What did Dean Wicks do on EastEnders: Matt Di Angelos return explained

EastEnders fans were faced with a blast from the past this week, when Walford villain Dean Wicks made his return to Albert Square after a nine year absence.

As regular viewers will know, Dean, who is played in the show by actor Matt Di Angelo, had reconnected with his mum Shirley Carter off-screen, before making his unexpected return to the show on Monday, 30 October.

Much to the horror of Queen Vic landlady Linda Carter, Dean had snuck into her home at the pub and confronted her over a number of baffling topics, including her failed relationships, the death of his brother, and even the way she had "ruined his life" after reporting his vicious sexual assault to his family.

But what exactly happened in the show before the character made his long-awaited return?

Who is Dean Wicks?

Dean Wicks is the half brother of Mick Carter, and the son of Shirley Carter and Buster Briggs.

He first made his debut on the soap back in January 2006, when he was affectionately known as Deano to everyone on the Square.

Initially arriving long before the rest of the Carter clan, Deano was able to convince his aunt Pat Evans to take him in, and began to make a life for himself in London’s East End.

A short time later, he was able to reconnect with his estranged mum Shirley while enjoying a mini-break to Dorset, however, it was only in the aftermath of a harrowing car crash that Deano was willing to let Shirley into his life.

During his time on the show, Deano experienced several potential romances, including unrequited crushes on Stacey Slater, Dawn Swann and Chelsea Fox, but never quite managed to find the love he was looking for.

In 2008, Deano’s life took another turn when he was arrested and imprisoned for perverting the course of justice, after he falsely framed Sean Slater for an assault on Patrick Trueman.

As a result of his crime, Deano was sentenced to prison, and appeared to be a very different person when he was finally released – something which saw him drop the use of his nickname ‘Deano’ in favour of being called Dean.

Horrific rape of Linda Carter

While rebuilding his life after his prison stint, Dean briefly left the UK for a life in Australia, before returning to Albert Square in 2014 when he once again began to butt heads with his mother Shirley, who he blamed for having walked out on him as a child.

Although initially tense at first, slowly but surely Dean and Shirley began to bond, but he still held some animosity towards his birth parent for her actions as they attempted to build some kind of family life together.

Interestingly, at around the same time, Dean also got to know his half-brother Mick Carter, and Mick’s partner Linda, and began to develop an unhealthy obsession with her, after she showed him the kindness he hadn’t received from his mother.

Over time the obsession gradually worsened, and saw Dean’s behaviour towards Linda escalate, with the young man even groping her bum during a photoshoot, however this would be far from the extent of her troubles at Dean’s hands.

While trying to comfort him following an argument with his mother, Dean attempted to have sex with Linda, but after she refused, he proceeded to rape her.

In a further devastating twist, shortly after the attack, Linda discovered she was pregnant, and feared the baby may be Dean’s, but thankfully shortly after her son Ollie Carter’s birth, it was revealed he couldn’t be Dean’s child as he had a different blood type.

Exit from EastEnders

When the truth about Linda’s rape finally emerged, Dean’s actions tore the Carter family apart, as all of his relatives struggled to process the revelation of what he was capable of.

Keen to get away from the damning accusations, Dean briefly left Walford, but later returned to cause more trouble for the residents of Walford, when he attempted to rape Roxy Mitchell and in a further twist, also attempted to drown his own mother Shirley on Mick and Linda’s wedding day!

Following his crimes, Dean was arrested for the attempted tape of Roxy, but he was later acquitted of rape off-screen, prompting him to contemplate a return to the Square.

However, after a visit by his father Buster, Dean was paid off and warned to never set foot in Albert Square again – something he appeared to abide by, up until now.

Return to Albert Square

On Monday, 30 October 2023, Dean made his long awaited return to EastEnders when he appeared in the kitchen of The Queen Vic pub, the very same room he had assaulted Linda in back in 2014.

In baffling scenes, Dean then proceeded to act as if everything was normal as he engaged in a casual conversation with a terrified Linda, and continued to peddle the pretence that their relationship had been consensual.

During the conversation, Dean also further rubbed salt into Linda’s wounds as he reminded her of all of her failed relationships, including with Max Branning and his brother Mick Carter, before pointing out Mick’s affair with Janine Butcher.

While referencing Janine’s impact on their lives, Dean couldn’t help but also point the finger of blame at Linda too, as he ominously drew parallels between the pair by adding: “You can’t let one evil b***h ruin your whole life.”

EastEnders continues Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Source: Read Full Article