EastEnders viewers were left stunned as a character made a surprise return after four years - ahead of a vile villain also being confirmed for a comeback.

Tonight's (April 20) episode, which is already available on BBC iPlayer, sees a show regular come face-to-face with a ghost from their past in a shock turn of events. 

Amid his ongoing and spiralling mental health battle, Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) will head to the hospital in scenes that will play out on BBC One later today. 

And as he's seen by a medical team, his nurse turns out to be none other than his former stepmother Nina Gupta (Hersha Verity).

Back in 2022, Ravi and Nina were seen engaged in an affair - while she was married to his supposed 'father' Ranveer Gulati (Anil Goutam).

In episodes that followed, Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) attacked Ranveer in self defence after he sexually assaulted her - and believed she had killed him.

Ravi walked in and decided to help cover up the crime - only to ultimately kill Ranveer himself after it turned out he was still alive after the brutal attack. 

In the midst of this, Ravi and Nina had been plotting to secure Ranveer's money and she helped cover up the killing before disappearing from the soap. 

Now, during their reunion years later, Nina will note how Ravi's struggle is down to 'karma' for what he had done previously.

Fans at home were divided over seeing the character return to Albert Square, and took to social media to react to her comeback.  

One viewer wrote online: 'I’m glad they bought back Nina for this episode cause even though this sl was triggered by the drugs and the spiking I think it reminds people that everything genuinely stems from Ranveer and Nish.'

A second penned: 'Now why did we need to bring Nina back. We didn't need her the first time and she's just proven why we didn't need her this time.'

A third noted: 'Bringing back Nina Gupta wasn't on my bingo card!'

A fourth remarked: 'Seeing Nina return today took me by suprise but has equally left me convinced that Kheerat and/or Ash might return at some point. 

'Kheerat took the fall for Ranveer's death in the end and that showdown at the surgery beteeen Ash and Nina was brilliant.'

A fifth said: 'For some reason I thought Nina died lmao clearly not,' while a sixth quipped: 'Unexpected Nina in the bagging area!!!'

Elsewhere, one of EastEnders' most notorious killers is set to make a return to the BBC soap.

Eddie Knight, portrayed by Christopher Fairbank, last appeared on the show back in 2024.

Racist Eddie murdered George Knight's biological father in a brutal, racially-motivated attack after effectively buying George (Colin Salmon) for his wife to raise.

The killer was finally brought to justice decades later and jailed in 2024 for his crimes.

However, in a dramatic twist, he will return once again in scenes set to air later this year.

A source told The Sun: 'Christopher Fairbank is returning as part of a new storyline that will see George Knight at the heart of the drama.

'Whilst it’s only a short stint, his return kicks off a bigger storyline that will spark troubling times for George and the wider Knight family.'

A EastEnders spokesperson added: 'We can confirm Christopher Fairbank will be returning to EastEnders for a short stint later this spring.'

EastEnders continues tonight at 7:30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.