EastEnders legend Ross Kemp is set to RETURN to acting after 15 years

EastEnders star Ross Kemp has announced he will be returning to acting after a 15-year break… but his new role won’t make the Mitchell brothers too pleased.

The soap star, best known for his role as Grant Mitchell on the BBC soap, is set to play a policeman in the new Channel 5 drama Blindspot, and admitted he was ‘extremely nervous’ when he started filming last week.

Since making his debut as Grant in 1989, Ross has focused on filming crime documentaries and presenting game shows in recent years, and briefly reprised his role on EastEnders in 2016 to coincide with Barbara Windsor’s exit.

Speaking to The Sun about his new role, Ross said: ‘My first day on set (at Blindspot) was Saturday evening and I was just as nervous as I was, in fact more nervous, than when I first walked on to the set of EastEnders in 1989.

‘It is a wonderful cast but working with actors again has been quite a leap for me and I know I’m a very lucky man.’

‘For me going back to acting is so important. It is the first time in 15 years apart from going back to EastEnders for Barbara leaving.’

Iconic: The soap star, best known for his role as Grant Mitchell on the BBC soap (top right), is set to play a policeman in the new Channel 5 drama Blindspot

Blindspot will air on Channel 5 later this year, focusing on a disabled woman called Hannah, who will be played by newcomer Beth Alsbury.

Beth believes she has witnessed the prelude to a murder while monitoring the CCTV on a rough estate, but when her story is dismissed by the police, she suspects there could corruption involved, and finds herself in serious danger.

Ross described his character as ‘a bit of a loser,’ but said it will be a nice change from the tougher roles he’s played in the past.

In 2016, Ross briefly returned to EastEnders to Ross added that he only agreed to reprise his role as he knew the extent of Barbara’s battle with Alzheimer’s at the time. 

Switching it up: Since making his debut as Grant in 1989, Ross has focused on filming crime documentaries and presenting game shows in recent years

He recently said that he still feels the presence of his former on-screen mother, who sadly passed away in 2020.

The documentary maker also revealed that he has a picture of Barbara in his home which he ‘will always keep’. 

He told The Mirror: ‘There is always a bit of Barbara hanging around. I have got a picture of Barbara at home in my house, which I will always keep.

‘It’s very dear to me. She gave it to me when I first met her. I will always keep it.’

Exciting! In the drama, Ross plays a policeman who is involved in dismissing a corrupt case after a disabled woman witnesses the prelude to a murder

Ross starred on EastEnders with the late, great Barbara from 1994 onwards, when she joined the cast as his on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell.

He also said he plans on honouring her memory with a celebratory drink on the anniversary of her death.

‘I will be remembering Barbara. I will be lifting a glass to the lady.’

Kemp, who played Grant Mitchell on Albert Square for more than 25 years alongside Dame Barbara as his on-screen mother, went on to make an ITV programme called Living With Dementia. 

Return: He briefly returned to EastEnders in 2016 to coincide with Barbara Windsor’s permenant exit, ahead of her death from Alzheimer’s in 2020