BBC EastEnders fans notice major change to show credits ahead of Christmas murder plot

Avid fans of BBC EastEnders have noticed that when Kat married Phil her name in the credits was updated to Kat Mitchell but now, despite still being married to the hardman, her name has been changed back to Slater.

And this comes ahead of the BBC soap’s Christmas murder plot storyline which involves Linda Carter, Stacey Slater, Sharon Watts, Denise Branning, Kathy Beale and Suki Panesar. Taking to social media one person said: “Kat Slater in today’s credits, that’s what I like to see.” Another said: “Thank you EastEnders credits I got Kat Slater back, she could NEVER be a Mitchell.”

A name that has been circulating as the possible victim of the Queen Vic pub murder has been Dean Wicks – following his bombshell return to Walford. Seven years on from his exit from Albert Square after he raped Linda Carter, Dean played by Matt Di Angelo, hid in the Queen Vic Kitchen waiting for Linda to bump into him. Speaking about his return to the BBC soap, Matt said: “In all honesty, he doesn’t want to come back to Walford. He’s sort of forced back there because his daughter, Jade is very ill. She has cystic fibrosis and needs a transplant, which has to be done at the hospital nearby. Dean has to live there so he’s on call for her appointments and in case the transplant comes through, and they need to move fast. ”

He added: “He’s reluctant because he knows the repercussions of returning, but ultimately, he has to help his family. Dean also needs to make a living whilst he’s there, so he’s invested in a new business, which will be revealed as Cindy and Ian’s new pie and mash shop, Beale’s Eels.” However his sudden return has had a ripple effect and has now put him as a front runner to die this Christmas during Sharon’s marriage to Keanu. And lets not forget that Linda would wish for nothing more than to have Dean completely disappear.

Speaking of Dean’s return to Walford, Kellie Bright, who plays Linda said: “He is the last person that she expected to see walking through the door of her kitchen. He’s in her home and in the exact room where he raped her. She obviously goes into complete shock, and her body is filled with adrenalin. She is absolutely terrified, above and beyond anything else. It doesn’t matter what Dean’s saying, as Linda is in fight or flight mode from the moment he appears.”

And a comment that Linda made revealed a motive for the festive season death as she said that she wanted him out of Walford for good. Another reason as to why Dean may want to stay in Walford could be the return of his mother Shirley Carter, played by Linda Henry, who left after struggling to cope with Mick’s disappearance. Speaking of Shirley’s return, soap boss Chris Clenshaw said: “Linda Henry is currently on a break from the show. Shirley walked out of Walford last year with Lady Di in the wake of Mick’s disappearance, but it won’t be the last you see of her.”