One of EastEnders’ most beloved on-off couples look to be firmly back on next week when they share a surprise kiss.
Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) finally acknowledge the growing spark between them in forthcoming scenes, as they continue to deal with the fallout from their son Tommy’s (Sonny Kendall) behaviour.
Earlier this month, the violent teenager’s abuse of mum Kat came spilling out after a dramatic night during which he smashed up the flat and poured hot liquid over Freddie Slater’s (Bobby Brazier) arm.
A concerned Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) later called social services, which resulted in Tommy forced to leave the family home, with foster carer Zack Hudson (James Farrar) taking him in.
Next week, Kat is in pieces ahead of a meeting with social services and continues to blank Jean and her daughter Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) for getting them involved.
Alfie begs Stacey to call a truce and tells a fib to get Kat to meet the Slaters at The Vic.
When she arrives, Kat is furious to have been hoodwinked, but Alfie gives an impassioned speech and the family eventually reconcile.
After Kat tells Alfie she’s grateful, Freddie notes how insane their chemistry is, and Alfie admits he still has feelings for his ex-wife.
Feeling awkward, he consults friend Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) for some advice, but is forced to put the matter to one side when the social services meeting approaches.
During the chat, Kat is devastated by how cold Tommy is towards her and fears they’ll never get their son back.
However, Alfie later manages to get through to their son a little, ending the session on a positive note.
Back at the flat, a grateful Kat surprises Alfie with a kiss…
Actor Shane Richie admits Alfie ‘doesn’t see it coming’, explaining: ‘He had no idea because Kat had been reminding him for weeks that they were just friends, and she had no feelings for him. Alfie’s resigned himself to this and that they’ll just be living together as parents and bringing up the kids together as friends.
‘But then Kat kisses him, and she kisses him in the way Kat kisses Alfie in the way she would have done back in the day, and it totally upends Alfie’s world!’
Speaking of next week’s developments, Shane says: ‘Kat and Alfie have gone the long way around, but they are slowly finding each other again.
‘If they did get back together, they would be this powerhouse of a couple because of who they are and their history together.’
He adds: ‘People always want to know if they are getting back together. There’s a whole generation of people who were in their late teens when Kat and Alfie first got together and are now in their 40s. They might have found their own Kat or Alfie and are excited that this great love story is rearing its head again.
‘I just say, “Watch this space because there will be fireworks!”’
