This article contains spoilers from Thursday’s episode of EastEnders, which is already streaming on BBC iPlayer.
EastEnders aired an unexpected return during Thursday’s episode, as Chrissie Watts’ (Tracy-Ann Oberman) made her latest exit.
Chrissie has been back on screen for the last week, 19 years after she was jailed for the murder of husband Den Watts (Leslie Grantham).
Fans have seen her come face-to-face with former stepdaughter Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) in prison, after she was sentenced to a week behind bars for being in contempt of court during Dean Wicks’ (Matt Di Angelo) murder trial.
The soap has teased that Chrissie has been up for parole, but this was put in doubt earlier in the week when Sharon was encouraged to grass Chrissie up to the prison governor for attempting to attack her in her cell.
But after the two women managed to reconcile and bond over their shared traumas on Thursday, Sharon admitted that maybe her father Den got what he deserved and agreed not to stand in Chrissie’s way of freedom.
After her successful parole hearing, Chrissie was granted immediate release from prison, and was seen making a mysterious phone call.
The next scene saw her drive through Albert Square in a vintage convertible car with none other than Jake Moon.
Actor Joel Beckett made an previously unannounced cameo appearance as Chrissie’s former lover, 18 years after his last appearance.
It was revealed that Jake had waited all this time to be with Chrissie, after their attempt to flee the country following Den’s murder back in 2005 was thwarted.
Jake had been referenced on screen earlier this week when Chrissie revealed to Sharon that she had been pregnant with their baby when she was arrested for Den’s murder, but suffered a miscarriage two weeks into her prison sentence.
Finally reunited back on the Square, Chrissie got out of the car and looked up at The Vic – where she murdered Den and buried his body – she suggested popping in for a ‘swift half’.
‘I’ve waited 19 years to get my hands on you,’ he said, as they shared a kiss. ‘A cheeky half was not what I had in mind. Now get in that car.’
They then drove off into the sunset, narrowly missing seeing Jake’s cousin Alfie Moon (Shane Richie).
But is this really the last we have seen of Chrissie?
During Thursday’s episode, it was revealed that she had briefly shared a cell with Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton), who was carted off to jail three years ago when Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) framed her for growing a cannabis farm.
With Louisa confirmed to be reprising her role in the lead up to EastEnders’ 40th anniversary, could she be reunited on screen with her former cellmate?
Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman previously revealed she could be up for another return as Chrissie in the future, saying: ‘I had such a great time, so you know what they say, never say never…’
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
