Where are the EastEnders' Jacksons family now?
He remains one of Albert Square's most memorable faces despite a 14 year absence.
And now Robbie Jackson will return to the set of EastEnders - though sadly without his sidekick Wellard, the much-loved dog who long ago left our screens for soap heaven.
Dean Gaffney, 39, has said he feels 'so lucky' to be heading back to Walford for the first time since 2003, having gone from troublesome teen to fan favourite during his decade on the show.
As bin man Robbie, Gaffney was a member of one of soap's most memorable families - the Jacksons - headed up by fiesty matriarch Carol.
Here FEMAIL finds out what the actor and his on-screen relatives have been doing since his departure, along with some of the Jackson family's friends and lovers...
Dean Gaffney has announced his return to EastEnders after a 14-year break. He was known for appearing on screen with his trusty sidekick dog Wellard, who has since gone to doggy heaven
Since appearing on the soap Dean has never been far from our TV screens, famously taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2006 alongside David Gest
Dean is in a relationship with his girlfriend Rebekah Ward, and he also has twin daughters with his former girlfriend Sarah Burge
After a decade as one of the soap’s most familiar faces, Robbie bid farewell to Albert Square as he and girlfriend Nita, played by Bindya Solanki, left east London for India - though fans later learned he'd moved to Milton Keynes.
Dean returned to screens for a stint on ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here alongside David Gest in 2006.
In 2010, he returned to EastEnders briefly for the wedding of his sister Bianca Jackson - played by Patsy Palmer - and long-time love Ricky Butcher, played by Sid Owen, during which time he revealed that Nita was pregnant.
Dean has been in a relationship with girlfriend Rebekah Ward, 24, for a couple of years, and is a father to 20-year-old twin daughters Chloe and Charlotte with his former partner of 10 years, Sarah Burge.
Details of his comeback storyline are currently unknown, but news of his return has left fans wondering if fellow fan favourites Bianca or Carol Jackson could also hit our screens once more.
BIANCA JACKSON (PATSY PALMER)
Patsy Palmer, seen left in LA last year and right on EastEnders, played Bianca Jackson from 1993 until 1999, and returned for two more guest stints. She now lives in LA and works as a DJ
Patsy Palmer made her name as the fiery, flame-haired Bianca Jackson in EastEnders.
The actress, who became known for her regular cries of 'Rickaaaaaay' on the soap, left the show in 1999.
The mother-of-four, who has been married twice, collected numerous awards for her role, but left the show for a final time in 2014 after returning for two brief guest stints, during which time she was joined by her original on-screen family members.
Patsy has admitted to battling drug and alcohol addiction in her autobiography, and now her home is an alcohol-free zone.
She appeared in the 2005 series of Strictly Come Dancing and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband Richard, where she works as a DJ.
CAROL JACKSON (LINDSEY COULSON)
Lindsey Coulson first appeared in the soap 22 years ago as Carol Jackson along with her family. She enjoyed three stints before leaving in 2015
Arriving in the square along with her son Robbie 22 years ago, Carol Jackson was a key character for four years.
She returned for a brief stint in 1999, which coincided with the departure of her on-screen daughter Bianca.
It would be another 11 years before Carol returned to Albert Square, and in 2015 she left for a third time after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Lindsey won a soap award for the harrowing storyline around the death of her character's youngest son, Billie, who died from alcohol poisoning at his 22nd birthday party.
Coulson swapped her trademark bleached blonde hair for brown locks to play a detective in ITV drama The Level in 2016.
SONIA JACKSON (NATALIE CASSIDY)
Natalie Cassidy first appeared in EastEnders in 1993 as trumpet playing Sonia. The actress has always been in the public eye for her weight loss journey and her reality TV series
Natalie Cassidy has had an on-off relationship with EastEnders, first appearing as Sonia Jackson from 1993-2007 before returning briefly in 2010 and again in 2011.
Sonia returned permanently in 2014, with Natalie now back on our screens after taking maternity leave from the show last year.
The actress was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, and ventured into the Celebrity Big Brother house three years later.
She also released a fitness DVD after dramatically slimming down, but later said she regretted the decision because it prompted yo-yo dieting and put her health at risk.
The mother-of-two also had her own Channel 4 reality series called Becoming Mum, which aired in 2010.
BILLIE JACKSON (DEVON ANDERSON)
Devon Anderson played young Billie before he left in 1997. He returned along with his original on-screen family members in 2010 before his character died of alcohol poisoning
Billie Jackson was the youngest member of the Jackson family, played by Devon Anderson between 1993-1997.
The actor played Sonny Valentine until 2007 in Hollyoaks, but his contract was terminated and he was replaced by actor Aaron Fontaine.
He returned to EastEnders in 2010 along with Lindsey Coulson, only for his character to be killed off at his 22nd birthday party.
Anderson used to date former Hollyoaks cast member and Game of Thrones star Nathalie Emmanuel.
BLOSSOM JACKSON (MONA HAMMOND)
Mona Hammond played Blossom Jackson in EastEnders from 1993 until she left in 1997, reprising her role briefly in 2010
Blossom Jackson was the matriarchal figure of the Jackson family, and the mother of Carol's first on-screen partner Alan Jackson.
Although Alan was only a biological father to Billie, Carol gave her other children his family name.
Mona Hammond appeared as Blossom until 1997 when she left the soap, before returning in 2010 for a guest stint.
The actress, who was made OBE for her services to drama in 2005, appeared in the hit British film Kinky Boots and had a role in Ralph Fiennes' adaptation of Coriolanus.
RICKY BUTCHER (SID OWEN)
Sid Owen played the other half of Bianca for 12 years before leaving the soap. He has appeared in several celebrity reality TV programmes including Strictly Come Dancing (left)
Sid Owen played Ricky 'Rickaaaaay' Butcher, Bianca Jackson's other half, in the soap from 1988 until 2000.
He originally left to pursue a music career, before returning for a two-year stint in 2002, and then again for fours years from 2008. In 2012 Owen announced his retirement from acting.
A regular on celeb-led reality TV shows, Sid has appeared in Strictly Come Dancing, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, Master Chef and The Jump.
He is still close friends with Patsy Palmer and has made his millions from property, with a portfolio that includes a sprawling nine-bedroom mansion in France.
The actor also ran a restaurant in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne called Fortuno and released a cookbook.
TIFFANY MITCHELL (MARTINE MCCUTCHEON)
Martine McCutcheon played Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders from 1995-1998 (pictured right with Ross Kemp who played Grant Mitchell). She is now a regular panellist on Loose Women
Tiffany was Bianca Jackson's best friend in the soap from 1995 until 1998. She was married to Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), but was killed off when she was run over by Frank Butcher.
Martine went onto pursue a music career and starred in the much-loved Christmas film Love Actually, which she recently reprised her role in for a Comic Relief special.
She scooped a prestigious Olivier Award for her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle on stage in My Fair Lady, before taking a break from acting after she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Martine is now a regular panellist on ITV's Loose Women.
JAMIE MITCHELL (JACK RYDER)
Jack Ryder was everyone's favourite floppy-haired blonde on EastEnders as Jamie Mitchell. He was killed off in 2003, and it was revealed by Dean Gaffney he'd lost the locks he was once famous for
Jamie Mitchell was the other half of Sonia Jackson, who died on Christmas Day after being run over by Sonia's ex Martin Fowler - originally played by James Alexandrou.
Jack Ryder left the soap in 2003 after first appearing in 1998, then went on to theatre before going behind the camera as a director.
He married Coronation Street star Kym Marsh in 2002 but they divorced in 2008.
He now lives in London and is an assistant director on the Gary Barlow musical The Girls.