EastEnders fans have noticed a big change to the credits of the BBC soap in a recent episode, with some wondering if it may be a hint to Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) future.
Viewers will remember that Phil married Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) last month, amid a dramatic storyline that saw him cheat on her with Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit) just days before the wedding.
Fortunately for him, Kat has yet to find out, and the ceremony went without a hitch, making them Mr and Mrs Mitchell – something that some fans struggled to get used to at first.
Since then, we have grown used to seeing ‘Kat Mitchell’ in the end credits, which is why some fans got quite a surprise when they noticed that ‘Kat Slater’ had returned at the end of Monday’s (November 6) episode.
During the episode, Kat had offered support to a distraught Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) – also a former Mrs Mitchell – who was reeling from the discovery that son Albie had been kidnapped.
However, as the credits rolled, it was Kat’s name that caught people’s attention, with one viewer taking to Twitter/X to share their joy at the return to her previous name.
Other fans were quick to respond, with one joking about how the honeymoon period was over quickly, and another pointing out that ‘Kat Mitchell’ hadn’t lasted long.
Another fan quoted the tweet asking if this was a hint to an upcoming storyline, leaving fans to wonder if perhaps Kat and Phil’s marriage really is set to fall apart.
Of course, the burden of Phil’s cheating secret is still hanging over him, and with Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) set to return, future scenes will see Phil panicking about Kat’s ex revealing all.
Could Alfie expose Phil and Emma’s one night stand to Kat and cause their break up?
Alfie isn’t the only one who knows about Phil’s infidelity, with Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) having sussed things out pretty quickly.
His relationship with Phil has always been strained, so could he be the one to spill all?
Or, could Phil uncover Keanu’s involvement in Albie’s supposed kidnap, only to be blackmailed into silence as part of a pact to keep each other’s secrets?
Elsewhere, fans are eagerly awaiting the Christmas day episode which will see at least one of Walford’s men dead on the floor of the Queen Vic, having been murdered by The Six.
Phil’s name has been thrown into the mix on a number of occasions as the potential body, given that he has links to almost all of the women involved.
He was previously married to both Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Sharon, has a child with Denise Fox (Diane Parish), and has had several business dealings with Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal).
If The Six were to cover up the murder well enough, Kat may not know that he was dead, and therefore just assume she had been jilted, making her even more keen to keep her maiden name.
Could Phil be set to die at Christmas, leaving Kat without a husband and therefore a Slater again? After all, he is currently in possession of those cufflinks…
