EastEnders fans are convinced a soap villain is heading back, 19 years after they were killed off.

Back in 2006, evil Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) made her debut as Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) lawyer. And soon enough, Phil fell for Stella and they went on to get engaged.

However, during her stint, she was involved in some dark storylines including secretly abusing Phil’s son Ben (Charlie Jones). Stella bullied and manipulated Ben, physically abusing him, even burning him with a hot spoon.

But just before Phil and Stella said ‘I do’ at the alter in 2007, Ben revealed all and opened up on his abuse, leaving Stella fuming.

A long chase then ensued which saw a livid Phil dramatically run after Stella for answers. However, the wicked lawyer jumped to her death from the top of an abandoned building.

But now, almost 20 years later and soap fans have predicted Stella’s shock return. On an EastEnders Facebook fan page, one person mused: “If you could bring back any villain dead or alive who would it be?”

Someone else suggested Stella and wrote: “Stella so she could get her comeuppance.” A third chimed in: “Yeah def Stella.” Another also predicted: “She could have faked her death, I’m sure stranger things have happened.” A fifth penned: “Yeah or a long-lost secret twin maybe?”

Meanwhile, talking to Digital Spy in 2007, Stella actress Sophie spoke about the harrowing EastEnders storyline.

When asked if she felt disturbed by what she was acting, Sophie said: “Well I think some bits were a bit harder than others. What was great was that Charlie [Jones] and I got on so well and we had a giggle about things.

“I think the best thing was that we felt so safe and comfortable with each other as actors. And obviously we knew that we were both just telling a story and it was far from real.”

As for what it was like to work with soap legend Steven McFadden, Sophie gushed: “He was lovely, so welcoming. And it was absolutely brilliant just to watch him work – he’s such a professional. He’s been with EastEnders for so long that he knows every crevice of the set!”