Serial killer Gray Atkins returns to EastEnders

The serial killer Gray Atkins has returned to the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" in a storyline that began airing on Monday, June 29, 2026. Actor Toby-Alexander Smith has reprised the role for a short guest stint, marking the character's first appearance since he was imprisoned for multiple murders in 2022.

Gray's return is facilitated through his grandmother, Sheila Atkins. The plot follows a recent accident involving Gray's young son, Jordan, who was struck by a car and is now using a wheelchair. Sheila, who had been providing financial support to Jordan's mother, Chelsea Fox, visited Gray in prison after Chelsea began limiting her access to the boy. Sheila pleaded with Gray to use his manipulative influence to help her maintain a relationship with her great-grandson.

In the episode, a dishevelled Gray is seen in his prison cell before Sheila arrives for a visit. She explains her predicament, handing him a current photo of Jordan and insisting that if anyone can get through to Chelsea, it is him. Gray, while initially complaining about Sheila's past absence, appears to engage with her request. A subsequent episode shows that the advice Gray gave Sheila successfully convinces...