EastEnders’ Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) continued to play with fire as she offered comfort to grieving Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) following Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) d.e.a.t.h. – despite currently sleeping with her partner Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).
Last week, fans of the BBC soap saw Kathy and Harvey embark on a steamy affair behind Jean’s back after growing closer in their mourning of Martin.
However, Kathy has wrestled with her feelings of guilt as Jean has leaned on her for support dealing with arrangements for Martin’s funeral.
With Jean acting on behalf of her absent daughter Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) – who Martin reunited with in his dying moments – she has struggled to deal with Martin’s oblivious partner Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton).
With Ruby having very particular ideas about what she thinks Martin’s funeral should look like, Jean asked his aunt Kathy to accompany her to a meeting in The Albert on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, tempers flared between Ruby and Jean over whether Martin could prefer to be cremated or buried, leaving Jean upset and Ruby storming out.
As Kathy comforted Jean, she came up with a gesture to help her pay tribute to Martin.
She offered to put a new cocktail named after Martin on the Albert menu, asking Jean to help her decide which ingredients to use.
Jean was touched and started singing Kathy’s praises – just as Harvey walked in, with him and Kathy sharing a deeply uncomfortable look.
Will they be able to cope with their guilt?
There are set to be more emotional scenes in the coming weeks when Martin’s loved ones gather for his funeral.
Pictures from on-location filming have revealed many characters in tears as they bid their farewells, while fans also had their first look at the recast Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) back in the show.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
