EASTENDERS stars are coming back to the seaside next week, as part of the show’s ongoing love affair with Southend.

Actors and producers will be in the city for at least three days at various local attractions.

The show has been coming to Southend ever since it first aired, and councillors and traders alike are pleased to see it return.

Carole Mulroney, councillor responsible for culture and tourism, said: “They have been here several times before but it’s always very exciting.

“A big show like Eastenders is something that so many people watch, and they loved our own home-grown talent here too.

“We are the closest seaside destination to the East End so it makes sense they keep coming.”

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The show’s character have ventured to Southend for various storylines, beginning with a trip by the Fowler family in 1985. Pauline, Arthur and Michelle headed to the coast to find son Mark, who they discovered with a new girlfriend and her sons who called him ‘Dad’.

Even more memorably, in 2013 Alfie Moon and Roxy Mitchell were supposed to be getting married, only for him to jilt her at the altar.

Instead he chased Kat Slater, tracked her down at Southend Airport, and persuaded her to come back to the Square and start a new life with him.

He was also spotted filming in Oaken Grange Drive.

And in August 2011, Shirley Carter and Heather Trott arranged a holiday to Southend to see George Michael. They were joined by Dot Branning and Fatboy as Dot wanted to visit her sister Rose.

Joan Tiney, chairman of the Southend Seafront Traders Association, hopes the stars and crews pop into businesses.

The owner of The Borough Hotel on the seafront said: “I think it will be good and can see it drawing lots of excited people who want to see the celebrities.

“I think it helps put us on the map, and we’ve got stars from Southend in the show too such as Maisie Smith and Ricky Champ. I’ve met him and he isn’t nice in the show but is a nice guy off screen.

“I hope they drop in the drink or something.”