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How could Kathy Beale return to EastEnders?


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Old 21-06-2014, 21:31
CarterFamilyFan
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I have seen many discussions on this forum about this issue. I am unsure about but although I understand why people think it would be controversial move, I could also understand why people think it could work. Kathy Beale was superb and even John Yorke, regarded the decision to kill her off as “one of the biggest mistakes they’ve ever made” and writers have tried to think of ways to bring her back. Gillian Taylforth has said that she would be prepared to return to EastEnders and she is also leaving Hollyoaks. Also, her death was off-screen, we did not even see her funeral and Ian did not identify the body. Den Watts came back, viewers actually saw his ‘first death’ so there is a precedent. Also, some would argue that a pregnant woman randomly spotting her cousin (who is on the run from the police) is not credible but the Stacey Branning return worked as a storyline. There are also many possibilities as to why Kathy could “return from the dead”. Perhaps “Kathy’s death” was a case of witness protection and perhaps Gavin was a criminal. Another possibility could have been that Gavin was an abusive husband and that the woman who died in the car crash was Gavin’s mistress but was identified by Ted Hills as Kathy so that Kathy could flee South Africa using a fake passport. Maybe she played a part in Gavin’s death and suffered a breakdown hence why she decided to leave Ben. She could also have dark secrets from South Africa and her time in London perhaps Nick Cotton could blackmail her like he did in 1986?
It would undoubtedly affect Ian, Phil and Ben but also Dot, Shirley, Sharon, Jane, Denise, Peter, Lexi and Lola. She could make friendships with Babe and Cora. She could even have a secret grandson from Donna Ludlow (I think Adam Deacon or Ben Drew could play him) who could cause trouble. She could take care of Phil if he falls off the wagon. Also, it would make sense seeing as 2015 is the show's 30th anniversary and Kathy is a much loved original character. I am sceptical but I am leaning towards the 'she should return' side.
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Old 21-06-2014, 21:38
Andybear
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She couldn't return because she's dead.
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Old 21-06-2014, 21:47
Fergie86
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She couldn't return because she's dead.
Exactly, EastEnders have been there and done that with Den returning from the dead, they don't want to go back there with Kathy, plus Den's first 'death' was always meant to leave you wondering if he was really dead. Also another major factor was that you could believe Den would fake his own death to save his own neck, Kathy was different she wouldn't want her family believing she was dead if she really wasn't.
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:00
David Mills
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I like how people assume Gillian Taylforth is desperate to get back for a long stint in Eastenders.

Especially as she seems to be happy taring in different roles then moving on, if she really really wanted to go back I am sure the producers would have made it happen a long time ago but aside from the fact her character died, there's nothing to suggest she'd want to or needs to go back permanently.
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:02
starry_rune
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Kathy was kidnapped in south Africa after her partner got involved with gangs. thats all you need to say. its plausible, reasonably realistic (certainly on par with Phil and Derek Branning's writing) and after the fallout fans would forget and she would settle back in nicely.

My only concern is she looks the same age as Jane and Denise.
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:03
Luner13
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Kathy would never let Ben and Ian think she was dead for the past decade and that is that.

Amnesia would be ridiculous, being held away against her will even more ridiculous.

Kathy's dead unfortunately.
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:25
kitkat1971
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Short answer - she can't - she's dead. I have no time for these witness protection, coma theories. Ian went to SA after she died - even if he didn't see her body (and we have no reason to suppose he didn't) why would her sister in law conceal a coma and if it were witness protection Ben would have gone in as well as he was only 10. And she would never have agreed to him coming back to live with Phil.

Killing her off waas a mistake but it has happened annd there is no going back on it.
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:25
Sez_babe
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She's dead.......but this is soap. Anything is possible.

That is all I have to add
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:27
starry_rune
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But why can't Kathy's partner have manipulated her and got her involved in something? she was raped twice and fell victim to drunk Phil.

or if her partner got involved with gangs and gun crime all might not be as it seems.
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Old 21-06-2014, 22:58
kitkat1971
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But why can't Kathy's partner have manipulated her and got her involved in something? she was raped twice and fell victim to drunk Phil.

or if her partner got involved with gangs and gun crime all might not be as it seems.
To what end? Her goig into witness protection? The fact remains that Ben would have gone in as well and he didn't. A grown up child living in another country - maybe they wouldn't tell but a child of 10 that was living with the mother - there is no way any WP programme wouldn't have included him. It just wouldn't happen under any circumstances.

They can do it, anything is possible but if they do they are leaving anything remotely resembling a realistic soap reflecting every day life in Britain and veering into US daytime soap area. There's nothing wrong with those, they're entertaining but they are not what our British 'kitchen sink' dramas are designed to be.

Before anyone says Dirty Den - he was always involved with organised crime, he was a heartless bastard that would let his family go through the pain of grieving for him and they put a get out clause in from the beginning in 89 by not showing his body and then having him identified only by a ring.
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:00
kitkat1971
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But why can't Kathy's partner have manipulated her and got her involved in something? she was raped twice and fell victim to drunk Phil.

or if her partner got involved with gangs and gun crime all might not be as it seems.
Also, I think the 2 rapes made her stronger. Yes, she was physically abused by men several times, by the 2 rapists and even by Phil but they never broke her spirit, will or mind and they would beed to have done to coerce her into crime or to give up her 10 year old child to his father (who she detested by that stage) and allow Ian to believe she was dead.

It would be totally out of character.
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:03
kitkat1971
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Kathy was kidnapped in south Africa after her partner got involved with gangs. thats all you need to say. its plausible, reasonably realistic (certainly on par with Phil and Derek Branning's writing) and after the fallout fans would forget and she would settle back in nicely.

My only concern is she looks the same age as Jane and Denise.
And they killed another woman so there was a body and forced her sister I law to identify it? Also, to what end did they kidnap her? Her husband was killed as well? Who were they getting money from or forcing to do something by keeping her captive for 10 years if her husband is dead and the rest of her family (Ian, Ben, Pohil, Ted) all believe she is dead?
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:22
epic_fail
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I can't see any way how EE can bring back Kathy without stretching credibility and making a total hash of it. All this talk of witness protection and kidnap is far too sensationalist. It was a terrible decision to kill her off just to give Phil a storyline, but it's happened, and there's no going back IMO.
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:22
starry_rune
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And they killed another woman so there was a body and forced her sister I law to identify it? Also, to what end did they kidnap her? Her husband was killed as well? Who were they getting money from or forcing to do something by keeping her captive for 10 years if her husband is dead and the rest of her family (Ian, Ben, Pohil, Ted) all believe she is dead?
human trafficking / sex slavery
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:27
benbenalen
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human trafficking / sex slavery
+ Amnesia,

This is plausible, if done right!

Bringing back people from the dead shows creativity in thinking, in my opinion, unless they died onscreen, everyone is alive, even Pete Beale, but Frank Butcher is dead!
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:30
Check it out
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But don't you all realise that if Kathy had been trafficked or had amnesia or anything like that, she would be a completely different character. She would be a woman who didn't resemble Kathy in any way, which defeats the purpose.
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:31
Orangemaid
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well it could work, as all the twists and turns of other unexpected oldies turning up, i suppose Kathy could too ( )
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:33
starry_rune
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But don't you all realise that if Kathy had been trafficked or had amnesia or anything like that, she would be a completely different character. She would be a woman who didn't resemble Kathy in any way, which defeats the purpose.
She would still be Kathy, but perhaps with issues. None of the characters who have been on the show 6+ years are the same, experiences change people.

I can see her turning dark like Ronnie, or having OCD like Vanessa.
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Old 21-06-2014, 23:33
benbenalen
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But don't you all realise that if Kathy had been trafficked or had amnesia or anything like that, she would be a completely different character. She would be a woman who didn't resemble Kathy in any way, which defeats the purpose.
But If Ian brings her back to Walford, it could jog her memory seeing familiar things!
A few weeks of counselling, Kathy Beale is back!

And when you have Amnesia, you just forget the things that have happened, your personality does not change!
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Old 22-06-2014, 00:05
kitkat1971
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I'm not a shrink but if anybody seriously believes that 10 years of being kept in captivity, as a sex slave or prolonged amnesia is something that could be got over with a few weeks of counselling then I don't think you understand anything about basic human psychology. It would change somebody completely, it would as somebody else said, need to be a completely different character and one with more traumas than anybody we've ever seen in the show beofre. Kat, Whitney, Ronnie with all their sexually abusive pasts and losing children rolled together wouldn't come close to the mess somebody would be in after 10 years of prolonged abuse like that. Especially when they've been kept away from their children - one of whom was only 10.

I don't see how they could possibly deal with a storyline like that without totally insulting anybody that has been through anything like that such as John McCarthy or the girls in America that escaped last year or Josef Fritzl's daughter.

I don't mean to offend but I find the idea horrific and jumping the shark narrative wise and if they did it i'd stop watching for reasons of taste if nothing else.

It is meant to reflect everyday London life albeit heightened. When was the last time you heard of someone coming back from the dead after 10 years because they've been kept as a sex slave? And again, the idea she'd be back to normal after a few weeks counselling is incredibly offensive.
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Old 22-06-2014, 01:11
benbenalen
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I'm not a shrink but if anybody seriously believes that 10 years of being kept in captivity, as a sex slave or prolonged amnesia is something that could be got over with a few weeks of counselling then I don't think you understand anything about basic human psychology. It would change somebody completely, it would as somebody else said, need to be a completely different character and one with more traumas than anybody we've ever seen in the show beofre. Kat, Whitney, Ronnie with all their sexually abusive pasts and losing children rolled together wouldn't come close to the mess somebody would be in after 10 years of prolonged abuse like that. Especially when they've been kept away from their children - one of whom was only 10.

I don't see how they could possibly deal with a storyline like that without totally insulting anybody that has been through anything like that such as John McCarthy or the girls in America that escaped last year or Josef Fritzl's daughter.

I don't mean to offend but I find the idea horrific and jumping the shark narrative wise and if they did it i'd stop watching for reasons of taste if nothing else.

It is meant to reflect everyday London life albeit heightened. When was the last time you heard of someone coming back from the dead after 10 years because they've been kept as a sex slave? And again, the idea she'd be back to normal after a few weeks counselling is incredibly offensive.
You don't watch the news much do you?

I may have used a few weeks as an expression, didn't really mean a few weeks, more like many!
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Old 22-06-2014, 01:32
lotty27
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How could Kathy Beale come back?


Only as a ghost!








FGS, she's dead. Not breathing. No more. A massive mistake by TPTB (just like Pat) but unfortunately one that can't be undone. All these scenarios are mildly amusing to read (some imaginations out there!) but if EE wants to maintain it's credibility it will never happen.
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Old 22-06-2014, 01:55
CarterFamilyFan
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I like how people assume Gillian Taylforth is desperate to get back for a long stint in Eastenders.

Especially as she seems to be happy taring in different roles then moving on, if she really really wanted to go back I am sure the producers would have made it happen a long time ago but aside from the fact her character died, there's nothing to suggest she'd want to or needs to go back permanently.
She said so in 2011 and when she was asked on Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side. She always wanted to come back, it's public knowledge.
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Old 22-06-2014, 02:54
QueenAmy
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She can't, she's dead
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Old 22-06-2014, 03:23
Keyser_Soze1
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'She's not pinin'! She's passed on! This Beale is no more! She has ceased to be! She's expired and gone to meet 'er maker! She's a stiff! Bereft of life, she rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'er to the perch she'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Er metabolic processes are now 'istory! She's off the twig! Shes kicked the bucket, she's shuffled off 'er mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!!

THIS IS AN EX-BEALE!!

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