29 July 2023 , 07:45
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EastEnders is bringing all the drama currently on screen, with nostalgia being a big theme in recent months thanks to past characters returning, and past storylines being revisited.
This is nothing new with the BBC soap, with its history often brought up for new plots - and character returns surprising us all for decades.
One year in particular was huge for the show, and featured several big and controversial storylines, including tragic deaths, big returns and bombshell secrets being exposed.
From a 'who's the daddy?' twist, to an epic wedding and the arrival of some characters that would later be involved in some of the show's biggest ever storylines, 2008 was certainly a key year for the soap. Here, we take a look back at the biggest storylines that aired 15 years ago...
EastEnders aired some major twists and turns 15 years ago in 2008 (BBC)Roxy and Sean wedding - and a baby twist
Lovers and possible soulmates Sean Slater and Roxy Mitchell were on and off after they began dating, but it wasn't long before they decided to wed - much to the frustration of her family.
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In fact, her sister Ronnie burst into the ceremony and tried to stop proceedings. She even tore up the certificate before trying to talk her out of it.
But Roxy made her come around to the idea, and the pair did wed. Viewers loved the couple but sadly it didn't last, as Roxy's pregnancy lie came to be exposed.
Roxy had fallen pregnant earlier in 2008 and she claimed Sean was the dad, despite her fling with Jack Branning. It later emerged her daughter Amy was Jack's child and not Sean's, sending him spiralling and taking revenge - before leaving the show.
May's revenge on Dawn
Villain May Wright returned in 2008 (BBC)Villain May Wright returned in 2008 after initially being on the show between 2006 and 2007. The character was devastated when her husband Rob began dating Dawn Swann, and she fell pregnant with his baby - while May was battling fertility issues.
After an unsuccessful round of IVF, May offered Dawn money in exchange for the baby and Dawn agreed - only for May and Rob to plan to con Dawn instead.
After playing Dawn, Rob and May held her hostage at his parents' house. Dawn did escape though but went into labour on the tube, before making it to the hospital. While there, May tried to take her baby but Dawn stopped her.
May was later arrested on suspicion of kidnapping. In 2008, May returned to take the baby again, and this time she took revenge. Knocking out Dawn's brother Mickey Miller, May locked herself in a room with Dawn and baby Summer. After taunting Dawn she tried to flee with the baby, only for Mickey to stop her.
As Mickey, Dawn and Summer remained in a bedroom, a distressed May went downstairs and turned on the gas in the kitchen, before lighting a cigarette and causing an explosion. May died instantly, while Dawn, Summer and Mickey were saved.
Jase Dyer's tragic death
There was heartbreak in 2008 (BBC)There was heartbreak in 2008, as Jay Brown's dad Jase Dyer found himself caught up in dodgy dealings and was haunted by his criminal past.
Gang leader Terry, who looked out for Jase when he was a teenager, came back into his life - with it revealed Jase's involvement with his gang led to his imprisonment. Terry was angry that Jase had turned his back on him and the gang.
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After an incident at The Vic, Terry was arrested while Jase had planned revenge. But in 2008, Jase began working for Terry again and it later cost him his life. Jase was planning to con Terry only for his son Jay to be kidnapped.
That night, Jase was beaten and stabbed to death by Terry and his men as Billy Mitchell hid in a room. Jay managed to call the police but it was too late to save his dad.
Child abuse horror
Bianca Jackson and her children (BBC)Towards the end of 2008, following the return of Bianca Jackson, her partner Tony King was introduced to the show. This was the year current character Whitney Dean debuted, alongside her stepmother and original character Bianca.
Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer, returned to the BBC soap after almost 10 years away. She returned with son Liam, daughter Tiffany and son Morgan.
Whitney was abused by Tony (BBC)Tony arrived later, and a shocking storyline that rocked the Square soon kicked off - while it had been ongoing offscreen. It was revealed Tony had groomed teenager Whitney, and had been sexually abusing her from the age of 12.
Tony manipulated Whitney into staying quiet, and made her believe they were in love and that they would run away together. That was until he moved on to Lauren Branning. Whitney ended up telling Bianca about their relationship and her plan to flee with him, but a sickened Bianca called the police and Tony was arrested.
Max buried alive
Max Branning didn't have the best time in 2008, thanks to the events of Christmas Day 2007 when his affair with son Bradley's wife Stacey was exposed by his daughter Lauren. The iconic DVD episode is still a hit all these years on.
In 2008, his own family took revenge on him. His betrayed wife Tanya teamed up with Stacey's brother Sean in a shocking plot to kill him. In brutal scenes, Tanya buried her husband alive in the woods - while she did later change her mind. Later that year, his daughter Lauren deliberately ran him over and left him for dead. Tanya took the blame but Max soon learned the truth.
Other plots in 2008
Frank Butcher died in 2008 (BBC)There were sad scenes in 2008, when it was confirmed legend Frank Butcher had died, while his death was offscreen. Soap actor Mike Reid had died the previous year. Characters including Peggy Mitchell, Pat Butcher and Dot Cotton united to say goodbye to the character.
Also in 2008, villain Archie Mitchell arrived - the father of Ronnie and Roxy. It would later emerge that Archie had raped his daughter Ronnie when she was a teenager.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.