Ross Kemp finally lured back to 'EastEnders'

Ross Kemp has finally agreed to make an EastEnders comeback later this year, according to the News of the World today.

The actor had been in talks over a possible return for several months but eventually sealed the deal after being persuaded by Barbara Windsor, who plays his on-screen mum Peggy.

"She must have asked 50 times," Kemp, 40, told the newspaper. "In fact she nagged so much I told her I'd say yes if she stopped asking! Now I've finally agreed, I'm looking forward to it."

Among the many sticking points to his return was his involvement with ITV, where he stars in the hit drama Ultimate Force. The new contract gives him the freedom to continue working with other channels - including ITV - as well as a starring role in his own BBC series.

"I realised it was an amazing opportunity," Kemp added. "This means I can have a profile on ITV and the BBC. It's a fantastic position to be in and I feel really lucky."

Kemp's comeback, to be filmed in August, will initially be a one-off but he has admitted to being available to rejoin the cast for four months from January 2006 - if, he says, the producers decide to ask him back.

"At this stage no one knows what will happen but I think they might want me to. It wouldn't bother me if they killed off Grant during my return though, especially if it was a great plot. Anyway, EastEnders has proved that getting bumped off doesn't mean anything. You can still come back. Just look at Dirty Den."