BBC EastEnders drops Keanu Taylor Christmas clue amid double bombshell exit

EastEnders fans are convinced the hit BBC One soap dropped a major Christmas clue about Keanu Taylor on Friday night as Karen Taylor and Mitch Baker left Albert Square with their family.

Only recently, Karen and son Keanu’s kidnap plot was exposed by Phil Mitchell to a stunned Sharon Watts as she and Keanu celebrated booking the Queen Vic for their wedding reception on Christmas Day. Karen was exposed for hatching a plan to kidnap Albie – but Sharon is yet to find out that Keanu was also a big part of the plan.

In sad scenes on Thursday, Karen ran out of the Vic after Phil’s confrontation and back to her home where she cried her eyes out. She had lied to everyone in a bid to protect her son and felt she had no option but to leave Walford for good.

When Mitch suggested they hand Phil’s money back, or she could end up dead, Karen decided to keep it – and was adamant her only option was to leave Walford for good and let Keanu live his life without the fear his secret would be exposed.

On Friday’s episode, Karen went through with her plan and after speaking to Rocky Cotton and Harvey Monroe in the pub, Mitch was reminded of his love for Karen. Mitch then ran to declare his love to Karen as they both shared a passionate kiss and he agreed to leave with her.

The duo then packed up their belongings into Mitch’s van with Bailey, Mack and Mia following behind. Meanwhile, Bernie Taylor refused to leave with her family and instead decided to stay in Albert Square. But before the family departed Walford for sunny Spain complete with Phil’s money, Bernie helped mother Karen remove the tree from Albert Square, which had been planted in Chantelle Atkins’ memory.

At the end of the episode, Phil came over to confront Keanu, demanding his money to which Keanu spotted Chantelle’s tree missing as he ran out into Walford in a panic as he realised mother Karen was planning to leave. Keanu then spotted the van driving off as Bernie emotionally waved them off.

Keanu then chased the van, demanding the money to which Karen said: “I’m sorry my son” while Phil also ran after the van, shouting for his money. Bernie then confronted her brother, saying: “You are dead to me, Keanu! Do you hear me? You are dead to me!”

This Christmas, Denise Fox, Kathy Beale, Linda Carter, Sharon Watts, Stacey Slater and Suki Panesar are faced with a mystery dead man at the Queen Vic. EastEnders has confirmed the potential victims in a line-up of seven. These characters are Phil Mitchell, Keanu, Ravi Gulati, Dean Wicks, Nish Panesar, Rocky Cotton and Jack Branning.

Due to Keanu’s family leaving and his sister Bernie saying “You are dead”, soap watchers are convinced he will be the dead body this Christmas. Taking to Twitter, now X, one person said: “Keanu swearing on his life and Bernie screaming that he’s dead to her has got me thinking it’s Keanu dying now #EastEnders”, a different account put: “So, I reckon the body at Christmas will be Keanu he’s isolated from his family now” while another added: “So Bernie’s gonna kill Keanu at Christmas I guess #eastenders.”

However, one person pointed out: “It doesn’t make sense for Keanu to be dead at Christmas. Because the ones left tonight have permanently left.. if Keanu dies surely they would still be cast members for the funeral #EastEnders.”