Matt Di Angelo returning to ‘EastEnders’ as Dean Wicks

Matt Di Angelo is back in Walford after a seven year absence as bad boy Dean Wicks returns to the long-running soap.

Fans have been speculating that Dean is Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) new business partner, and that has now been confirmed. Dean’s decision to return is driven by his need to be close to the local hospital where his daughter Jade – who has cystic fibrosis – is receiving treatment and awaiting a life-saving lung transplant.

Talking about being back on ‘EastEnders’ Di Angelo says, “It feels great to be back. I started at ‘EastEnders’ almost 18 years ago, which seems like a lifetime ago now. I haven’t been back for seven years, so I was thrilled to be asked again for the third time as I love the people and the show.”

On Dean’s decision to return to Walford, Di Angelo admits, “In all honesty, he doesn’t want to come back to Walford. He’s sort of forced back there because his daughter, Jade is very ill. She has cystic fibrosis and needs a transplant, which has to be done at the hospital nearby. Dean has to live there so he’s on call for her appointments and in case the transplant comes through, and they need to move fast. He’s reluctant because he knows the repercussions of returning, but ultimately, he has to help his family. Dean also needs to make a living whilst he’s there, so he’s invested in a new business, which will be revealed as Cindy and Ian’s new pie and mash shop, Beale’s Eels.”

Viewers will recall that Dean never took responsibility for raping Linda and he’s always protested his innocence, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to own up to his actions this time around either. “With Dean, it’s hard to know whether he accepts the fact that he raped Linda or whether he is so blind to his actions that he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong,” says Di Angelo.

Whether or not Dean is involved in the Christmas storyline that has been teased the past year remains to be seen. You’ll have to tune in to ‘EastEnders’ to see how Dean’s return pans out.