The last time he starred in a BBC1 drama he embarked on affair with his adopted sister before being viciously stabbed to death.
Former EastEnders star Nigel Harman, who famously played Dirty Den's son Dennis, is making a return to prime time - taking over from Max Beesley in Hotel Babylon.
Harman will play charismatic businessman Sam Franklin who checks into the venue, only to discover his ex-wife Juliet, played by Anna Wilson-Jones, has been appointed its new general manager.
The pair discover Hotel Babylon is about to be sold, so Sam steps in to buy it.
Filming starts on the fourth series later this year and will air on BBC1 in 2009.
Ratings for Hotel Babylon have been good but the show looked to have run into problems after the last series when it emerged that both lead stars – Max Beesley and Tamzin Outhwaite were quitting to pursue other projects.
A BBC spokeswoman said: 'We are thrilled to be reopening the doors of Hotel Babylon.
'The new series promises to be packed with big stories and a dream list of guests.
'The introduction of Nigel Harman as Sam...will most definitely stir things up.'
East End boy: Harman - with co-star Letitia dean - as Dennis Wicks in Eastenders
Harman has mainly performed in theatre since he quit EastEnders in 2005. He has had bit parts in dramas such as Channel 4's City of Vice and BBC1's Lark Rise to Candleford.
The actor caused controversy after he left BBC1's flagship soap by criticising the quality of writing on the show.
In one interview he said confessed that he spent his two year stint there 'basically making up my lines as I went along on EastEnders'.
Checking in: Nigel Harman will take over from Max Beesley (right) in the new series of the BBC1 drama
In another he revealed: 'How can I put this politely? You're not always guaranteed a good script at EastEnders. I've watched a couple of people deliver lines that were so spectacularly bad, so spectacularly well, it's bowled me over.'
All of Hotel Babylon's regular cast including, Dexter Fletcher, Emma Pierson and Ray Coulthard, are all returning for the fourth series.
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