EastEnders’ wave of iconic character comebacks continues tonight, as David Wicks (Michael French) makes his long-awaited return to Walford.
First introduced in 1993 as the son of Pat Wicks (Pam St Clement) and her first husband Pete Beale (Peter Dean), David became one of the defining characters of the era thanks to several high-profile storylines, including a tempestuous affair with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
After actor Michael French quit the show after three years, he made two subsequent returns to EastEnders in 2012 and 2013. The character was last seen 10 years ago, fleeing Albert Square after suffering a heart attack amid the breakdown of his newly rekindled relationship with childhood sweetheart Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson).
Last known to be living in the US, Thursday’s episode of the BBC soap will see him arrive back in London to help his daughter Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), who has caused concern amongst her friends and family with her erratic behaviour.
But it’s fair to say Bianca and her dad have somewhat of a complicated history – here’s the lowdown on what you need to know…
Who is Bianca’s dad in EastEnders?
Bianca Jackson arrived on Albert Square along with mum Carol, half-sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), half-brothers Robbie (Dean Gaffney) and Billie (Devon Anderson) and step-father Alan (Howard Antony) in 1993.
The family’s backstory was that Carol had fallen pregnant with Bianca at the age of 14, but Bianca had grown up not knowing who her biological father was.
It was later revealed that local car salesman David Wicks – who’d had a childhood relationship with Carol – was her dad. But this being EastEnders, the truth had huge ramifications…
What happened between David and Bianca?
Not knowing of their biological relationship, there was an attraction between Bianca and David when they first met. A horrified Carol was then forced to tell David that Bianca was in fact his daughter.
With their teenage romance having caused a deep divide between David, his mum Pat and Carol, he promised Carol to keep his true identity a secret and give Bianca a wide berth.
However, when Bianca made a drunken pass at David in 1995, he was forced to reveal the shocking truth to her.
While Bianca became resentful over her father’s absence during her childhood, controversial scenes saw David make a call to the Samaritans in which he confessed to still finding Bianca sexually attractive, despite knowing he is her biological father.
Eventually, they were able to build a more conventional father-and-daughter relationship, with Bianca gaining a brother when David’s estranged son Joe Wicks (Paul Nicholls) was introduced in 1996.
What happened between David Wicks and Cindy Beale?
Cindy also has a complicated relationship with the Wicks family. Earlier in the 90s, she’d had an affair with David’s brother Simon Wicks (Nick Berry) while married to their half-brother Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). Their tryst also resulted in Cindy falling pregnant with son Stephen.
While Ian and Cindy eventually reunited, their marriage was rocked once again when Cindy fell for David’s charms, and they embarked on a passionate affair.
Cindy’s love for David was so intense that she even hired a hitman to kill Ian so they could be together without Ian getting custody of their children.
Ultimately, the failed plot is what landed her in prison, where she was later believed to have died during childbirth in 1998, before making a dramatic ‘return from the dead’ last year.
Until now, however, David has still thought Cindy was dead, leading to one almighty shock next week when they come face-to-face after 27 years.
What happened when we last saw David Wicks?
David returned to Walford 16 years after his exit when his mum Pat was dying of cancer in early 2012.
During this short stint, he and Carol reunited, much to the anger of her brothers Derek (Jamie Foreman), Max (Jake Wood) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).
After threatening to kill David, Derek managed to drive him out of town, breaking Carol’s heart in the process.
But after Derek later died himself, the coast was clear for David to return a few months later. While Carol had started seeing Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra), they eventually reconciled as he supported her through breast cancer treatment.
The on-off couple later became engaged, but when David suffered a heart attack on their wedding day in 2014, Carol wrongly believed he had jilted her.
After learning the truth, they eventually came to the realisation their relationship could not work. David promised Carol he’d return to the hospital for further treatment for his heart attack, but was instead seen heading to the airport, and is believed to have been in America ever since.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
