Johnny Carter to return to EastEnders after five years; Charlie Suff to play the iconic role

Johnny Carter is set to return to EastEnders after five years with actor Charlie Suff taking over the role. Charlie will become the third actor to takeover the iconic role, with Johnny, who has been living and working in Manchester for the last five years, set to stage a comeback soon.

‘I’m so delighted to be joining such an iconic program – EastEnders was always on at my house when I was growing up,’ said Charlie, who has already started filming told the Metro.

‘Johnny is a complex character who has been through so much, which I can’t wait to explore. I’ve found EastEnders to be the most kind and loving space to work in, and I already feel like one of the family.’


EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw said, ‘I’m delighted to welcome Charlie Suff to the role of Johnny Carter.

‘Although we haven’t seen Johnny on the Square in almost five years, his character remains linked to the show and its most iconic venue, The Queen Vic. Since his short time away, the Carter family dynamics have changed significantly, and it’s safe to say that Johnny will be returning to a very different Walford than the one he left.’

Johnny, as viewers will know, previously enjoyed two stints in Walford. Sam Strike originated the part when his iteration of the character arrived with Linda (Kellie Bright) and Mick (Danny Dyer) on Boxing Day 2013.

Johnny featured in many an iconic moment for his first year, with his coming out story proving to be one of the best things EastEnders ever produced as the young boy opened up to dad Mick in a heartfelt scene just days after his arrival.

Linda, meanwhile, struggled to accept her son’s sexuality at first, which led to many a heated showdown between the Queen Vic landlady and her little ‘sausage’, but ultimately Linda realised the error of her ways with the two’s relationship subsequently proving stronger than ever.

Johnny later fell for first boyfriend Gianluca Cavallo (Gabriele Lombardo), who he met at a pre-Pride party.

Gianluca later played a key role in Johnny’s exit storyline, with the Carter kid driving out of Walford on his motorbike just shy of a year in the Square.

Johnny returned to Walford in 2016, with actor Ted Reilly taking over the role.

He and Gianluca had parted ways, which led to heartbreak for him and a desire to be around his family, with the character featuring in a number of stories over the next two years, from having a one night stand with Ben Mitchell to getting shot by Ted Murray.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.