"EastEnders' Minty actor Cliff Parisi issues urgent appeal following ‘unusual’ return to soap"

“Cliff Parisi shares his feelings about returning to EastEnders, where he was beloved as Minty Peterson, following his short comeback to Albert Square earlier this year for the soap’s 40th anniversary.”

“Millions of fans enjoyed watching him as Minty Peterson on the soap, but he admits he’d prefer to take on a new role – even if it doesn’t measure up.”

Cliff said: “I’m not sure about returning to EastEnders… I really don’t think it’ll happen.”

“I prefer to move forward. If a new opportunity comes up, I’ll likely pursue it—even if it’s not on the same level as EastEnders. I enjoy trying fresh things.”

Returning to Walford felt surreal for him. He explained: “It was like going shopping, then coming home to find all the furniture rearranged and the house full of strangers. You recognize the place, but once inside, you’re thinking, ‘Where’s my bed?’”

Although he found the experience unusual, he’s still grateful for the opportunity, especially because it gave him the chance to reconnect with his old castmates.

He continued: “It was so generous of them to invite me back for the anniversary. I felt truly honoured. It was a great time—I really loved catching up with my old friends. It was such a special moment.”

In other news, EastEnders actress Clair Norris shared a heartfelt message on social media, honouring her on-screen family and describing it as ‘the end of an era.’ Clair first appeared on the show in 2017 as part of the Taylor family, and her character Bernie soon won over viewers, becoming a beloved presence on the BBC soap.

However, Bernie went through several challenges in Albert Square, including the heartbreaking death of her half-sister Chantelle, who was killed by Gray Atkins in 2020, and her mum Karen’s departure from Walford in 2023.

Bernie’s world was shaken even further by the murder of her brother Keanu on Christmas Day 2023—a storyline first hinted at in a dramatic flashforward. His fatal stabbing by Linda Carter on his wedding day kicked off the intense ‘The Six’ plotline.

After learning the truth about Keanu’s death, Bernie made the painful choice not to go to the police, hoping to stop even more lives from being destroyed, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Following a short time away from the centre of the action, it emerged that Bernie had been secretly stealing thousands from the Panesar family. In a surprising twist, she persuaded The Six to let her go, making her escape in a taxi to Spain with her best friend Felix Baker to begin a new life on Tuesday (July 1).

With the Taylor family’s time on EastEnders now at an end, Clair Norris took to Instagram to post an emotional tribute, sharing a series of photos with her on-screen family from over the years. She captioned the post: “The end of an era last night. To my TV family—love you all!!”

“From day one, I was lucky enough to work alongside the absolute best and be surrounded by such supportive, caring people. I truly hit the jackpot with this group!”

“Thanks to @bbceastenders for the opportunity and @daranlittle for stirring things up… The Taylors.”