Shane Richie feels like he never left 'EastEnders'.
Shane Richie as Alfie Moon
The 54-year-old actor has reprised his role as Alfie Moon following a two-year break and not only does he feel like little has changed in his absence, some people hadn't even noticed he'd gone.
He told Inside Soap magazine: "I don't know how long I've been away, but the first day I've got back, there were a couple of people who said, 'Where did you go?' Like I'd just had a long holiday or something!
"It really is like I've not been away. It's the same faces - not necessarily the same cast, but the same crew, wardrobe, make-up and management.
"It's like stepping on to a Ferris wheel.
"It's going round and round, and occasionally some people step on and others step off. And with the Slaters all being together again, stepping into the whole madness of that has been great, but full-on."
Alfie is returning with a new job as a funeral director and Shane promised it will provide a new source of dark humour for the soap.
He said: "Yes, there are some heavy scenes going on - and then his phone will ring while he's having a row with someone, and he'll have to say, "Blue Moon Funerals - a good way to go!
"So it was nice playing the comedy with the tragedy."
And Alfie - who already has twin sons Bert and Ernie with his estranged wife Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) - will step up when he discovers he's the father of Hayley Slater's (Katie Jarvis) daughter.
He said: "Alfie realises this is his daughter, and you see him change.
"His paternal instincts kick in very quickly, and he takes on board being the father of this child."
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