New pictures have emerged of EastEnders icon Ross Kemp leaving

the soap’s production base – ‘sealing’ his return.

The actor, 60, played Walford hard man Grant Mitchell on the long-running BBC drama intermittently between 1990 and

2016.

In September, amid speculation that he will be the next in a long line of names that are returning for the show’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, Ross teased that something could be on the cards.

In an interview on This Morning, presenter Alison Hammond asked the star: ‘Now I can’t let you go until we ask you about the EastEnders rumours. What is going on, are you going back for the 40th anniversary. Tell us what’s going on.’

Ross quipped: ‘I can tell you nothing.’

He later added: ‘I am very proud of the show celebrating 40 years and I wouldn’t have had a career, good or bad without it.

‘I absolutely love it and I still support it and I would if I had come from Coronation Street or Emmerdale, well I was in Emmerdale Farm briefly before but yeah, I am proud the show is celebrating the 40 years and I will continue to support it as long as I can.’

Now, new pictures have shown him driving out of the soap’s Hertfordshire production base in a black car.

Grant’s last stint arrive for the their mum Peggy’s (Barbara Windsor) final days and funeral, before discovering that Mark Fowler Jnr (Ned Porteous) is his son.

Departing executive producer Chris Clenshaw admitted he’s the one character he would love to reintroduce, whilst it has also been reported that Ross will front a documentary series about the show’s four decades on air.

We also know that as the residents of Walford celebrate the festive season, Grant’s brother Phil (Steve McFadden) will suffer suicidal thoughts amid his loneliness.

Long-term viewers will remember that the character has battled drink and crack cocaine addictions during his 34 year stint.

Could Grant be coming home to save Phil?