James Bye has promised "massive scenes" between Martin, Ruby and Stacey when EastEnders returns to screen next week.

After almost three months off the air due to coronavirus, the BBC soap is back on Monday and viewers will find out what has happened to the characters during those missing months of lockdown.

Martin will be seen in a new relationship with Ruby (Louisa Lytton), the best friend of his estranged wife Stacey (Lacey Turner), who is on the verge of returning to Walford.

"We're not just going to pick up exactly where we left off. All of the characters, like everybody else, have been living these two months in lockdown," Bye told Lorraine.

"Relationships have formed, relationships have broken down, people have changed during lockdown. So that's a little journey that the audience will learn as the show restarts on Monday.

"It's really interesting with Martin and Ruby. The audience didn't even seem them together [before the break] - there was a bit of flirtation, and now they're in a full-blown relationship where they're loved up.

"Stacey's back - it's funny because when I got the scripts I didn't know how it was going to play out, I didn't know what her character was going to feel but the way that they've taken it is really exciting and there's some massive scenes between the three of us and particularly between [Stacey and Ruby] - so look out!"

EastEnders returns with a new 20-minute episode format on Monday at 8.05pm on BBC One.