EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders' Don Gilet teases evil Lucas return

Between 2008 and 2010 one of the most evil EastEnders’ villains in history roamed the streets of Walford, with Pastor Lucas Johnson going on a murder spree before faking Denise Fox’s death as he held her hostage in a secluded basement.

The ‘Enders bad man was eventually arrested and jailed for his shocking crimes, however, he stunned viewers by making a brief return after contacting Denise from his prison cell just last year.

Now the actor who played Lucas, Don Gilet, has teased that this might not be the end for his Albert Square counterpart, hinting that there is every chance that Lucas will return.

Speaking exclusively to Yahoo Celeb UK at the National Lottery Awards, Don told us: “Who says that Lucas can’t return? I’m not saying anything, but…

“I have already been back, last year they wrote my character in for a brief spell, from prison, so there was a lot of interaction.

“They could let him out for good behaviour… Then again, I don’t write the script. There’s always going to be another villain to take on, they always keep somebody in Walford to say ‘boo’ and they could bring me back.”

He went on to joke: “It was a good era, it was my golden era. I don’t watch it so much now but whenever I come back it’ll be another golden era.”

After EastEnders, Don returned to his role of Jesse in medical drama Holby City, however, he confessed to us that he still struggles to shake his villainous reputation.

He shared: “People shout ‘Lucas’ at me all the time; they even think that Lucas is in Holby and that he’s there probably killing people. I mean, he’s not in a very good disguise, it’s still me, but they just won’t let go.

“I just want to be good again!”

Despite the no-doubt strenuous task of portraying the evil character, Don insisted that filming the terrifying scenes were actually a good laugh, explaining: “It’s good to be me again, without being contracted to hurt people.

“But I was working with great people, Diane Parish [who plays Denise Fox], is a really good friend of mine, and we’d have so many giggles off set and then somebody would say ‘action’ and I’d have to strangle her.

“It was great, it was fun, fun, fun – if you have a great bunch of people around you it shouldn’t be taxed it and that’s why I loved it. I absolutely loved it.

Which leaves us safe to assume that if EastEnders did invite him back, Don would jump at the chance.

As well as his notorious E20 character, Don also opened up about this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, with two of his Holby City cast mates taking part on the upcoming series of the show, Chizzy Akudolu and Joe McFadden.

Refusing to choose a favourite, Don insisted that he will be supporting both stars, quipping: “Having had many fights with Chizzy, she’s a karate expert and I used to do a bit of kickboxing, I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.

“She is a lovely lass… But I hope that they draw.”

How very diplomatic.

The National Lottery Awards 2017 – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery funded projects – will be broadcast on Wednesday 27th September at 10.45pm on BBC1. To find out more visit www.lotterygoodcauses.or g.uk

Follow Yahoo Celeb UK on Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest celebrity news!

Read more:

[ EXCLUSIVE: Martin Kemp: ‘Only John Yorke can turn EastEnders around’ ]

[ EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders’ Davood Ghadami vows to ‘get his kit off’ on Strictly ]

[ EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders’ Danny-Boy Hatchard on mental health and life after the soap ]