EastEnders first look at serial killer Lucas Johnson’s return as Phil Mitchell has him beaten for contacting ex Denise

EASTENDERS’ serial killer Lucas Johnson’s return is set to be a violent one as Phil Mitchell pays a henchman to beat him up.

The preacher turned murderer – who is played by actor Don Gilet in the BBC soap – will return to Walford later this year after seemingly being released from prison.

Lucas’ return to Walford will be met with violence

But on location filming pictures have shown the apparently reformed killer being viciously beaten by one of Phil’s associates.

According to on-lookers Lucas will be attacked for trying to contact ex Denise Fox when he hears about her son Raymond being back in her life.

He will want to play a role in the child, who Denise had with Phil and gave up for adoption, life.

But Phil will not stand for it and take action to warn Lucas off.

The serial killer will be attacked by a man said to be on Phil’s payroll

Actor Don Gilet is reprising the role after years away

Lucas will be viciously assaulted as a warning

Will the killer be left for dead or will he turn the tables?

The attack is brutal

A source said: “Lucas’ return is going to be explosive – not least for Denise.

“Her world is going to be turned upside down when her killer ex walks back into her life.

“It’s going to spark to a major storyline that will run and run and the question will be – is Lucas reformed?”

Lucas was last seen on the show in 2016 trying to escape from prison.

Fortunately his attempt was thwarted by his ex Denise and her daughter Libby, but the scars of what he did to Denise run deep.

Lucas terrorised Walford and Denise for years – and now he’s making a comeback

Don can’t wait for his return to breathe new life into Lucas

The former preacher murdered prostitutes in his campaign of terror

He framed her for his sick murders before faking her suicide and holding her captive in a damp basement for months, until she managed to escape and expose him.

And now he’s going to return later this year to cause havoc in the Square.

Don told HOAR Online: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be asked to breathe life once again into such a complex, controversial and divisive character but, most importantly, to have another opportunity to work alongside one of the UK’s finest actors, Diane Parish. I feel blessed.”

EastEnders’ executive producer Jon Sen added: “Bringing back Don to the Square has been on our wish list for some time now as there’s definitely some unfinished business with Lucas and he certainly hasn’t let Denise go. 

“His reign of terror put him firmly up there with Walford’s biggest villains and I can’t wait for audiences to watch his return unfold.”

It will be another blow to his ex Denise Fox who just discovered the son she gave up for adoption in 2017 had been orphaned.

His parents and sister were killed in a car crash leaving him in the care of villain Ellie Nixon.

Denise has become determined to stop gangster Phil Mitchell, the boy’s biological father, from getting involved – deciding to walk away herself.