One of EastEnders most controversial characters is set to make a dramatic return to Walford. Gray Atkins, portrayed by Toby-Alexander Smith, first arrived in Albert Square in 2019 alongside his partner Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer) and their two children. As a highly successful solicitor, Gray enjoyed flaunting his wealth and earned respect from the community. However, behind closed doors, he harbored a dark secret: he was physically and mentally abusing Chantelle.
In a harrowing storyline, Chantelle planned to leave Gray in 2020 but tragically died after being pushed onto an open dishwasher, impaling herself on a knife. Gray covered up her death, and the soap then depicted his descent into serial murder. Three months later, he killed Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White), who had uncovered his abuse. He then murdered Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) by pushing him in front of an Underground train, motivated by jealousy over Kush's relationship with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).
Gray's transformation into a crazed murderer sparked controversy. While his domestic abuse plot was praised, many felt the shift to serial killer narrative diluted the impact of Chantelle's story. The character departed in 2022 after being arrested for his crimes. Despite serving a lengthy prison sentence, his upcoming return promises serious drama.
According to The Sun, exact details of Gray's brief comeback remain unconfirmed, but it is reported that his story will involve his second wife, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams). The former couple share a son named Jordan. Away from the soap, actor Toby-Alexander Smith is married to Emmerdale star Amy Walsh, who plays Tracy Shankley. The couple have a daughter named Bonnie and welcomed their second child in March 2026.
