michelle fell pregnant and, amidst all of the scandal, decided to keep the baby, which raised some eyebrows.
The paternity of Vicki was kept a huge secret, with Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt) helping to raise her with Michelle, only for the truth to come out later on.
Since Vicki was born, three actors have played the role, with Scarlett Alice Johnson portraying the character between 2003 and 2004.
In 1995, Michelle and 9-year-old Vicki left Walford to go to Birmingham, Alabama, in the United States. However, Vicki returned as a teenager in 2003 after running away from home.
Scarlett's tenure as Vicki explored the rebellious side of the character and her most memorable scene saw her lash out at her nan Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) after she reached the end of her tether with Vicki's chaotic ways.
But Vicki left Walford in 2004 and returned to America before rekindling a romance with Spencer Moon (Christopher Parker), younger brother of Alfie (Shane Richie), in Australia.
However, following Martin Fowler's (James Bye) untimely death in February, his niece Vicki is returning to Walford. Actress Alice Haig will now portray the character.
According to The Sun, Scarlett was asked to reprise her role as Vicki on the show but she turned down the opportunity.
A spokesperson for Scarlett told the publication: "Scarlett was approached, and was flattered to be asked to return, but the timing wasn’t right for her to step back into the role. She wishes Alice Haig and the show all the very best."
It's been 21 years since actor Scarlett, from North London, left EastEnders, and she looks worlds apart from her time living in Albert Square.
The 40-year-old former soap star has made a successful career on stage, television, and in films.
Fans of The Good Karma Hospital, a medical drama series based in India, will recognise Scarlett as Tommy McConnell in season three, which premiered in the UK on ITV in March 2020.
In 2022, she returned to BBC One to play Tara Rawlin for one episode of Casualty and starred in a long list of other popular series, including portraying Olive in Call the Midwife (2018), Millie in Josh (2017), Paula in Loaded (2017), Cooper in Babylon (2014), and Jessie Rayner in Midsomer Murders (2014).
She is also famed for portraying Laura Derbyshire in the BBC's heart-warming comedy Pramface between 2012 and 2014.
EastEnders airs Monday - Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer
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