THE last we heard of Kathy Beale was in 2006, when she died in a car crash in
South Africa — so seeing her alive and well in Greenwich last night was a
bit of a shock.
For EastEnders fans too young to remember the good ol’ days, ‘Kaffy’ was one
of Walford’s huskiest voiced sexpots, and one of the show’s favourite
characters… despite spawning Ian Beale.
A proper East End woman with strong morals, Kathy’s life was steeped with
tragedy.
She was raped twice, once when she was 14, which resulted in her giving up the
baby only for her to return years later looking for her mum – Kathy’s
rejection of her saw her later die from a heroin overdose.
In 1988, she was raped again, this time by wine bar owner Wilmott-Brown.
The trauma of the ordeal – and aftermath – led to the breakdown of her
marriage to Pete Beale, Ian’s dad.
The storyline was heralded as a landmark for TV, and was only the second time
such a case had featured in a soap.
After Willmott-Brown’s imprisonment, Kathy moved on and dated other people
from the Square, but in 1993 she became involved with Phil Mitchell, and
they became parents to Ben.
However, they nearly didn’t make it down the aisle as she discovered his
affair with Sharon – and she later got her own back by sleeping with his
brother.
She was one of the original characters from the first episode in 1985, and was
a continuous presence in Albert Square until 1998, when she left husband
Phil and headed to South Africa with a then-infant Ben.
Kathy returned briefly the following year to meet Ian’s fiance Melanie Healy
and later in the year to attend their doomed Millennium-eve wedding.
In 2001 she wed a man she met in South Africa, Gavin Sullivan, who adopted
Ben.
However, it was later revealed that she had died in a car accident, and after
the death of his step-father, Ben was shipped back to Walford to live with
his dad.
Last night it emerged that Kathy had faked her own death – but where she’s
been and why she’s been in hiding is yet to be revealed…
Kathy’s surprise return to EastEnders sent shockwaves through the
viewing public — but how will the people of Walford react?
Ben Mitchell
Their relationship: She’s his mum.
How they left it: Ben got shipped to Walford after his mum died in a
car crash in 2006.
Ian Beale
Their relationship: She’s his mum.
How they left it: Kathy wasn’t happy with Ian’s choice in bride – what
will she make of Jane?
Phil Mitchell
Their relationship: Kathy is his ex-wife, and the woman he loved the
most.
How they left it: When he discovered ‘Kaffy’ had slept with his
brother, Grant, he nearly killed him by shooting the steering column of
their getaway car after a heist gone wrong.
Carol Jackson
Their relationship: Has a child with Ian’s half-brother, David.
How they left it: David Wicks’ dad was Pete Beale, who is also Ian’s
Dad. This makes Carol related to Kathy through marriage.
Martin Fowler
Their relationship: Kathy was married to his uncle, Pete.
How they left it: Martin is too beige to have bad blood with anyone.
He’ll probably be pleased to see her and enjoy reminiscing about the good
ol’ days around his mum Pauline’s kitchen table.
Sharon Mitchell
Their relationship: Sharon is the adoptive daughter of Kathy’s best
friend, Angie.
How they left it: Kathy nearly didn’t make it down the aisle with Phil
as he had been sleeping with Sharon, who was married to his brother Grant at
the time. How will she react to discover her one-time love rival is now her
ex’s wife – and her son’s stepmum?
The cafe
Their relationship: Kathy bought the Bridge Street Cafe in 1992 and
promptly renamed it’s Kathy’s.
How they left it: When she left Walford in 2000 it was still called
Kathy’s. OVer the years, it ended up being renamed after whoever Ian Beale
was married to until his mum’s ‘death’ in 2006, when it was switched back.
In 2011, Lucy called it after herself as she picked up the pieces of her
dad’s nervous breakdown.