OMG SHOCKING!!! Josh From EastEnders Was in S Club 7?! | EastEnders

For longtime fans of EastEnders, tonight’s episode delivers a wave of nostalgia, heartbreak, and one very unexpected blast from the past. Viewers are stunned as Josh Saunders suddenly returns to Albert Square after nearly three decades away — but what really has everyone talking is the actor behind the character. Many fans watching at home are doing a double take and asking the exact same question: “Wait… is that Jon from S Club 7?”

Surprisingly, the answer is yes.

Josh Saunders is played by Jon Lee, who later became world-famous as a member of the iconic pop group S Club 7. But before the chart-topping singles, sold-out tours, and television fame, Jon was actually part of Walford history. His return to the BBC soap now feels like a full-circle moment almost 30 years in the making.

Back in 1997, Jon first appeared in EastEnders as Josh Saunders, the teenage son of Julie Bates and the future stepson of beloved character Nigel Bates. Although Josh only appeared in around 20 episodes during his original run, his storylines left a strong impression on fans who remember the emotional drama surrounding the Bates family in the late 1990s. At the time, Jon was still an aspiring performer trying to establish himself in acting, long before pop superstardom completely changed his life.

Now, decades later, Josh is returning to Albert Square as part of Nigel Bates’ deeply emotional farewell storyline. The soap has brought back several familiar faces connected to Nigel in order to honor one of EastEnders’ most loved characters following his tragic death earlier this week. The return episodes are packed with emotional reunions, grief, and unresolved memories as old friends and family gather together to say goodbye.

Alongside Josh, viewers have already seen the return of Julie Bates and Clare Bates, reigniting classic storylines that many longtime fans never forgot. The atmosphere surrounding these episodes has been filled with nostalgia, especially because Jon Lee’s comeback was so unexpected. For viewers who grew up watching EastEnders in the 1990s and then later followed S Club 7 during the early 2000s, seeing those two worlds suddenly collide feels almost surreal.

Jon himself admitted that stepping back onto the famous Albert Square set after so many years felt incredibly strange. According to him, the experience brought back a flood of memories because so much of the environment still felt familiar despite the decades that had passed. Reuniting with members of his on-screen family also made the return especially emotional for him.

For fans who may not remember Josh’s original storyline, the character was heavily tied to Nigel Bates during one of the soap’s most memorable family arcs. Nigel fell in love with Julie Bates, eventually leaving Walford with her in 1998 to begin a new chapter in Scotland. However, things were complicated by Josh’s awkward romance with Clare Bates, Nigel’s stepdaughter. That unusual relationship created one of the more uncomfortable family dynamics in classic EastEnders history, adding tension and emotional conflict to the storyline.

Now the family’s return comes under heartbreaking circumstances as they reunite for Nigel’s funeral. Clare’s comeback especially carries emotional weight because of how important Nigel was to her life. The funeral storyline has been designed as a tribute not only to Nigel’s character but also to an entire era of EastEnders that many fans still consider one of the soap’s golden periods.

While younger audiences immediately recognize Jon Lee from S Club 7, many are shocked to learn his acting career actually began before his pop music fame. EastEnders was one of his earliest major television roles, and looking back now, fans can already spot the charisma and screen presence that would later turn him into a household name.

Everything changed for Jon in 1999 when he joined S Club 7 alongside Rachel Stevens, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O’Meara, Bradley McIntosh, Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, and Jon Lee. Created during the height of late-1990s British pop mania, the group quickly exploded into one of the UK’s biggest entertainment phenomena.

S Club 7 became famous not just for catchy songs but also for their upbeat personalities, colorful image, and positive message. Massive hits like Bring It All Back, Reach, Don’t Stop Movin’, and Never Had a Dream Come True dominated the charts during the early 2000s. Their famous slogan, “Ain’t no party like an S Club party,” became one of the most recognizable pop catchphrases of the era.

The group’s success extended far beyond music. They starred in hit CBBC television shows including Miami 7 and L.A. 7, helping turn the band members into teen idols across Britain and internationally. Millions of records were sold worldwide, and for a while, S Club 7 seemed impossible to escape.

That’s exactly why EastEnders viewers are so amazed now. One minute, Jon Lee was playing a grounded, emotional teenage character navigating complicated family problems in Walford. The next, he was performing on huge stages in matching pop outfits in front of screaming fans around the world. The transformation from soap actor to international pop star happened incredibly fast.

Ironically, Josh Saunders was nothing like the energetic image Jon later became known for. On EastEnders, Josh was often portrayed as sensitive, troubled, and caught in tense family situations. His storylines focused on emotional conflict, relationships, and adapting to changing family dynamics. Yet even in those early episodes, viewers can now recognize the natural charm that later helped Jon succeed in the entertainment industry.

After S Club 7 eventually split in 2003, Jon continued building a successful career in musical theatre. Rather than disappearing from the spotlight, he earned praise for stage performances in productions such as Les Misérables, Jersey Boys, and Sweeney Todd. His transition into theatre allowed him to prove he had far more range than simply being a pop singer from a manufactured band.

Still, nostalgia for S Club 7 never disappeared. Reunion tours over the years repeatedly brought the group back together, reminding audiences how beloved they remained. Fans across the UK continued supporting the band, especially following the heartbreaking death of Paul Cattermole in 2023, which deeply affected both the group and longtime supporters.

Now Jon’s return to EastEnders has unexpectedly revived nostalgia for both classic soap storylines and early-2000s pop culture at the same time. Social media has already exploded with reactions from stunned viewers realizing that the actor playing Josh Saunders was secretly a future pop icon all along. Many younger fans genuinely had no idea Jon Lee ever appeared in EastEnders before joining S Club 7.

Online discussions have been filled with disbelief, with some fans calling it one of the greatest hidden soap opera facts ever discovered. Others admitted they completely forgot Josh Saunders even existed until his dramatic return this week. For many, seeing Jon back on the square after almost 29 years feels like watching two entirely different eras of British television suddenly collide.

What makes the whole story even more fascinating is how naturally Jon slipped back into the role. Despite spending decades focused mainly on music and theatre, viewers say he still feels believable as Josh Saunders, almost as if no time has passed at all. His scenes during Nigel’s funeral storyline have already added extra emotional depth because audiences know the history attached to both the character and the actor himself.

The return also serves as a reminder of how many future stars quietly passed through EastEnders before becoming famous elsewhere. But few transformations are quite as dramatic as Jon Lee’s journey from teenage soap actor to member of one of Britain’s biggest pop groups.

For EastEnders fans, Josh Saunders’ comeback is already shaping up to be one of the most emotional and nostalgic moments the soap has delivered in years. And for S Club 7 fans, it’s a chance to see a completely different side of Jon Lee — not as the smiling pop star dancing through chart hits, but as the emotional young man once struggling through life on Albert Square.

Nearly three decades after first appearing on screen, Jon Lee’s unexpected return has united generations of viewers through pure nostalgia. Whether audiences remember him as Josh Saunders or as one-seventh of S Club 7, one thing is certain: fans definitely have not forgotten him.