EastEnders legend wasn't surprised by Garry and Minty development

Minty told his old friends that Garry was now living in his spare room, and, asked if he expected this set-up, Groves replied: "I don’t know where they came up with that idea but we were always a double act towards the end.

"We always said that EastEnders is a bit like Shakespeare. You have your comedy characters, tragedy characters and you have your love characters and your revenge characters.

"You have got all those things to play around with. Garry and Minty were the Laurel and Hardy of the 2000s!"

Speaking about working with Groves once more, Parisi added: "Ricky is great fun and he really made me laugh on the day that we were filming.

"He just has these faces that he pulls as his character is always in shock about something and it really makes me laugh," Parisi chuckled. "It was lovely to work with him again."

On that lovable chemistry between Minty and Garry, Groves said: "I don’t think it ever went away. We still keep in touch and it came very naturally.

"We worked together for such a long time, so it’s kind of like putting on a pair of old shoes. It was great, the chemistry came back within minutes."

As Parisi explained how happy he was to reunite with Billy actor Fenwick and Alfie star Shane Richie, he revealed that returning to EastEnders "felt like going home".

"It was a bit like being away for a very, very long time and living abroad and then coming back and going into your local pub."

Thankfully for Garry and Minty, as much as they love their old local, they will be safe from the danger looming at the Queen Vic next week as the BBC soap turns 40 in explosive style!

Read more:

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• EastEnders' Diane Parish reveals 'jeopardy' in Jack and Ravi choice
• EastEnders' Kellie Bright on how Linda is when she returns from rehab
• EastEnders' Lacey Turner on hopes for 40th anniversary
• Iconic EastEnders writer breaks down Barbara Windsor's outstanding final episode – departure of a great matriarch
• EastEnders confirms new behind the scenes special fronted by returning soap legend
• EastEnders confirms no early release episodes in anniversary week

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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