That would be good but only if the spin-off first shows K&A living it up and then Kat finds out about Alfie's tumour and if it's too late then maybe the last couple of eps should be the last days of Alfie and show them heading back to Walford so that Alfie can die at home with his friends in the vicinity and maybe Spencer will come home too!

Aw, i'm starting to well up now!

I don't think either will be returning, and I think that has been obvious since the spin-off was announced. I know some people are talking about Kat returning as a widow but that sounds like wishful thinking more than anything. While DTC remains producer it seems highly unlikely either Kat or Alfie will be back.

Personally I think this is for the best. Since returning in 2010 Jessie Wallace has been completely wasted. She is one of Eastenders' best actors, and Kat was one of their most popular ever leading ladies, yet in five years they have failed to give her even one good storyline which is quite some achievement! I don't think DTC values the character and endlessly throwing plots points at her with no intention of developing any of them is just as damaging in it's own way as the treatment she received under Kirkwood. She really is best out of Eastenders right now.

If Jessie Wallace's acting career doesn't go as planned she'll probably return in the future under a different producer who understands and values the character Kat. She can still be a huge asset for somebody else down the line, but I see it as good news that she won't be returning under DTC.

Perhaps if an announcement was made now about the return of one or both of them to EE it would give the game away about the plot of the spinoff. (Hope that makes sense).

So it sounds as though everything is very up in the air - I'm a bit confused as to why DTC would initially say they were returning if unlike Jake Wood they haven't signed new contracts. It seems a strange decision to give Kat a son if they can't be sure Jessie is returning.

I agree Jessie 's talents as an actress and Kat's potential as a character has been largely wasted since her return but it looked like that was about to change. DTC gave her a complete showcase with the June Whitfield episode and it reminded me why I think Kat is the greatest female character EE has ever created. The son, the lottery win, Kat letting go if her past and moving forward........ everything seemed to be falling in place and gearing up for something good - that's why I'm so confused that she might be gone from EE for good. I thought it seemed as though DTC was committed to making her great again.

I think Jessie Wallace will come back in 2016. If she doesn't come back, then it's a shame. Kat has been improved a lot in recent weeks and I do think DTC rates Kat highly. Don't forget, Kat doesn't know about her "secret" son. I would be annoyed if they resolve it in the spinoff show. If Kat is not coming back, then the show will be fine without her. We have plenty of iconic female characters such as Dot, Sharon, Kathy, Ronnie, Stacey, etc.

Kat deserves a happy ending but I cannot see Jessie Wallace on the show without Shane Richie. Jessie and Shane are very close friends in real life.

I respectfully disagree. The June Whitfield episode was very good, but it was a complete one off and didn't hint at any great revival. It was written by a good writer who wrote for the show back in the days when Kat was legitimately amazing and he clearly had a great understanding of the character but that's all it was, just one episode.

Generally speaking, Kat under DTC was a mediocre shadow of her old self just as she was under Kirkwood and there was nothing to suggest this was going to change. I'd only like to see Kat return under a producer who values her and understands what made her so great. Otherwise it's for the best she stays away.

Just because they are good friends Jessie Wallace would be silly to turn down the security and money from Eastenders if or when Alfie is killed off. She could be set up for years if she returns. If it was me I'd take the contract regardless of whether Shane Richie does or doesn't have his contract renewed. I think it's a bit weird they've not been given new contracts or had them publicised. Maybe DTC will keep their return as a "surprise"!

I thought it was quite clear that SR and JW are on sabbatical, filming a spin-off and then returning next year

It would indeed be foolish of Jessie not to return without Shane and he will probably always have gameshows and he has a band but Jessie may struggle to find work elsewhere and they are good friends who enjoy working together.

I would take the job regardless of Shane even though I love him to bits because a job's a job at the end of the day!

I also think it's a bit weird regarding whether they are returning or not, with Jake Wood it was said that he's leaving for a year to follow other projects and the OP of this thread said he'd already had his contract renewed and J&S haven't hence this thread and all that we know is J&S are taking a break from the main show to star in their own spin-off but no actual indication of how long this break would be and whether or not it was pending their permanent departure.

I think DTC might have a few surprises up his sleeve!

i think that's probably the last we've seen of Kat and Alfie together in Walford. The spin-off will either be their final appearance, or Alfie will die in the spin off and Kat will return alone. Adding the tumour into the mix makes no sense if their plan is to bring them back in a year's time.

But does it make sense to leave Kat alone as a widow in Ireland off camera?

They'll come back after Del's lost all their money. Sorry, Alfie

No!

I want Kat and Alfie to come back together, I'd prefer it if Alfie has to die he came back to Walford to die!

Kat and Alfie got a Julia's Theme and their exit seemed final. Why would they want to come back to Walford when they could live in a better place abroad?

Because Alfie has a brain tumour that he hasn't told Kat about and if he continues to ignore it then if it is malignant and it's too late to operate he will probably die and seeing as Walford is where he calls home and where he first met Kat surely it would make sense to go back there to die, somewhere familiar with familiar faces, his friends.

And...

If they don't come back to Walford then they haven't taken a break, they have left, hence their contracts not being renewed!

An interesting mix of people either saying they'll definitely be back or people saying they definitely won't - shows how confused the issue is right now

Exactly!

We have been told they are 'taking a break' to film the spin-off and I have yet to see concrete evidence as to whether or not they are returning to the main show after the spin-off and Shane said he was 'out of it' but then hastily back-pedalled and it seemed to me as if he'd been hastily 'hushed' by TPTB and that's why I feel so confused.

Jake Wood on the other hand was clearly announced as 'leaving for a year to pursue other subjects' and has had his contract renewed so it's clear he will be back but no such thing with J&S!

I think the spin off will be about the terminal illness of Alfie. It needs to be gripping for audience. No one is going to care if all Kat and Alfie are doing is going to Ireland they will need a gripping storyline to attract viewers and a send off to Alfie would do just that.