Robert Kazinsky “can’t wait” to return “home” to EastEnders, reprising his role as Sean Slater 17 years after his departure from the BBC soap.

The actor made his first appearance in Walford in 2006 as a key member of the formidable Slater family, alongside his mother Jean (Gillian Wright) and younger sister Stacey (Lacey Turner).

His character left Albert Square on New Year’s Day in 2009 after a dramatic showdown involving Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) after the revelation that the daughter he believed was his had been fathered by another man.

He has made several surprise appearances in the soap since his departure, including a brief stint in 2019 when he supported his mother Jean through her cancer diagnosis while confronting his own mental health issues.

The troubled and volatile character has also been seen occasionally via video calls to his family.

Sean Slater will return to the hit soap later this year as he moves back to Albert Square for his family, for reasons which “are set to become clear”.

Kazinsky said: “I left EastEnders in 2008 as a 23-year-old boy and was lucky to spend the next 19 years of my life working around the world, always championing EastEnders and stating the fact that one day I wanted to walk in Sean’s shoes again – but this time as a man, to see who Sean the man might also be.

“I wanted to do it for Sean, I wanted to do it for the fans that have supported me in every role since I left the Square but, mostly, I wanted to do it for me.

“I’m home, and I can’t wait to bring a new level of heartfelt chaos to Albert Square in the way only Sean Slater can.”

“Sean Slater was a big part of the Slater family and as viewers will already know, where Sean goes, drama is not far behind.”

Since leaving EastEnders, Kazinsky has built a successful acting career with roles in films such as Pacific Rim, Warcraft, Captain Marvel and Star Trek: Section 31.

He has also appeared in shows such as True Blood, Second Chance and Law & Order: Los Angeles.

His EastEnders character is an ex-military man who quickly became something of a womaniser on the Square, known for turbulent romances with Roxy Mitchell, Tanya Branning and Ruby Allen.

Sean was also involved in feuds with Max Branning (Jake Wood), Johnny Allen (Billy Murray) and Jake Moon (Joel Beckett) – leaving a trail of chaos in his wake.

He tied the knot with Roxy in 2008 but later that year he found out that Amy, the daughter he believed was his, was actually fathered by Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) – causing him to spiral and ultimately resulting in his departure.

EastEnders is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.