Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell) has had a dark history in EastEnders including a spell in prison for killing his sister Lucy (Hetti Bywater).

In recent years we’ve seen him come head to head with a number of residents, including Lucy’s mum Cindy (Michelle Collins), who don’t have faith he can change.

We’ve also seen him struggle in the last week as his 21st birthday approaches – a milestone that Lucy never got to celebrate.

Things are also a little rocky between Bobby and girlfriend Anna Knight (Molly Rainford), with him unable to bond with her beloved pooch Tyson. With her old flame Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) back on the scene, it looks likely that feelings could soon resurface…

To make matters worse for Bobby, his former step-mum Jane (Laurie Brett) is back on the scene, the woman who raised him and helped to conceal Lucy’s murder.

But who was his birth mother, and what happened to her?

Who is Bobby Beale’s mum?
Bobby Beale is the son of Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman), although there was initially drama surrounding the identity of his father.

Laura had originally thought that Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) was Bobby’s dad, but it was later revealed that Garry had the wrong blood group and that Ian was the rightful father.

Ian initially avoided caring for Bobby, letting Garry look after him while unaware that he was not really his son.

Laura then died in April 2004 after tripping on Bobby’s toys and falling down the stairs.

After her death, the truth about Bobby’s real father came out when Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) discovered his birth certificate.

Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) was close to Bobby and acted as his adoptive mother for a portion of his childhood while she was married to Ian.

She had discovered Lucy Beale’s body after Bobby had killed her, and she had initially protected him by moving the body and convincing him that he hadn’t killed her.

Bobby later attacked Jane by hitting her on the head and legs with a hockey stick, before being sentenced to four years in prison.

Why is Jane back in EastEnders?

That’s the question on every soap fan’s lips today (15th July), after Jane made a grand return to the show after seven years away.

Suspicious that Ian was having an affair, Cindy convinced her ex-husband George to drive her to a picturesque house in the Cotswolds which was preloaded into his sat-nav.

Arriving at the property, she debated whether to confront him or not, for fears of losing her security.Little did she know, Lucy’s twin brother Peter (Thomas Law) was also following her, and that Bobby jumped in the back of his vehicle.

After building up the courage to knock on the door, Ian answered and Cindy charged in – coming face to face with Jane.

But why is she meeting up with Ian after all this time, and what impact will it have on Bobby?