Why bring Kathy Beale back from the dead to run the café in EastEnders? Here’s what BBC bosses need to do with soap icon
BRINGING Kathy Beale back from the dead to run the café in EastEnders seems a missed opportunity; here’s what BBC bosses should do with this iconic character.
Kathy Beale’s (played by Gillian Taylforth) return to EastEnders after her dramatic ‘death’ was one of the most jaw-dropping moments in the soap’s history.
Her reappearance opened up a wealth of potential for storylines for her.
However, to make the most of this iconic character, bosses need to ensure Kathy’s has an integral part of the ongoing drama.
WHERE DID THEY GO WRONG?
The actress, 69, reprised her role as Kathy Beale in 2015, after viewers believed her character had died in a car crash in South Africa in 2006.
Her surprise return was part of the BBC soap’s 30th anniversary celebrations, when they revealed that Kathy faked her death as part of an insurance scam.
Her return was one of the show’s biggest storylines that year, but what has she done since?
Viewers were excited to see how Kathy’s return was going to rock Albert Square.
However, despite the shocked reactions from the few residents who remembered her, her return caused only minor ripples, and the initial shock quickly faded.
Now, a decade on, Kathy has largely been a background figure.
She has played a supporting role in others’ storylines while working hard to keep Ian Beale’s businesses afloat.
Kathy’s backstory is anything but dull, as her father was a heavy drinker and she was raped at age fourteen by a music teacher.
These themes could have been revisited, but instead, she has remained a supporting character in the lives of her loved ones.
For example, she has been there for Linda Carter when she turned to alcohol, and her son Ben Mitchell when he was raped by his friend Lewis Butler.
But Kathy has not been in the spotlight or at the center of a major storyline.
Forgotten soap storylines
The nation's soaps have had many gripping storylines play out over the years. However, some plots proved to be far less memorable. Here are some forgotten stories from Weatherfield, Walford and more...
- Ken and Audrey’s romance (2015): After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like “Ross and Rachel”. In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals.
- Beth’s bigamy (2016): Despite being happily married to Kirk (Andrew Whyment), a troubling secret came to light about Beth Tinker (Lisa George). It transpired that she had never divorced from her first husband, Darryl (Paul Loughran), father of her son Craig (Colson Smith). Although Craig and Kirk were shocked – and Beth was arrested – the storyline didn’t didn’t go much further.
- Kat Slater’s secret son (2017): Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled ‘Redwater’, it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott’s not been mentioned since.
- Alfie’s brain tumour (2015): Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline.
- Kathy and Buster’s affair (2016): In 2016, Walford legend Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) fell into the arms of convict Buster Briggs, played by Karl Howman. Buster was the long-time lover of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and fathered both her sons – Mick (Danny Dyer) and Dean (Matt Di Angelo). When Buster left, he begged Kathy to join him, but she refused for the sake of her family. Meanwhile Buster didn’t even stop to say goodbye to Shirley before exiting with a broken heart. Fans expected a showdown between the two women, but this never came to pass.
- Jacob’s OCD (2016): After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob’s OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a “lucky coin” that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations – such as being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla’s drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing – the condition doesn’t appear to have returned.
- Marlon and Charity’s fling (2003): Few fans would likely remember few will remember the one-night stand between Charity (Emma Atkins) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) in 2003. The pair slept together when Charity was staying with Marlon while still under suspicion for husband Chris’s supposed “murder”.
- Alex Browning’s revenge plot (2014): Fans expected a confrontation when Dr Browning’s son Alex (Ojan Genc) mer stepmum Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). After all, Mercedes, with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) had murdered Alex’s dad, double-murderer Dr Paul Browning, after he kidnapped and attacked his new wife. In fact, the soap teased Alex would seek revenge for his father’s death upon arriving. However, he instead gave Cindy’s son Hilton (his half-brother) a life-saving transplant, became his godfather, and leaving the village soon after.
I think the soap tends to recycle petty feuds among the same characters, like Cindy Beale and Sharon Watts, leading to a lack of character development or evolution.
And in terms of romantic relationships, she has had flings with Masood Ahmed, Buster Briggs, Rocky Cotton and Harvey Monroe.
Her romances have been devoid of the usual EastEnders drama, missing out on iconic weddings, explosive brawls or shocking revelations that the soap is known for delivering.
When Kathy was revealed part of the The Six storyline, there was hope she would finally be a integral part of a major story.
However, Kathy’s role in the storyline felt minimal, as she was merely there to help carry the body – something that likely could have been managed without her involvement.
Her relationship with Linda is not strong, so her presence at the murder scene seemed coincidental.
And she didn’t show much turmoil after experiencing such a traumatic event like the other matriarchs did.
HOW CAN SHE BE SAVED?
Kathy finally needs to take center stage in her own emotional storyline, that doesn’t involve a business, family member or romantic partner.
Being 75 years old, there are countless harrowing twists her character could experience, offering storylines that viewers of a similar age could deeply relate to and resonate with.
Kathy could face a common health problem such as arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke or the early stages of dementia.
A long-buried family secret could come to light, shaking Kathy’s world forever.
Whether it involves a past relationship, a hidden child, or a shocking revelation about her own parents, this would create plenty of drama.
Kathy could face mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety, particularly if she’s struggling with isolation or past trauma.
This storyline could open up important conversations about mental health in older generations.
Kathy could become a victim of an online scam or fraud, highlighting the dangers that many older people face in the digital age.
She might decide to pursue a new career or passion, showcasing that life doesn’t stop at retirement.
Whether it’s starting a new business, taking up a hobby that turns into a profession or volunteering.
Kathy could find herself embroiled in a legal dispute, perhaps over property, inheritance or a local issue.
She could experience a spiritual crisis, questioning her beliefs or turning to religion or spirituality in search of solace.
Kathy might face ageism, whether in the workplace or within her community, giving her an opportunity to stand up against discrimination.
She could reconnect with old friends or even past lovers, leading to nostalgia-fueled storylines that explore how people change over time and the power of enduring friendships.
Or Kathy could take on a mentorship role for a younger character, bridging generational gaps within the show.
These storylines would provide depth and complexity to Kathy’s character, while offering relatable, emotional narratives for older viewers.