Main content

Kathy attempts to build bridges with her family, but how will they react? Kush turns to Masood for advice, but Shabnam later drops a bombshell.

Ben鈥檚 ignoring Kathy鈥檚 phone calls. Jane suspects Kathy鈥檚 story about Gavin doesn鈥檛 add up but Ian鈥檚 just delighted to have his mum back. Kathy attempts to placate Gavin on the phone, promising to get into Phil鈥檚 safe as soon as Ben agrees to talk to her. At Phil鈥檚 house, Sharon鈥檚 fuming Phil鈥檚 not around when Ben needs him. Ben eventually lets Kathy in when she won鈥檛 stop knocking on the door and windows, but still won鈥檛 speak. Kathy apologises, pleading her heart broke when they left him in South Africa.

Unimpressed, Ben coldly holds the front door open for her to leave. Kathy cries she missed Ben so much but knew he鈥檇 be alright in Walford with Phil and Ian. Ben shuts the door and shouts when he came to Walford he was 9 years old and no-one understood his accent - Phil wasn鈥檛 even there! He doesn鈥檛 see what could have made Kathy abandon her own son and won鈥檛 believe her when she claims he was better off. Ben rages he wanted to be dead with Kathy, and laughs bitterly at Kathy鈥檚 suggestion that he鈥檚 alright 鈥� he鈥檚 a murderer, a prisoner, a father, a 鈥榞ay with a girlfriend鈥欌��

Ben rants he鈥檚 tried to fit in but Phil can see right through him and can鈥檛 stand to be around him. Ben rages that it鈥檚 all Kathy鈥檚 fault but she stands firm 鈥� no it鈥檚 not! Kathy reveals she knew Ben was gay before he started school and it doesn鈥檛 matter; she and Phil love him for who he is. Ben breaks down and lets Kathy hug him. Kathy vehemently promises Ben that Phil鈥檚 disappearance is nothing to do with him. Kathy talks about the insurance scam and insists Ben wasn鈥檛 safe with Gavin - it all happened so suddenly and there was no going back. Kathy insists Gavin鈥檚 a good man really but if things go wrong it can make him ill, and worries he鈥檚 not thinking straight again. Ben鈥檚 puzzled 鈥� again? Kathy admits she鈥檚 still with Gavin but wants her family back and a normal life. When Ben demands to know the truth, Kathy shows him a code on a piece of paper 鈥� the combination to Phil鈥檚 safe. Swearing him to secrecy, Kathy tells Ben she has to take every penny Phil has or Gavin鈥檚 going to kill him.

Shabnam wakes suddenly from a dream on Kush鈥檚 sofa, clutching Zaair鈥檚 baby blanket. Kush finds her stood at the nursery door. Later, Shabnam makes a phone call to confirm an appointment; Kush gets a shock when he returns home to find Shabnam with Fiona, Jade鈥檚 social worker. With Fiona gone, Kush鈥檚 unimpressed Shabnam went behind his back .Shabnam protests she was just getting preliminary information about gaining access to Jade but Kush knows she hasn鈥檛 mentioned Zaair to Fiona. Shabnam stubbornly declares it wasn鈥檛 relevant 鈥� she鈥檚 sick of talking and wants Kush to support her. Kush catches up to Fiona outside. Over at No. 29B, Kush tells a sympathetic Fiona about Zaair.

Dean jealously watches Roxy and Masood鈥檚 easy comradery on the Masala Masood stall. Tina spots his mood, which he claims is because of Shirley鈥檚 lacklustre work ethic. When Tina points out she鈥檚 been preoccupied sourcing Jade鈥檚 favourite duvet set and suggests she needs some time off, Dean gets an idea. Later, he moans to Roxy now he鈥檚 given Shirley time off he has no salon manager and Roxy volunteers for the job. Dean watches, pleased, as Roxy hands in her notice to Masood.

On the market, Tamwar chastises Les that Pam鈥檚 not followed the correct procedure for calling in sick, then feels awful when Les reveals Pam鈥檚 been crying all night about their late son鈥檚 birthday. Patrick consoles he finds the death day worse than the birthday; the pair share rum on the allotments and toast to their boys. Patrick shows Les a tree he planted for his son, Paul. Later, Les coaxes a tear-stained Pam to get out of bed and try planting a tree or having lunch to celebrate the good times with Lawrie. Miserable Pam just wants him to go away. Later, Claudette finds a sobbing Les on her doorstep and holds him as he cries.

5 months left to watch

30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • Lost Frequencies

    Are You With Me

  • Diljit Dosanjh

    Patiala Peg

  • Bups Saggu & Sazia Judge

    Lalkara

  • Kiko Bun

    Sometimes

  • 5 Seconds of Summer

    She's Kinda Hot

  • Babbal Rai

    Akh Teri

Credits

Role Contributor
Kathy Sullivan Gillian Taylforth
Ian Beale Adam Woodyatt
Jane Beale Laurie Brett
Sharon Mitchell Letitia Dean
Abi Branning Lorna Fitzgerald
Jay Brown Jamie Borthwick
Ben Mitchell Harry Reid
Pam Coker Lin Blakley
Les Coker Roger Sloman
Masood Ahmed Nitin Ganatra
Tamwar Masood Himesh Patel
Shabnam Masood Rakhee Thakrar
Kush Kazemi Davood Ghadami
Roxy Mitchell Rita Simons
Dean Wicks Matt Di Angelo
Tina Carter Luisa Bradshaw-White
Claudette Hubbard Ellen Thomas
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Fiona Payne Sandra James-Young
Writer Carey Andrews
Director John Greening
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts