EastEnders confirms character return as a family is left in tatters

Michael Adams

Published July 5, 2025 9:00am

Anna and Elaine smile at Mo in the pub in EastEnders — Look who’s back! (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Anna Knight returns to EastEnders next week, finding that a lot has changed in her absence.

Her return comes just days after actress Molly Rainford’s exit was confirmed by a BBC spokesperson.

In a statement, Metro was told: ‘We can confirm that Molly Rainford will be leaving EastEnders later this year, and we wish her all the best for the future.’

Anna has been notably missing for some time, with it being explained that she’s visiting a friend in Spain.

While she’s been away, her dad George (Colin Salmon) has separated from his wife Elaine (Harriet Thorpe), who then went into self-destruct mode.

She splashed the cash on unnecessary purchases, left business partner daughter Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) to run The Queen Vic and became so careless that she handed alcohol over to two of the local teenagers.

In the aftermath, Linda decided she was going to sell her share, a move which devastated Elaine.

This was just a further horrifying blow, after George announced his intentions to fight for the money he’d put into the pub over the last few years.

Anna hugs George in EastEnders — George has a lot of explaining to do (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Anna chats to George in the cafe in EastEnders — She asks her dad to try and break through to Elaine (Picture :BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

With the day’s events taking a toll emotionally, Elaine ordered everyone out, before collapsing twice. It was then confirmed that she had suffered two heart attacks.

In upcoming scenes, having returned home this week, Elaine is adamant to pick up where she left off and Linda worries that she’s over exerting herself.