Sid Owen

Rickeeeeh!

Eastenders legend Ricky the mechanic is officially gone forever, after actor Sid Owen totally ruled out any prospect of a return to Albert Square.

Ricky has been part of ‘Enders on and off for 25 years.

Viewers fondly remember his relationship with Bianca the barmaid.

She regularly screamed out his name - usually in frustration at his antics.

But now actor Owen insists he has quit showbusiness for good – to focus on running restaurants in France.

The new declaration is firmer than previous pronouncements by him about Eastenders.

In January, Owen announced he was leaving the long-running soap opera only “temporarily.”

It means there will be no fourth come-back of the popular grease monkey.

“I’ve retired. I’m now living permanently in France, where I have been on-and-off for the last 10 years, and I’m running my restaurant,” said Owen.

“I haven’t quite made my millions but I’m happy doing that and I’ll never be back.”

“I’m done with the UK and I hope that you will never see me on your TV screens again because I’m done and I’ve retired. I much prefer the lifestyle I have now,” Owen told the Sunday Mirror.