Virgin River favourite Colin Lawrence has posted a heartfelt message on Instagram following his recent journey to London this week.

The star, celebrated for his portrayal of John ‘Preacher’ Middleton across all six series of Netflix’s beloved romantic drama, has just finished shooting the programme’s forthcoming seventh instalment.

Series seven will continue from where Mel Monroe (portrayed by Alexandra Breckenridge) married Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), although their wedding ceremony concluded catastrophically as Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) seems to have vanished.

In other developments, Preacher succeeded in avoiding imprisonment for the unintentional death of violent Wes (Steve Bacic) whilst his romance with firefighter Kaira Bryant (Kandyse McClure) continues to flourish.

Whilst countless viewers eagerly await Virgin River’s comeback in the coming months, Lawrence disclosed he had recently visited his birthplace in London as part of a European holiday, reports the Mirror US.

Posting an array of delightful photographs featuring his family in the capital, he penned in the description: “The first stop on the European vacation is England, where I was born.

“I haven’t been back since I was a little boy. It was fun to play tourist and I even got an opportunity to visit the home I lived in as a child!”

He concluded with a touching sentiment: “Not gonna lie, that was something special.”

The collection included a beaming photograph of the performer alongside his wife Lucia Walters and their two daughters, plus an image of his former family residence. Lawrence’s supporters were evidently moved by the glimpse into the actor’s homecoming journey, flooding the comments section with heartfelt messages.

One Instagram follower responded: “Beautiful family! Enjoy your vacation! Safe travels.”

Another person wrote: “Gorgeous family! The girls are all grown up and so beautiful! Looks like a fun trip!”

“Wow, that must have been emotional!” a third remarked. “And lovely that you could come back to visit.”

Meanwhile, one disappointed admirer posted with crying emojis: “Awwww I can’t believe you’re there just when I’m visiting family in Italy!! Hope you had a great time.”

Lawrence’s character Preacher swiftly won over audiences when Virgin River debuted on Netflix in 2019.

He has remained a constant presence ever since, providing support to Mel and Jack whilst navigating his own personal turmoil throughout all six seasons of the hugely successful streaming programme.

Beyond the forthcoming seventh instalment, Lawrence is anticipated to reprise his role for the recently announced eighth series, expected to debut in late 2026.