BBC EastEnders fans slam Stacey Slater and Kathy Beale’s mistake as downfall ‘sealed’

EastEnders viewers were quick to slam Stacey Slater and Kathy Beale’s mistake amid Karen Taylor’s return.

Karen is back in Albert Square just weeks after her character left Walford for Spain. Karen left under a cloud when she took full responsibility for the orchestrated kidnap of Albie, Sharon Watts and Keanu Taylor’s son. She decided to leave the Square for good, taking Phil Mitchell’s money – which he gave to Sharon to pay off the kidnapper – with her.

However, on Monday night, Karen returned to Walford in search of her son Keanu, who is believed to be missing after allegedly attacking Nish Panesar on Christmas Day. Yet soap watchers and The Six know the truth of what really went down. Fans will recall that over the festive period, The Six – made up of Denise Fox, Stacey Slater, Suki Panesar, Linda Carter, Sharon Watts and Kathy Beale – grouped together to cover up a murder.

During the explosive episode, Suki’s abusive husband Nish tried to stop her from leaving him for lover Eve Unwin as he got aggressive. The Six stepped in, where Denise whacked him over the head with a Champagne bottle. After thinking he was dead, he was able to be revived but during the dramatic scenes, Sharon’s jilted groom Keanu showed up and attempted to take her son, Albie, after learning Phil Mitchell was in fact the father, where he started strangling Sharon to which Linda stabbed him.

So far, The Six have covered up the murder by hiding Keanu’s body in the abandoned café following the fire, they have pretended that Keanu attacked Nish and has consequently gone on the run. However, Karen was back in Walford on Monday night, demanding answers over her son’s disappearance as members of The Six looked on guilty.

On Wednesday night’s episode, which was released a day earlier on BBC iPlayer due to The FA Cup, Karen grilled members of The Six, hoping for answers while Phil demanded his £50K back. Meanwhile, Kathy decided to call the police to report Karen for Albie’s kidnap but Bernie overheard and stopped her.

Later, Kathy and Phil came up with a plan, where Phil decided to take back the Arches from Sharon as payback for the kidnap ransom. Kathy then told Karen her debt had been sorted through the Arches but on one condition, she had to leave the Square for good never to return.

However, later on, as Kathy told Stacey the information, the duo didn’t realise Karen was listening. Kathy said: “I think we might have done it… she’s going! I just gave away Sharon’s business, not that she knows that! The garage will be good for Ben and he [Phil] wants Sharon and Albie home. I just wish she’d come back, fancy not picking up your phone and leaving us to mop up her mess!” to which Stacey replied: “You know, this could finally all be over soon, Kath!”

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were quick to call out Kathy and Stacey for speaking so loudly about confidential information in a public place. One person said: “Tonight’s ending. Karen has heard everything Stacey and Kathy has said. #EastEnders”, a different account put: “Notttt Karen over hearing Kathy and Stacey’s convo why was she shouting anyway? damn #eastenders” while another added: “When will the Six learn to stop talking in puplic. #Eastenders.”