Who is Chrissie Watts in EastEnders and where has she been for the last 19 years?

After nearly 20 years away from our screens, it has finally been confirmed that Tracy Ann Oberman is returning to EastEnders as the iconic Chrissie Watts.

The announcement has come as welcome news to fans who have been asking for the legendary character to return for years... and now their prayers have finally been answered.

Chrissie will be back in Albert Square this autumn... but who is she and where has she been for the last 19 years?

Let's refresh our memories...

Who is Chrissie Watts in EastEnders?

Chrissie Watts was only in Walford for just over a year and a half, but in those 218 episodes, she certainly made her mark. She first arrived in Walford on April 29, 2004, after she came looking for her husband, Den Watts after their bar in Spain had gone bankrupt and their marriage had turned sour.

Not only was Chrissie shocked to learn that Den had children in Walford that she didn't know about, Sharon Watts, Dennis Rickman and Vicki Fowler, but she also discovered that he had been living in Spain undercover having faked his own death back in the UK.

Chrissie and Den's relationship was constantly on the rocks, with Den being unfaithful and lying to his wife. His most notorious affair was with Chrissie's business partner, Kate Mitchell (Jill Halfpenny) - and when Chrissie found out she cut off Kate's hair in revenge.

When did Chrissie leave EastEnders?

Chrissie famously left Walford on December 9, 2005, after she went to prison for the murder of her husband, Den Watts.

Where has Chrissie Watts been since she was last in Walford?

Along with Chrissie, Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) and Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) also had trouble with Den... Sam because he had tricked her out of losing The Vic, and Zoe because he forced her to fake a pregnancy and then sleep with him.

Things came to a head one night in an empty Vicvwhen Den attacked Chrissie, smashing her head against a fruit machine. Zoe stepped in and grabbed the nearest object, knocking him out and believing she had killed him. However, as Chrissie gloated that she had won, he regained consciousness and grabbed her leg, telling her she would never get him out of the pub. But Chrissie grabbed a doorstop and delivered a fatal blow... which Sam witnessed from afar.

In a bid to protect their freedom, Chrissie, Sam and Zoe buried Den under the floor of The Vic barrel store and Chrissie lived for months under false pretences with Den’s beloved adoptive daughter, Sharon Watts ( Letitia Dean ), and his son Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) who had no idea their dad was just inches under their feet.

Accomplice Sam was initially held responsible for the crime after she drunkenly dug up Den’s body on Sharon and Dennis’ wedding day, fed up with the lies and the guilt... but Chrissie’s actions were soon uncovered when Phil ( Steve McFadden ) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) returned to the Square in a bid to free their sister, and Chrissie finally confessed to the crime.

Chrissie has been in jail ever since.

Who does Chrissie still know on the Square?

During her time in Walford, Chrissie made plenty of enemies including Sharon Watts and Kat Slater who are both still very much part of life on the Square. With Sharon being the daughter of Den Watts, who Chrissie murdered, it is no surprise that Sharon won't be pleased to see her back in Walford.

Meanwhile, Chrissie's drama with Kat comes from when Chrissie, Zoe and Sam joined forces to cover up Den's death. Kat didn't take kindly to Chrissie getting her young daughter caught up in a life of crime.

Phil Mitchell and Ian Beale will also remember Chrissie - Phil has issues with her after she tried to frame his little sister, Sam, for Den's murder and Ian tried to buy the Queen Vic from her, a deal which fell flat.

Who plays Chrissie Watts in EastEnders?

Tracy Ann Oberman plays Chrissie Watts in EastEnders . Before joining the soap she had appeared in Casualty as Charlie Fairhead's love interest. Since leaving the soap Tracy has been in countless high-profile roles including Doctor Who , Doctors , Tracy Beaker Returns , Waterloo Road, New Tricks, Father Brown, Mistresses, It's a Sin, After Life and Friday Night Dinner to name just a few.

EastEnders airs Monday - Thursday on BBC One. See our TV Guide for listings.