derek returns to walford 11 years later, joining the walford players to perform in their christmas show. kathy sullivan (gillian taylforth) notices derek loitering around ian beale's (adam woodyatt) house, where pauline used to live, and confronts him, assuming he is from the council. derek and kathy meet again at geraldine clough's (gwyneth strong) play rehearsal and patrick trueman (rudolph walker) introduces them to each other. derek and kathy are both cast as a pantomime horse in the christmas play, and he sides with kathy when geraldine asks who should be the director. derek is overjoyed at the prospect of directing the play but during rehearsals, he is forced to reprimand dennis rickman jnr (bleu landau) for watching louise mitchell (tilly keeper) and other girls undress. much to derek's disappointment, the first night of the performance isn't successful, after which, all the residents refuse to do the play any more. they eventually agree and the following performances are a success. after the show, patrick fears that derek fancies him and he feels uncomfortable when derek invites him to stay with him and alex. patrick says he will think about it and derek leaves walford.