Danny Dyer has given his backing to the possibility of his EastEnders character making a seemingly-impossible comeback in the future.
In scenes broadcast on Christmas Day, Mick was shown heroically swimming out into the Channel in a bid to save his childhood sweetheart Linda (Kellie Bright) - unaware that she had already made it back to shore.
Mick did not re-emerge from the water, however, and is presumed drowned at sea, with police subsequently finding his wallet washed up on shore.
An infamous Neighbours storyline from more than 30 years ago saw soap legend Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) washed out to sea and presumed dead, only for him to return five years later with amnesia.
Fans have speculated that a similar plot could be in store for Mick, with him one day returning to Walford after somehow surviving his ordeal, and Dyer has refused to rule out such a possibility.
"I do remember Harold Bishop, a few people have mentioned that to me because he died and then he came back, he washed up funnily enough, lost his memory," he told iFL TV
"Who knows? They've kept it open, I could turn up in three years smothered in seaweed. I went to Canvey, I thought I'd go and get a caravan on Canvey Island."
Dyer went on to admit that in the build-up to his departure from the soap, he had started to grow concerned that Mick had changed too much.
"I felt my character had lost his way," he added. "I didn't quite know who I was playing any more, it was a really odd thing.
"All I got for the past couple of years was, 'You still in that EastEnders? I don't watch it any more.' Constantly, that was the thing.
"When I first came in there was like seven or eight million people watching it... of course because of streaming services and all that stuff a lot less people do watch it."
Dyer will next be seen in Channel 5's Heat, a four-part drama following two families on holiday in Australia in the middle of bushfire season.
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