EastEnders fans ‘work out’ soap legend’s return in shock Sharon Watts paternity twist
The character last appeared in the soap in 2006 but it hasn't stopped fans speculating that he could be the father
EASTENDERS fans have ‘worked out’ a soap legend’s return in a shock Sharon Watts paternity twist.
Sharon – played by Letitia Dean – was left stunned at the end of last year when she was told fiance Keanu Taylor wasn’t the father of her son Albie after all.
It meant that former flame Phil Mitchell had to be the dad, despite the fact she had done a home DNA test before Albie’s birth which said the hardman wasn’t the father.
On her wedding day to Keanu the truth came tumbling out, and lead to an altercation between Sharon and Keanu which concluded with him being killed by Linda Carter.
But his death aside, EastEnders fans are still baffled by the mystery of Albie’s paternity, and some have concluded his real dad is neither Keanu or Phil.
Taking to a soap fan forum, one wrote: “Following Albie’s AADT diagnosis and learning that Keanu doesn’t have the deficiency to pass on, Sharon comes to conclusion that Phil is Albie’s father.
“This has been speculated for a long while with the paternity test in 2019 being considered untrustworthy.
“What’s been given, instead, is two negative results that disproves one as the dad, but doesn’t prove the other.
“Is there a reason this has been left open? Why not have Phil get a DNA test when Sam suggested it and prove with 100% certainty that Albie is Phil’s? Are they going to say the hospital got the AADT test wrong and in an added tragic twist, Keanu really was Albie’s dad?”
They continued: “There’s actually room for anything. Later on, a producer can retcon Sharon to have slept with someone else in 2019 and both the DNA and AADT test results would actually fit with that; neither bloke was the father.”
Their post prompted a wave of responses as other EastEnders fans posted who the real dad could be, Phil’s brother Grant Mitchell.
Grant and Sharon had a tumultuous relationship and marriage in the early 90s, and while Grant – played by Ross Kemp – left Walford in 1999, he has returned for brief stints in the past.
The last time was in 2006 for Barbara Windsor’s exit storyline as Peggy Mitchell, while an archived recording of his voice was aired in 2022.
And now fans think this could be a way to bring Grant back again, and they were excited by the idea.
One wrote: “Yes I wouldn’t put it pass them to retcon the paternity again.
“40th anniversary he is revealed as Grant’s after on off-screen reunion leading to his return.”
Another replied: “I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t my first thought!
“Sharon retconned to have had a bunk up with Grant one weekend is exactly where my mind went.”
A third commented: “To be honest the only other bloke I’ll accept it being is Grant, because despite not seeing it I could believe it.
“In fact, I’ve always wondered if this is why, when [Chris] Clenshaw first got in as producer, he had that whole mini-arc of Sharon going to Grant for support.
“It seemed like something that was meant to go somewhere but it never really did beyond Phil resenting her for it.”
Indeed, the BBC soap will celebrate 40 years on air in February next year, with fans hoping it will prompt some show legends to return and major storylines to unfold.
Meanwhile Ross, 59, exclusively told The Sun’s TV Mag he wouldn’t be against a return to Albert Square.
He said: “I would never, ever say no to that. Why would I?
“And I don’t think I’ve ever said no to most things that I’ve been offered to do. You would be cutting your nose off to spite your face to say no.
“And also it would look unkind, I think. You know, as I say, I owe it so much.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
