BBC EastEnders’ Karen Taylor ‘predicted’ son Keanu’s gory death weeks before Christmas twist

EastEnders viewers may have been teased about Keanu Taylor’s death just weeks before he was killed off.

His mother Karen Taylor made some telling comments about her son’s future just weeks before he was murdered, as she feared for his life. After a dramatic kidnap plot that led to Karen’s exit from the BBC soap, the character told her son she feared he’d end up in prison or worse.

She spoke a lot about his future and what his life looked like, making comments about “the rest of his life” and what Phil Mitchell and Sharon Watts might do to him or them if they found out what they had done. This Christmas, fans finally learned the events of Christmas Day and who died, as well as who the killer was.

All became clear as an attack on Nish Panesar by Denise Fox to save Suki Panesar, as he dragged his wife towards the doors as she tried to end their marriage, led to him being declared dead. But in a twist, Nish was revived by Suki, only for Keanu to walk in and see the scene.

Keanu made a run for it to get Sharon’s son Albie from upstairs, and as the pair fought out the back of the pub he began to strangle her. Linda grabbed a knife and stabbed Keanu in the back to get him off of Sharon, resulting in his brutal death.

Just weeks earlier, fans witnessed Keanu plotting revenge on Sharon as she planned to move away with son Albie, stopping access. He planned to kidnap Albie and fleece Sharon, going on the run with the tot – with his mother Karen helping him.

Of course it all went wrong and the plan spiralled, resulting in Karen being exposed for her part in the kidnap as Phil realised he had his money. When the truth did come out Keanu betrayed Karen, allowing his mum to be fully blamed and making himself look innocent.

The truth did come out on Christmas Day along with the fact Phil is Albie’s dad, not Keanu. But back when the kidnap plot was airing, Karen was in fear that Keanu would end up like his abusive and violent dad, and could end up behind bars for the rest of his life.

In a twist of fate, Keanu did turn violent like his dad in the last few moments of his life, causing Linda to attack him. But while he did not end up in prison, Keanu’s life was over, literally, as he died.

Karen’s fears may have predicted his brutal fate too, as episodes in November saw her tell her son: “I’ve lost Chantelle, I have lost Keegan…” stating she could not lose him too. Fans know that Chantelle was killed by her abusive partner Gray Atkins a few years ago, so Karen was clearly worried her son may be killed too.

Karen also talked of being worried about never seeing her son again, meaning Keanu, if the truth was exposed. Now Keanu is dead, this fear has come true. Then there’s her comment about Sharon “ripping Keanu’s eyes out” if she uncovered what he did, and his sister Bernadette telling him he was “dead to her” – so did these scenes all foreshadow what was about to happen?