EastEnders Resorts to the Same Old Tricks: Bringing Back David Wicks to Boost Ratings

Image: BBC press

By Jon Donnis

Ah, EastEnders, the perennial soap opera that just can't resist recycling old characters to squeeze a few more drops out of its long-dry creative well. As the show gears up for its 40th anniversary, it's no surprise they're rolling out the red carpet for another tired return, this time for Michael French's character, David Wicks. Yes, folks, Walford's smooth-talking womanizer is back, and if the show's history is any indication, it's all just a desperate ploy to juice up those sagging ratings.

David Wicks, the charming rogue and son of the ever-dramatic Pat Butcher and Pete Beale, is set to make a short stint later this year. And let's be real, it's not because the storyline desperately needs him. No, it's because the show's producers know they can play on viewers' nostalgia and hope that bringing back a familiar face will distract from the increasingly ludicrous plotlines and repetitive drama.

Over his four collective years in Albert Square, David Wicks has been involved in some of the most iconic storylines, well, iconic if you're counting endless dodgy deals and an affair with his brother's wife as top-notch drama. Remember that time he almost had his half-brother Ian killed? Or when he developed feelings for Bianca Jackson only to find out she was his secret daughter? Ah, classic soap opera gold that can only be improved by trotting it out for yet another round.

When David last left Walford in 2014, it was after a failed wedding and a heart attack, a dramatic exit that should have put a pin in his storyline for good. But no, the EastEnders team, in their infinite wisdom, have decided that the 40th anniversary is the perfect time for his return. Why? Because nothing says "we're out of fresh ideas" like recycling a character who has already left the show multiple times.

Michael French, with a straight face, says he's "honoured" to reprise his role once again. Of course he is, who wouldn't want another paycheck for playing the same tired character? Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw assures us that David's return will bring the usual dose of drama, as if we haven't seen this play out a hundred times before. It's almost like they're banking on viewers having the memory span of a goldfish.

For those keeping track, and you really should be, because the writers clearly aren't, David first appeared on December 23, 1993, and has popped in and out of the Square ever since. He's the father of Bianca Jackson, surprise!, Joe Wicks, and Karen Wicks, because in soap land, the more convoluted the family tree, the better. His last stint ended in May 2014, but here we are again, with the same character being dusted off for another go.

So, dear viewers, prepare yourselves for yet another round of predictable drama and manufactured suspense. EastEnders might be treating you like fools by recycling old characters for the sake of ratings, but hey, at least we get to see David Wicks make a mess of things one more time. Just don't expect anything new or exciting, after all, if EastEnders has taught us anything, it's that history loves to repeat itself.