Last week saw some very emotional scenes in Eastenders with the funeral of Pat, Carol being left distraught by David Wicks disappearance and then we saw Ricky Butcher and Bianca struggling to come to terms with the fact that, many years ago, Ricky was the father of a baby with Mandy although the baby died very soon after birth. This led to Ricky effectively being forced to leave the Square as Bianca literally threw him out of the house and explained to the kids that he was going away to work abroad.

The Ricky Butcher storyline has been kept very much under wraps and it is not clear whether the character will return or whether this is the end of Bianca and Ricky. There is no doubt these two have been a very entertaining couple over the years and their slanging matches and Bianca’s volatile behaviour have certainly been at the centre of many storylines. On a sad note there is no doubt that all of the kids living with Bianca and Ricky at the time were devastated when he effectively left and there were some very emotional scenes as they all left the Tube station.

Bianca and Ricky have left the show on numerous occasions in the past only to return as remain one of the best loved couples that Eastenders has ever had. Whether this is the end of the volatile relationship remains to be seen but at this moment in time there would appear to be no plans for Ricky Butcher (actor Sid Owen) to make a swift return.