It’s a dark day for Callum Highway (Tony Clay) next week in EastEnders as he lays his father, Jonno Highway (Richard Graham) to rest, though he’s in for a shock as not one, but two characters make shocking returns.

Callum and Jonno never had an easy relationship. Jonno was a violent and abusive dad who tormented both Callum and his older brother Stuart (Ricky Champ).

He initially appeared on the square when summoned by Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) in anticipation of her wedding to Callum and his homophobia was made very apparent, getting into a dispute with Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) over his views on the Pride festival and gay people in general.

When he later physically attacked Callum, Stuart forced their poisonous father to leave.

Returning again and learning that Callum and Whitney never made it down the aisle and demanding to know why, Callum came out to his dad, who responded with a barrage of abuse, earning himself an incredibly cathartic thumping from Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), before retreating again.

It was another six years before he re-emerged, although it became incredibly apparent that nothing had changed when he launched a homophobic attack on Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace).

Although Callum hoped his father had turned over a new leaf, he soon learned that his dad was only after cash, and when Jonno suddenly suffered a heart attack, he used his final words to tell Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) that he was ‘ashamed’ of his son. How is Callum feeling in the aftermath of his fathers death?

‘I think he’s quite conflicted. There was a lot about Jonno that was really bad – his views, the way he lived his life and the way he’s treated Callum, Stuart and their mum.

He’s the very opposite of Callum in pretty much every way. But when Jonno showed up again, Callum decided to see where things would go and if their relationship could be fixed, so I think he’s grieving what might have been, rather than the man Jonno was.’

Johnny – who offered to help Jonno with his legal issues after their initial spark soon grew into a bigger flame – lied to Callum, pretending that Jonno’s final words were him asking for forgiveness.

The two have had a rocky road, with Callum still married to Ben despite the latter’s imprisonment for fraud-related charges. When Ben’s dad, Phil discovered what was happening, he attempted to throttle Johnny and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) suggesting that Callum resist playing with fire in Ben’s absence.

Callum and Johnny couldn’t stay apart, however and with Callum insisting that he and Johnny become official – and go public – Johnny is struggling with the lie he told, and suggests they hold off until after the funeral.

Of course, this being EastEnders, that was never likely to happen, was it?

When Ben’s mum, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), discovers Callum kissing Johnny, she rounds up Ben’s family, including Phil, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick), Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) and Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).

As they all take it in turns to lambast him for his infidelity, Callum has had enough and delivers some harsh truths of his own.

‘He thinks they shouldn’t be coming after him about Johnny when none of them are perfect! There are very good reasons why Callum has gone off and had an affair with Johnny. Callum is trying to take control of his life after things have been so out of control for such a long time.

Everyone makes mistakes, and Callum feels like he’s being attacked by people who’ve all done wrong themselves. I do think he’s also a bit saddened by it because he doesn’t want things to be this way, especially when he’s about to go to his dad’s funeral,’ Tony said on the confrontation.

While he rushes off to find Johnny, pleading with him to attend the funeral, the Mitchells and Beales decide to keep the truth from Ben until after the proceedings, on the understanding that Callum tells both Ben and Lexi himself.

The first of the two returns rocks Callum, when his brother Stuart arrives, having been convinced by Johnny to attend the service.

On the return of his brother, Tony said: ‘It’s amazing for him because they’ve got a really special bond.

It’s a bond that has been fractured at times, and they’ve been through a lot over the years, but Callum and Stuart are in a really good place now. So, when he sees his brother, he feels that he’s not on his own, and he doesn’t have to face the funeral alone.

As the group make their way to the funeral service, the final shock, and second return leaves everyone’s jaws on the floor. Ben arrives, having been transferred to a UK prison and granted day release for the funeral.

Explaining how Callum feels about Ben’s reappearance, Tony said: ‘Callum is in a state of total shock – he can’t believe it. He’s made a decision about his life and what he’s going to do in terms of the relationship with Johnny and then boom!