EastEnders star says long-missing character returns with "unfinished business"
Jake Moon is back in EastEnders and his long-awaited return to Albert Square is set to reopen old wounds and buried secrets.
EastEnders icon Jake Moon is returning to Albert Square – and, after nearly two decades away, it’s a return that comes loaded with secrets, guilt and "unfinished business".
Jake, played by Joel Beckett, has been absent from Walford for almost 20 years, following his dramatic exit in 2006 after accidentally killing his brother Danny and later fleeing the Square. Although viewers caught a fleeting glimpse of him in 2024, this latest comeback marks his first proper stint back among the people who once believed he was dead.
Speaking about stepping back onto the famous set, Beckett said the experience was "surreal", admitting that while Walford instantly felt familiar for him, it’s a very different story for Jake.
"He returns with unfinished business alongside unresolved emotions, and Albert Square brings it all straight to the surface," the actor explained. "Coming back forces him to face the people he loved, the choices he made, and the parts of himself he has spent the last 20 years avoiding.”
Jake may look calmer and more controlled, but Beckett is clear that, emotionally, not much has shifted. "He’s changed on the surface, but not underneath," he said said. "Emotionally, he is still driven by loyalty and love, which has not softened with time. For years, he has been moving forward physically but standing still emotionally."
Jake’s return drops him straight into a Square where old wounds are already wide open, making it impossible for him to stay on the sidelines for long...
One of the most anticipated elements of Jake’s comeback is his reunion with cousin Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), who has spent years believing Jake was dead. Beckett teased that their scenes together are not just a shock for Alfie, but deeply emotional for Jake too.
"It really hits him hard how much he’s missed family, and that life has moved on without him," Beckett said, hinting that the reunion will underline just how isolated Jake’s life has been since he fled Walford. With Alfie firmly re-established in the Square and dealing with his own share of upheaval, Jake’s reappearance threatens to stir up memories – and complications – neither of them are prepared for...
As EastEnders continues to explore the consequences of past sins colliding with the present, Jake Moon’s return looks set to have serious repercussions – not just for him, but for the family and friends he left behind.
Jake's comeback coincides with the resurgence of his lover Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) in Walford, who continues to plague the Slater-Moon family amid her relationship with Zoe Slater's daughter Jasmine (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness).
Read more:
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- EastEnders fan-favourite Oscar Branning tipped for love triangle with Zoe Slater's twins as casting 'revealed'
- 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Jake Moon reunites with Alfie plus shock passion for ex-lovers
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Authors
Morgan Jeffery is the Digital Editor for Radio Times, overseeing all editorial output across digital platforms. He was previously TV Editor at Digital Spy and has featured as a TV expert on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky Atlantic.
