The character returned in January 2018, after being promoted to a regular character, with storylines including his relationship with Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), a one-night stand with Abi Franklin (Sally Carman which results in Abi getting pregnant and a custody battle for their son. In March 2022, it was announced that De Melo had decided to leave the soap, and Imran was killed off after sustaining injuries in a car accident and ultimately dying of cardiac arrest in scenes broadcast in June 2022. Following his exit from the soap, De Melo announced he would be starring in a theatre adaption of The Clothes They Stood Up In, based on the 2001 book by Alan Bennett and in 2023, he is set to appear as Borachio in the play Much Ado About Nothing.