Paul Usher 'returning to EastEnders for 3rd time'

Paul Usher is returning to \'EastEnders\' for a third time.

The former \'Brookside\' actor is expected to reprise his role as gangster Danny Hardcastle later this year as he heads back to Albert Square looking for revenge on Phil (Steve McFadden) and Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden), after their dodgy warehouse job didn\'t go to plan in May.

A show source told The Sun Online: "Phil and Ben need to watch out as when Danny returns, he\'s not going to be happy with them.

"Phil thought he\'d never see Danny again after the last dust up - but he\'s back and he\'s angry.

"The revenge storyline will play out over the winter - with things getting increasingly tense between Phil and Danny."

Paul\'s last appearance coincided with a special episode for Ben about his hearing loss.

Ben turned up uninvited at Phil and Danny\'s dodgy dealing after realising the crook was trying to set his dad up.

But Ben was captured by one of Danny\'s cronies, and the gangster then fired a gun right next to his ear, leaving him unable to hear anything at all.

However, Ben and Phil managed to escape the warehouse with the money they had come for, and following a police car chase they got away.

Paul\'s first appearance in the BBC One soap came in March 2019.

The character\'s crony Midge befriended Phil\'s daughter Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper) only to then kidnap her.

Prior to his \'EastEnders\' debut last year, Paul was well-known to soap fans after playing Brookside\'s Barry Grant on and off from 1982 until the show ended in 2003.

The 59-year-old star also spent three years on \'The Bill\' as Des Taviner.

\'EastEnders\' is not currently airing new episodes of the soap after running out due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the show will return later this year.