Nasty Nick returns to Albert Square

7:49am Tuesday 2nd December 2008

EastEnders' nastiest villain, Nick Cotton, will make a shock return to Albert Square on Christmas Day, to visit his long-suffering mother Dot Branning, it has been revealed.

Nasty Nick, played by John Altman, has not been in Walford for seven years, since Dot threw him out for killing his son Ashley.

The explosive return in the Christmas show was unveiled in screening of the soap's two Christmas episodes by the BBC.

He enters the Square after being released from prison, and he has a special guest in tow - his secret daughter Dotty.

The drug addict, who murdered Queen Vic landlord Eddie Royle in 1991, has repeatedly betrayed Dot's trust, stealing her money, lying to her about having Aids and attempting to poison her.

Dot, played by June Brown, finally kicked him out in 2001 after his botched attempt to murder Mark Fowler, which resulted in the death of his own son Ashley.

Nick's return ruins Dot's Christmas, which was set to be a happy one after she was reunited with husband Jim Branning who lives in a care home after suffering a stroke.

Elsewhere in the Square, Susie plants a message in Sean's Christmas cracker revealing that he is not the father of Roxy's baby.

Sean, played by Robert Kazinsky, asks Roxy if it is true, and is devastated when she confirms his worst fears.

He guesses that Jack is the biological father and the pair come to blows outside the Vic.