With his youthful complexion and shock of tousled hair he looks worlds away from the follically challenged hard-man responsible for turning him into a household name. Ross Kemp will reprise his iconic role as EastEnders legend Grant Mitchell for the first time in nine years when the character returns to Walford for the show's 40th anniversary in February.
![[But EastEnders fans were stunned after Kemp shared a decades old photo of himself during an appearance on Good Morning Britain]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/11/75935755-14241271-But_EastEnders_fans_were_stunned_after_Kemp_shared_a_decades_old-m-103_1735730059913.jpg)
Famed for is bald head and no-nonsense attitude, Grant was involved in some of the show's biggest storylines before leaving in 1999 for a new life overseas. He has since made a series of brief returns, with his last coming in 2016. But EastEnders fans were stunned after Kemp, 59, shared a decades old photo of himself during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
![[Younger years: Kemp was pictured with short dark hair while playing rugby as a young man]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/11/75935753-14241271-Younger_years_Kemp_was_pictured_with_short_dark_hair_while_playi-m-104_1735730087821.jpg)
The shots from his younger years were taken when he was a young adult, first playing rugby with short hair, and also sporting a short back and sides shortly after leaving drama school. Ross Kemp will reprise his iconic role as EastEnders legend Grant Mitchell for the first time in nine years when the character returns to Walford for the show's 40th anniversary in February.
![[Kemp originally joined the EastEnders cast almost 35 years ago and soon made his mark as one of half of the legendary Mitchell brothers alongside Phil and loving son to Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell, who was played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/11/93622531-14241271-The_actor_made_his_mark_as_one_of_half_of_the_legendary_Mitchell-a-105_1735730132869.jpg)
But EastEnders fans were stunned after Kemp shared a decades old photo of himself during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. Younger years: Kemp was pictured with short dark hair while playing rugby as a young man. The actor was appearing on the ITV breakfast show in 2023 to promote his new book, Take Nothing For Granted: Tales From An Unexpected Life.
![[It is not his first return to Albert Square after his initial stint from 1990-1999, he returned for a year in 2005, and again in 2016 for Dame Barbara’s final scenes with her sons]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/01/11/93622851-14241271-His_character_s_storyline_is_currently_being_held_under_wraps_ho-m-107_1735730200536.jpg)
