EastEnders has aired another goodbye for Grant Mitchell, as Ross Kemp’s latest comeback has come to an end.

The latest instalment began with Grant and Sharon Watts on the morning after they reignited their decades-old passion.

“This is no reflection on you, but we shouldn’t have done that,” she told him. “I’m grieving Martin, and you’re emotional. I don’t regret anything I said but we shouldn’t have got carried away.”

The look on Grant’s face clearly gave away that he wished it was more than a one-off, but Sharon told him the circumstances weren’t right. Not just because she’s currently with Teddy, but it could also break Phil, who is an incredibly fragile state right now.

Grant didn’t take it well, feeling like the whole Teddy situation is rubbing it in his face, and that they shouldn’t have called him back to the Square.

He angrily went to the laundrette as he couldn’t book a cab, and found Bianca Jackson having a panic attack, so helped her regulate her breathing.

Although the two haven’t always seen eye to eye, Bianca appreciated him using his army techniques to calm her down, and they bonded over the people they’ve lost over the years — Peggy, Dot, Tiffany, Pat, and even Pauline Fowler.

“All I’ve done since I got back here is shout my mouth off, argue, and sleep with somebody I shouldn’t have. Which is why, I’d best be off,” he admitted, which Bianca instantly worked out was Sharon.

“You could either be the idiot that runs off scared, or you could be the idiot who does something good for once, because there’s lots of people ’round here that need helping,” she said.

Moved by Bianca’s words, Grant went to see Nigel and apologised for his behaviour. Grant told him to pack his bags and meet him at the station to come to Portugal, where he would look after his old friend.

He then went to visit Phil in the hospital, and although things were still frosty between them, they parted on good terms, sharing a hug and wishing the best for each other.

“I know you needed more than a phone call,” he said. “You’ve always been the strong one. This ain’t my brother, and I should have been here sooner. But I was too wrapped up in my old stuff, and I’m sorry.”

Sharon approached Grant at the station after receiving a call from Nigel. After finding out that Phil also still loved Sharon, he told her to be there for his brother.

“Sharon, you deserve a good man,” he said, and while Sharon called Grant a “good man” as she placed her hand on his cheek, he told her he was still going.

Nigel then turned up, without his bags, and said he wanted to stay. He wanted to be there for Phil, and felt that Walford felt “safe”.

Although Grant didn’t love the idea of leaving Nigel, he respected his wishes. “You are my best friend, and you never forget that,” he tearfully said, before departing Albert Square once more…

The episode proved to be hugely successful at getting fans all emotional, with viewers admitting to “sobbing like a baby” and calling Phil’s visit “truly a beautiful scene”.

Praise was not only given for how well the soap knew “how to tug at the heartstrings” but also for how the script had EastEnders history “jumping off the page”.

“Watching Phil, Grant and Nigel skirting around saying how much they all love each other is too much,” read one particularly poignant post, which noted how the storyline was “dismantling the idea of The Mitchells and what Mitchell Men stand for”.