Dean Gaffney set to make EastEnders return alone after BBC soap bosses ditch pet pooch Wellard
HIS big soap comeback is only weeks away but DEAN GAFFNEY will be returning to EastEnders alone.
Fans will see a different side to his unlucky-in-life character, Robbie Jackson, and that is likely to mean curtains for his long-standing pairing with dog Wellard.
Dean’s first stint on Albert Square saw dopey schoolboy Robbie teamed with the shaggy Belgian Tervuren and he remained by his side until Robbie’s exit in 2003.
Wellard was killed off in 2008, and when Robbie made a fleeting return in 2015 he was joined by Wellard II — a second dog named in honour of his old four-legged pal.
But I’m told the furry friend isn’t being factored in to the latest comeback.
A source explained: “Robbie’s return is exciting news for fans but the feeling is he’ll be coming back as a more grown-up character with a slightly more serious outlook than before.
“In his original run Robbie was often a figure of fun, and the pairing with Wellard was part of that, but that’s not going to be the case this time around, so there doesn’t seem to be a call for the dog.
“Bosses hope long-term fans will find a new affection for the way Robbie has matured since they first saw him.”
In an announcement, producers said fans would “have to wait and see what brings Robbie back home to the square”, after he was last seen moving to Milton Keynes for a “fresh start”.
EastEnders bosses refused to comment on Wellard’s future, insisting they could not discuss future storylines.
Poor Wellard II. Acting can be a tough business.
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