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ACROSS the years, there have been many movers and shakers in the world of soap.

From explosive exits to hotly-anticipated comebacks, the soap world would not be the same without a returning face or two every now and again.

Across EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, many characters have said their final goodbyes only to pop back up just years later.

Tina Dingle’s surprise re-appearance in Emmerdale recently left fans gobsmacked whilst over in Walford there has been no shortage of comebacks in recent weeks, namely Chrissie Watts, David Wicks, Bianca Jackson, Jake Moon and Joe Wicks.

But not all soap comebacks go to plan with many of them suffering a complete backlack.

The Sun has taken a look at the best and worst comebacks in the world of soap below…

BEST

Emmerdale

Kim Tate

ITV

Kim is soap’s original superbitch[/caption]

She was soap’s first ever bitch and is arguably one of Emmerdale’s most famous faces so it was no surprise that a return to the Dales for Kim Tate 19 years after she was last seen in the village went down a treat in 2018.

A huge marketing campaign revealed that Kim would be back causing chaos in the Dales after being released from prison.

Heading back to Home Farm, a huge whodunnit surrounding Kim immediately struck as she was pushed off the balcony in the mansion and collided into a champagne tower – very on brand for Emmerdale’s Kim!

It was eventually revealed that Faith Dingle was the mystery pusher and Kim has remained a mainstay in Emmerdale since with plots including her doomed marriage to Will Taylor and allowing her horse Ice to murder Craig after his rape of Lydia Dingle.

Coronation Street

Jenny Connor

ITV

Jenny’s return stint was that popular she went on to become the Rovers’ landlady[/caption]

Known as Jenny Bradley in the 1980s, after more than 20 years away from the soap, the daughter of villainous Alan Bradley made a surprise return to the show in 2015.

She was initially reintroduced as Kevin Webster’s new love interest but things soon took a sinister turn when she developed an unhealthy obsession with his son, Jack.

Jenny soon kidnapped Jack leaving the Webster’s terrified but it was revealed that Jenny was grieving for her own little boy who died.

The shock plot saw Jenny win over fans once again and after a few months away again, she returned for good in 2016.

Since then she has gone on to be a comedy favourite and even found herself as the landlady of the Rovers Return Inn.

EastEnders

Ben Mitchell

BBC

Ben Mitchell’s sixth incarnation proved popular on the show[/caption]

When Ben Mitchell returned in 2019, he was being played by Max Bowden – the 6th actor to take over the role.

The many reincarnations of Ben has sparked fierce debate among many EastEnders fans but for the most part, Max won praise for his betrayal of the role.

His return storyline was hugely praised as he began a relationship with fan favourite character Callum Highway who he later went on to marry.

They cemented themselves as one of Walford’s most popular couples with Callum helping to raise Ben’s daughter Lexi with him.

WORST

Emmerdale

Debbie Dingle

Rex

Debbie’s fleeting return was universally panned and she was never seen again[/caption]

When it was revealed that Debbie would finally be returning to the Dales after close to two years away, Emmerdale fans were left excited at seeing the feisty character in action once again.

However, it went on to become one of the soap’s most poorly-received reintroductions with Debbie’s return only going on to last a total of six weeks.

Branded “pointless” by many viewers, Debbie appeared in a handful of episodes between December 2020 and February 2021 when it was revealed that she was Al Chapman’s mystery woman.

He had been cheating on Priya with her, a mirror of Pete Barton who also cheated on Priya with Debbie.

But the so-called plot twist was quickly wrapped up and with it, Debbie vanished and was never seen again.

Coronation Street

Bet Lynch

PA:Press Association

Bet’s two attempts at returns just a year apart only lasted weeks each[/caption]

An icon of soap, it seemed like nothing could go wrong with Bet’s return to Weatherfield in 2002.

However, her two brief returns in 2002 and 2003 left much to be desired from viewers.

Appearing just to give her former neighbours a catch-up on what she had been getting up to in her new home of Brighton – many were left underwhelmed by her lack of storylines.

Her final scenes saw her due to marry Cecil Newton but as he dies from a heart attack on the day of the wedding, Bet returns back to Brighton and takes Liz McDonald with her.

EastEnders

Janine Butcher

BBC

Janine found herself shoehorned into the Carter family’s drama during her 16-month return[/caption]

Another infamous soap bitch, Janine made a shock return to Walford in 2021.

Played by Charlie Brooks, her character was shoehorned into becoming Mick Carter’s brand new wife despite his famous union with Linda.

During her 16-month return, she was simply left vying for Mick’s attention and attempted to destroy Linda in the process.

A shock New Year showdown saw Janine, Mick and Linda caught up in a terrifying car accident that saw the two women hurtled off the cliffs of Dover.

Mick managed to save Janine whilst Linda freed herself.

Unaware of this, he dove back in and was then lost at sea and presumed dead after trying to search for and save Linda.

Janine then quickly departed after being jailed for perverting the course of justice relating to another offence in which she tried to frame Linda for drink-driving.

SAM Faiers has been slammed by fans for ‘animal cruelty’ after sharing luxury holiday pics.

The gorgeous Towie star, 33, jetted off to Dubai with her three children, and shared a snap of her youngest son Edward on horseback.

instagram/samanthafaiers

Sam Faiers has been slammed by fans for ‘animal cruelty’ after sharing luxury holiday pics[/caption]

instagram/samanthafaiers

The star with her adorable son Edward[/caption]

He was seen sitting on the horse while on the beach with palm trees as the backdrop, and the two year old flashed a smile.

Edward was guided along the beach by a man, but some of Sam’s fans weren’t pleased with the image.

One person wrote: “Love your family but please don’t use animals for your own entertainment, it’s so hot for them, and no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.”

A second person penned: “Poor horse. Setting the wrong example here.”

And a third echoed: “Beautiful pictures but riding horses on a beach in that heat is so cruel for those poor horses.”

Sam captioned her string of holiday snaps: “Making memories.”

The star looked sensational in a plunging white dress with her hair to one side as she held her son Edward in one snap.

In others, she shared photos of her three children, Rosie, Paul and Edward, smiling away.

The family also enjoyed water based activities and a visit to the aquarium during their sun soaked getaway, and the reality star shared an adorable picture of Edward dancing on the beach.

Sam’s trip comes after she praised her step-dad, Dave Chatwood, whom she and her sister Billie call their father, after he was admitted to rehab as a result of his alcoholism.

Dave was formerly married to their mum Suzie Wells but the girls have remained incredibly close to Dave.

In an Instagram post, Sam shared her admiration for Dave after opening up about a difficult few weeks for her father.

Writing at length on Instagram, Sam said: “As a family, we are so proud of you, Dad.

“Recently, you have faced a couple of difficult episodes due to your alcoholism.

“This is your first time in rehab, and we want you to know how much we love you and that we are here to support you through this journey.

“On my visit Dad wanted a curry & a head shave. Dad and I made a short video because he said he wants to share his journey and hopefully help others who are going through the same thing one day.”

She then followed up the post with a clip of herself and Dave speaking ahead of his rehab stint.

In the clip, Dave confirmed he had already completed two weeks of sobriety before heading to rehab.

He said: “I’m going into my first 12 steps of living a clean life.

“It is going to be a very hard battle but I am quite determined to do it.”

instagram/samanthafaiers

Sam’s children Rosie, Paul and Edward[/caption]

instagram/samanthafaiers

Edward looked adorable dancing on the beach[/caption]

TYSON FURY could fight on until he is 50-YEARS-OLD as he looks to make as much from boxing as possible.

Fury returns on December 21 in a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk following his defeat in May.

PA

Tyson Fury says he could fight into his 50s[/caption]

He lost his WBC belt and undefeated record after 12 thrilling rounds.

But Fury – who has won every title in heavyweight boxing – admitted he is not fighting for gold anymore.

Instead, he wants to maximise his boxing paydays after responding to a question about ex-champion Andy Lee saying it is hard to accept defeat.

Fury responded: “Andy Lee never had £200million in his bank to make him happy, did he? So what is my goal, and what is my target?

“It’s not a belt. It’s not a legacy. It’s not a boxing fight. It’s to make as much money as possible.

“To do that, I’ve got to have as many fights as I can until the wheels fall off and I’m 50 years old, crippled with a stick, walking down the street. That’s how I’ll be.”

Fury, 36, previously said he would wait to fight Anthony Joshua, 35, even if he was in his 50s.

The outspoken Gypsy King is believed to have earned close to £85m alone in his loss to Usyk, 37, earlier in the year.

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And Fury believes he is the only boxer candid enough to admit his fights purely for fortune.

He said: “I’ve had 40 professional fights, and I was in every single one of them for the money.

“If I wasn’t getting paid, I wouldn’t have done any of them. I do it for the dough, but I’m the only one that will tell the truth.

“I don’t come to these places, thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m on TV. I’m Famous.’

“I’m thinking, ‘How much dough can I get at any given moment in my career?’

“If you want to fight, the only question I say is, ‘How much?’ I have gloves, I have a body, and I will travel if the money is right. I’m truthful.”

Getty

Oleksandr Usyk facing off with Tyson Fury[/caption]

AN iconic British car brand has launched a new hybrid that’s “faster off-road” than its rivals despite being among the cheapest on the market.

The base model was launched last year in electric and petrol specs, but the new all-wheel drive version will not be available as an EV.

Jeep

Jeep has announced a new hybrid, all-wheel drive version of the Avenger[/caption]

Jeep

The firm promises it will be ‘faster’ across all terrain than any of its rivals[/caption]

Jeep has announced the latest update to its Avenger lineup, with the introduction of a hybrid variant of the popular SUV.

The Avenger 4xe will slot in at the top of the model range and the firm promises it will “go further, fast and better off road” than any of its rivals.

The firm says the car will “establish a new standard” and “deliver on performance and sustainability”.

Under the bonnet, a 134-horsepower, turbocharged petrol engine will link up with two 28-horsepower electric motors, with one located on each axle.

Power is run through a six-speed automatic gearbox, laying down a 120mph top speed.

Jeep also suggests that the hybrid system can channel 1400ft lb of torque to the rear wheels to boost off-road performance.

That is aided a “smart” AWD system, which turns on and off depending on driving conditions.

All four wheels will receive power under 19mph, helping it handle tricky terrain.

Above that mark, the rear wheels are powered selectively up to 56mph, at which point it shifts to front-wheel drive only to improve fuel economy.

And drivers can make use of ‘Selec-Terrain’ driving modes to adapt the specs fo Snow, Sand, Mud and Sport settings as well as the standard Auto option.

On the interior, the design has been refreshed, with the most notable addition being new seats and “durable” trim to help features last longer.

The seats themselves will be made of an easier-to-wash material, while drivers will also be offered an optional bonnet sticker to reduce glare in sunny conditions.

Plus as part of its rugged, off-roading image, customers will be offered mud and snow tyres as standard or can pay a little extra for All Terrain 3PMSF tyres.

Speaking of paying, the Avenger 4xe will come in among the cheapest hybrid SUVs on the market – and not far off the cheapest hybrids in general.

Priced from £30,999, it’s only about £12,000 more than the MG3, which is the most affordable hybrid you can get these days.

But you’ll have to get one while they last, as Jeep has confirmed there will be a special £34,999 North Face edition, which will be limited to just 4,806 production examples.

Eric Laforge, who heads up Jeep’s European division, said: “We are proud to introduce a model that not only delivers on performance and sustainability but also sets a new standard for versatility and style.”

Jeep

The interior has also been given a refresh[/caption]

Jeep

It’s also set to be one of the cheapest hybrid SUVs on the market[/caption]

COLMAN’S has confirmed it has axed an “amazing” condiment as shoppers say other brands “just aren’t the same”.

The decision was initially revealed on social media after one fan wondered what had happened to the product after they couldn’t find it on the shelves.

Facebook

Colman’s French mustard has been taken off supermarket shelves[/caption]

Colman’s is a household name, known for a wide range of mustards, condiments and recipe mixes.

The concerned shopper wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Why don’t you make your French mustard anymore? I used to love it. Amazing with cheese on toast!”

Another fan of the condiment wrote on Facebook: “Can anyone tell me why French mustard has been unavailable in shops for several weeks.

“Usually buy Colman’s but not even shops own brand available. I don’t know how they grow mustard seeds but I am wondering if it’s a failure in the crops.

“I hate my steak without mustard, and English version is too hot.”

In response to the post on X, Colman’s wrote: “Hey, unfortunately we have discontinued it from the UK, but we’ll pass the feedback on to the team to say you want it back!”

In another post on the social media site, many people expressed their love for the French mustard.

One person, responding to the call for Colman’s to bring the mustard back, wrote: “Definitely. My husband misses this.”

Another said: “This really needs to come back used to luv this on my steak.”

While a third added: “Oh god yes. I’ve searched and searched for it. Other brands aren’t the same.”

However, the good news is the product hasn’t completely disappeared.

It is still available from major wholesalers such as Booker, Bidfood and Brakes and it can also still be sourced on Amazon.

Fans can get a huge 2.25 litre jar, which should keep them going for a little while, for £15.58, from the online retailer.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Amazon

Colman’s French Mustard is still available to buy wholesale[/caption]

SIR Keir Starmer denied lying to Brits over plans to hike their taxes – as he promised them “light at the end of the tunnel”.

Labour are expected to drop a £35 billion tax bomb on the UK in their Budget on Wednesday.

AFP

Sir Keir Starmer speaks at a press conference during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia on Saturday[/caption]

Reuters

The PM arrives for the press conference[/caption]

It includes a hugely controversial tax hike on employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by up to 2 per cent.

The move will cost firms up to £20 billion.

Speaking at a press conference in Samoa this morning, the PM insisted the pain would be worth it to fix Britain’s broken public services.

He said: “What I want to be judged on, one, have we made people better off?

“Do they feel better off under a Labour government because we fix the foundations.

“Secondly, that we genuinely pick the NHS up, put it back on its feet, but also at the same time reimagine it and make it fit for the future.

“That is as much about reform and technology as it is about money. There is no investment without reform as far as I’m concerned.”

Labour promised not to raise taxes on “working people” – including NICs, income tax and VAT.

But they have been accused of lying to Brits as Budget leaks suggest employer NICs will go up, while income tax thresholds will be frozen – forcing people to pay more tax on their wages.

Sir Keir was accused by ex-Tory Chancellor Lord Norman Lamont of stoking “class war”.

It came after he said that “working people” do not make money from renting property or owning stocks and shares.

Asked directly if he “misled” Brits with his tax pledge, the PM said: “No.”

He continued: “We were very clear about the tax rises that we would necessarily have to make up, whatever the circumstances and you’ve listed them there and I listed them, I don’t know how many times in the campaign.

“We were really clear in the manifesto about and in the campaign that we wouldn’t be increasing taxes on working people and spelt out what we meant by that in terms of income tax, in terms of NICs and in terms of VAT, and we intend to keep the promises that we made in our manifesto.”

Asked for his definition of “working people”, Sir Keir previously told Sky it was someone who “goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque” but cannot “write a cheque to get out of difficulties”.

Pressed if this included people with assets, said: “Well, they wouldn’t come within my definition.”

Tory shadow minister Claire Coutinho blasted: “Keir Starmer went into an election saying he’d protect working people only to define that as a subset of people with jobs once he won.

“Labour either had no plan for post election or straight up lied to the public on multiple fronts.”

The warning came as Rachel Reeves sparked fears of mortgage rate pain after ripping up her debt rules.

The Chancellor confirmed plans to change the way national debt is calculated to hand herself up to £50billion more to play with at next week’s Budget.

It will let her embark on a massive borrowing spree to fund key manifesto pledges while still claiming to have met her promise to have debt falling in five years’ time.

But the financial fiddling risks spooking the markets in a Liz Truss-style panic, with government borrowing costs sent soaring yesterday as a result.

Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the move could force interest rates to remain high for longer and wreak more misery on homeowners remortgaging.

AFP

Sir Keir attending a closing executive session of the CHOGM[/caption]

AP

The Labour leader is greeted by the Sheraton general manager Sunil Rawat as he arrives for the Leaders’ Retreat[/caption]

LAURA WOODS has claimed Arsenal are not Manchester City’s main title rivals this season.

The TNT Sports host has also admitted the Gunners “don’t look the part” amid their poor disciplinary record this season.

Rex

Laura Woods has admitted Arsenal are not Manchester City’s main title rivals[/caption]

Getty

The Gunners were beaten by Bournemouth last weekend as their disciplinary woes continued[/caption]

Mikel Arteta’s side have already had three red cards in eight Premier League matches so far this term.

William Saliba is the latest player to be suspended as he serves a one-match ban this weekend.

The French defender was sent off in the defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday.

He will now miss Sunday’s home clash with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

Ahead of the match, Woods admitted Arsenal’s disciplinary record is a worry.

She told BetMGM: “I do worry for Arsenal, with injuries and suspensions.

“No Ricardo Calafiori, no Martin Odegaard, no Jurien Timber and no William Saliba. I tell you what, it’s pretty infuriating being an Arsenal fan at the moment!

“What’s even more infuriating is feeling like a broken record and mentioning that the next day Tosin Adarabioyo only got booked for a foul just like Saliba’s on Diogo Jota.

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“Yes, we Arsenal fans moan, but we should also all be wanting to see consistency in the league with decisions like this because next week it’ll be your team. 

“Taking a bit of responsibility, though, Arsenal need to stop getting themselves into these situations. We’re literally leaking points and throwing away games. We don’t look the part at all!”

Saliba’s suspension takes the number of Arsenal absentees to seven this weekend.

Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all set to miss out through injury after failing to train on Friday.

Meanwhile, Woods believes Liverpool are City’s main title rivals this season.

The presenter added: “I watched Liverpool in Europe on Wednesday, and while they didn’t blow RB Leipzig away, it was a good game for Darwin Nunez’s confidence.

“Scoring a goal and proving a handful throughout the match, they need him to be at his best against Arsenal if he replaces Diogo Jota again.

“Liverpool look organised, less chaotic and more controlled under Arne Slot. He has a brilliant team too and their defence is once again immense. I think it’ll be the defence that would carry them to a title.

“Jurgen Klopp left them in a really good place with some very promising youngsters coming through and a few experienced old heads that know how to see out the league.

“I absolutely afforded them a season of transition, but I’ve been so impressed, I think they’re Manchester City’s closest challengers now.”

Reuters

Liverpool are the biggest threat to City according to the TNT Sports host[/caption]

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