After nearly two decades away, EastEnders bosses announced the return of one of the show's best-loved bad boys: Sean Slater, played by Rob Kazinsky.

While the casting decision has landed well with the soap's fanbase and producers are lauding it as an exciting career move for the 42-year-old actor from Haywards Heath, the reality is somewhat different.

Because far from being a victorious homecoming for Rob, who started on the show at just 23 in 2006, the Daily Mail can reveal that the decision was made out of desperation rather than desire.

As an insider close to the show points out, 'his full-time return has come just as the Hollywood roles have started to dry up'.

'Rob's Hollywood dream failed. That's the harsh but bottom line. He's worked but not at the level he expected,' said my insider.

'He got some decent roles early on like True Blood but instead of it catapulting him to huge success, everything went a bit wrong,' they added.

The circumstances of Rob's return are a far cry from where he was in 2009, when he left EastEnders. He was a firm fan favourite among the show's 12million nightly viewers.

Rob landed several roles, but none of them made him a household name in the US.

After nearly two decades away, EastEnders have announced the return of one of the show's best-loved bad boys: Sean Slater, played by Rob Kazinsky

Rob first arrived on Albert Square in August 2006, exactly 20 years ago

First came bit parts in US TV shows, from Law and Order in 2010 to Brothers and Sisters the following year.

Rob's big screen debut then followed in 2012 when Star Wars creator George Lucas offered him a prominent role in the Second World War film Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first black military pilots.

It was meant to be Rob's big break. But the film failed to make an impact at the box office, grossing just $50million despite costing $58million to shoot.

That same year, however, he landed a role in hit US series True Blood, a sexy vampire show that became a huge success. He also starred in Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro's film Pacific Rim in 2013.

He shared the screen with Legally Blonde star Reese Witherspoon and Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara in 2015's Hot Pursuit and then opposite Dominic Cooper in 2016 film Warcraft, based on the video game series of the same name.

His last big project in the US was the Star Trek spin-off Section 31, released last year, in which Rob starred alongside Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

But it seems these roles were too few and far between.

While Rob briefly re-appeared on EastEnders for short cameos in 2019, 2021 and 2022, he always returned to America in pursuit of bigger opportunities.

Rob Kazinksy, left, in the Oscar-winning sci-fi monster film Pacific Rim with Idris Elba

His other Hollywood credits include playing Orgrim Doomhammer, right, in 2016's Warcraft

Now showbusiness insiders say Rob's decision to return to Albert Square proves he's given up on America.

'He didn't become a household name and bigger work just didn't emerge. He's got an impressive CV but they weren't starring roles. Even the Star Trek film bombed,' said my source.

'It's not surprising a steady pay cheque has tempted him back even though EastEnders is in terrible shape at the moment. It all seems a bit desperate.'

While returning to the show will bring stable work, industry insiders point to the risks involved with bringing an old character back.

The show's executive producer, Ben Wadey, landed in hot water earlier this year after his attempt to bring back Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater fell flat.

Michelle returned to the show in June last year after a 20-year absence, but less than a year later - in July - BBC bosses announced her character would be axed once again by the end of the year. Some showbiz insiders fear Rob is leaving himself vulnerable to the same fate.

'Michelle Ryan has only just been axed after her comeback failed and now Ben Wadey's trying to do the same thing with Sean,' said the insider.

'The worry is that like with Zoe, it will just go wrong and so this is a big risk for Rob.'

Several of Rob's former EastEnders colleagues have had better luck in America.

Himesh Patel, 35, who joined the soap as a 16-year-old playing Tamwar Masood, left in 2016 and went on to play the lead in Danny Boyle's smash-hit Yesterday.

While Rob briefly re-appeared on EastEnders for short cameos in 2019, 2021 (pictured, in character with mum Jean Slater and sister Stacey) and 2022, he always returned to America

I'm told Rob's former EastEnders colleagues are delighted at the prospect of working with him again, writes Alex Doyle. Pictured: Rob with Lacey Turner, who plays his on-screen sister

He recently starred alongside Hollywood royalty Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.

Ben Hardy, 35, the sixth actor to play Peter Beale in EastEnders, went on to star in X-Men and Bohemian Rhapsody, where he earned critical acclaim for playing Queen drummer Roger Taylor in the band's biopic.

My source continued: 'People are asking whether Rob would be returning if he had the career of Himesh or Ben. They've achieved real success after leaving EastEnders and you can't imagine them going back to what the show has fallen to now.'

I'm told Rob's former EastEnders colleagues are, however, delighted at the prospect of working with him again.

'Rob is great fun and he is an extremely kind person. People always say they love working with him on shoots. His personality is infectious,' said my source.

Although he's well liked, Rob's history with the show isn't without controversy. In 2007 it was revealed that he sent unsolicited image of his penis along with a string of inappropriate messages to a model he knew at the time.

He was suspended from the show for two months and forced to issue a grovelling public apology.

My source said: 'Rob has caused problems for the show before with the sexting controversy in 2007. He really angered the BBC then, in particular Diederick Santer, who was the big boss at EastEnders at the time. And it happened while they were in the middle of shooting complex storylines.'

When the #MeToo movement gained traction in 2017, Rob reflected on his behaviour, admitting he was still ashamed.

'I would like to take this opportunity to offer a sincere, personal apology to the woman I once knew: I am so sorry. 34-year-old me joins you in disgust at 22-year-old me and a personal apology should have been made in 2007, not more than a decade later,' he said.

'I will continue to learn from my own failings and experiences as I have for the past 11 years and continue to work on myself.'

My EastEnders source concluded: 'While the younger cast firmly believe there are double standards on the show when it comes to actors stepping out of line, bosses are clear they won't tolerate any bad behaviour from Rob this time around.'

It remains to be seen if Rob's return to Albert Square will give him the profile boost he needs.