Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) make their long awaited return next week – and straight into the centre of some classic EastEnders drama.
Be warned: the following article is rife with poker hot spoilers for episodes that you won’t want to miss!
The Square stalwarts have both been absent for months, with Sharon flying to Australia to care for her old mate Michelle Fowler after a hysterectomy, and Alfie taking a well deserved break following the conclusion of his prostrate cancer treatment.
Alfie had hoped that friend Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) would join him after the two shared a kiss, but she was talked into staying by Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) who feared she would confess to the murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) on Christmas Day.
In their absence, Denise Fox (Diane Parish) has almost cracked following a mental health breakdown, Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) has returned and learnt the truth and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) edged dangerously closer to finding it out himself.
In upcoming scenes, hungover Linda is knocked back by a surprise visitor – Sharon has jetted back home and is furious to learn that she confessed the Christmas events to her son Johnny.
Learning that the murderous meat thermometer has gone missing, she calls a crisis meeting with the other members of ‘The Six’ women who were involved.
It is safe to say that the reception for Sharon is ‘icy’, as actress Letitia Dean admits.
‘Linda and all of the women think Sharon left them in the lurch to flee to Australia whilst they’ve been panicking and covering this up back in Walford,’ she explained.
‘Even though she’s dealing with her own heartbreak, I think Sharon soon realises just how much all of the women have sacrificed, what with Linda relapsing, Kathy losing Rocky by shopping him to the police and Denise struggling to cope and having her marriage break down.
‘She doesn’t take any of that for granted, and I think naively, she wants to come back and somehow put it all behind her and move forward.’
As chaos ensues at The Vic, Linda is unexpectedly presented with the weapon, but who had it?
The women are relieved when Sharon agrees to dump it, but just metres away fresh devastation hits as the café floor caves in, threatening to reveal Keanu’s final resting place.
Further woes arrive on her doorstep when ex-husband Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) threatens legal action if she won’t let him see their son Albie.
Panicking following the unfolding events at the cafe, Sharon agrees to his demands but makes him promise to always be there for him.
When Linda and Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) anxiously inform Denise of the situation, her mood spirals once again and she begins to pack her bags, preparing to leave Walford for fear of her missing ‘D’ necklace (that was accidentally buried with Keanu) being found.
Meanwhile, Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) sets about planning to relay the floor, with his mum trying in vain to stop him without appearing suspicious.
Stacey agrees to help Denise retrieve the necklace, and after stealing Bernie Taylor’s (Clair Norris) keys they begin to make their move… until Jack catches them in the act.
As gossip flies around Walford about a body being found, the situation only looks to get more messy!
We can’t contain ourselves…
