A killed-off character will return to Holby City as part of the show’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
Patricia Potter will reprise her role as Diane Lloyd who died in an apparent suicide on the BBC drama.
Producers have promised that the character will return in a “most unusual way”.
The Holby City surgeon will be joined by former character Elliot Hope, played by Paul Bradley, who bowed out of the hospital drama in 2015.
Old storylines will be revisited as the classic characters return to the wards.
Potter said: “It’s lovely to be returning to Holby. I really enjoyed my time there and made fantastic friends as well as meeting my husband.
“Returning after a decade is very weird but it’s as friendly as ever and revisiting Diane feels like putting on an old glove.
“She had a tragic end and this storyline feels like it puts the character to bed with some peace and resolution. It’s great.”
Bradley added: “I’m really looking forward to returning to a programme on which I spent so many happy years. Holby has always been a hive of really exciting and imaginative stories and this won’t be any different.”
Bradley will return for five episodes including the 1,000th instalment of the BBC show.