Ex-EastEnders star Nick Berry made a surprise one-off return to the soap after two decades to pay his respects to late screen mum Pat Evans.
The former TV favourite, who has now retired from acting, made the brief one-off appearance after the credits rolled on the BBC1 show.
Wicksy - as Berry's character was known - was seen sneaking to his mother's grave in the dark.
Show bosses only filmed the 15-second appearance on Thursday night and were still editing the cameo early on Friday.
Viewers saw Pat, who was played for 25 years by Pam St Clement, laid to rest following her death from cancer.
Fans of the show had already seen her other son David - played by Michael French - return to Walford as his mother was dying. But until now it had been unclear whether Simon Wicks would say his farewells.
Albert Square devotees had been warned to keep an eye on the show to the very end for a surprise. During a shot of the grave in the darkness, viewers saw a figure moving in the shadows, then a grey-haired Berry emerged from the darkness carrying a bouquet of flowers.
He then stooped to place the floral tribute on Pat's plot, and said: "Goodbye mum."
Wicksy, wearing a suit, tie and overcoat, then stepped back into the shadows as the programme ended.
Berry joined the show in 1985 and continued until 1990, going on to appear in ITV hit Heartbeat and then BBC drama Harbour Lights. The 48-year-old star's reprisal of Wicks was said to be a "one-off"
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Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:24 am
