DTC has suceeded where others have failed (Santer, Kirkwood) in bringing back "dead" character Kathy Beale/Mitchell/Sullivan/Richards.

Santer and Kirkwood both said in interviews that they could find no plauable way in which to bring back Kathy into EE.

However DTC had the balls to do so despite some claiming it was not possible to do so.

Now Kathy is back on screen do you think DTC has managed to "pull off" Kathy's return to EE in a plausable way?

Too early to say for me but I like it so far. The conceit of Kathy leaving Ben is very shaky but I like the fact characters are voicing audience objections in the way they deal with Kathy.

I think he has but tbh I was happy they had the balls to bring her back anyway

I think it's still too early to tell, but I'm impressed with what we've seen so far. I also like that they have really taken their time with this story and allowed Kathy to settle back in slowly. Nevertheless, we will have to see how Ben and Ian react, and see how Kathy fits back into the Square, before we can make a proper judgment.

To be fair to the writers the biggest hurdle they had to get over was actually bringing Kathy 'back to life' and on that I think they have succeeded. There's been no public outcry; most viewers seem to have just gone with it. As much as I hated the decision to kill her off in the first place, I was always firmly of the opinion that dead characters should stay dead so for years I was adamant she would never return. Obviously I was proven wrong on this but I've said all along that the explanation for her death will have to be credible for it to be a success. Everything hinges on that. The Kathy we knew would never have willingly abandoned her children, so the only plausible outcome would be one where Kathy had to go into hiding for their own protection. Judging by what Kathy said to Sharon tonight it seems that was the case, which is a huge relief.

Killing Kathy off was one of the biggest injustices in the history of soap, so if DTC can pull this story off then the man will have massively gone up in my estimations. I think it's testament to his sheer love for the show that he has gone to such lengths to restore an original and important character. Also, Gillian Taylforth is a legend and it's genuinely brilliantly having her back.

I'm still not sure. Some parts are just not ringing true for me. I just can't imagine Kathy first of all leaving Ben and ian and second leaving him with Phil. Also this idea that she allowed a man to control her to the point where she'd be put in the position she was in doesn't sound like the Kathy we've seen for years. I am glad they've finally corrected the mistake of killing her off though.

I have to stop doing this but I agree

Still too early to say - i've got my doubts that it really is plausible in that she willingly left Ben or believed he'd be better off with Phil.

Learning that originally he was meant to be going with them has helped a bit but i'm still far from convinced.

It depends on how it pans out, surely her lies are a criminal offence, how they avoid her being arrested and imprisoned will be the teller...

Well I think this is a perfect example of how domestic and mental abuse can change someone

There is no doubt Kathy is not the same woman who left the square in 2000, and thats all because of Gavin

I like how Kathy is different as it makes sense, like DTC said in one of the recent articles posted on this regarding her return that Kathy is not the same person because of everything she has been through with Gavin.

It would have been less interesting if she returned as the exact same woman, people do change especially when they have been abused by a controlling spouse for years.

Really good post. Gavin convinced her that Ben and Ian were in danger and that she had to leave them behind if they were to be safe. I think now though that she has seen the light and will become stronger. People who have been manipulated by an abusive and controlling partner will be changed and act out of character.

Think its so early to tell.

I think so far it's been really good. Plus it's provided some excellent scenes, cue the ones last night, the first time in 20 years Kathy & Sharon have been in a scene together!

I think he should have done storyline with Phil waking up from dream and finding Kathy in the Shower

I think he is doing a good job as evidenced by the reaction being mostly positive. I know the waiting has been frustrating but I think it had to be done gradually. It feels much more believable than when Den returned and was thrown in at the deep end straight away.

When Phil first brought up the insurance scam I was slightly worried, but then I thought there's no way DTC is going to ruin a character he loves. Finding out that Gavin has been controlling her and that Ian and Ben were in danger or she at least believed they were has put my mind at ease. Thinking she was protecting them was the only way. They have explained it the best way they could and any remaining doubt surrounding Kathy abandoning Ben is surely cancelled out by her long term potential.

Coming up with a decent explanation for Kathy abandoning her sons was always the tough hurdle. I had no problem with her being alive in itself because of her death and funeral happening entirely off-screen without Ian identifying the body.

Interesting that at least one of the 'no' voters doesn't even watch EastEnders.

He's doing as well as he can with it IMO, there's no easy way to bring back a dead character especially when there was no hint at the time that it was faked

I voted No. Don't get me wrong, it's good to see Kathy back,, I've just found it so incredible and out of character for her. As Sharon said, why wouldn't see run away from Gavin earlier and tell everyone he made her fake her death. All this, "He got into me 'ead" nonsense doesn't wash.

Also, can I ask is Kathy aware that Den also faked his death and came back. Sharon made reference to it, but it wasn't very clear if Kathy knew what she was talking about?

Yes very true.

Last seen on-screen together in June 1995, they were not on the best of terms after the "Sharongate" fallout.

"Sharongate" was hinted at during the scene with Kathy and Sharon in the Arches on Monday.

Den returned before Kathy faked her death so Ian probably told her.

To add... this entire business stems from Gillian Taylforth not being able to return to EE in 2005 when they wanted her as she was commited to ITV's Footballers Wives at the time.

The production team were so desperate to bring back Ben Mitchell into the show that Kate Harwood (Producer at the time) sanctioned the ridiculous move to kill off Kathy to allow Ben to return.

Shortly afterwards (when Kathy's "death" was announced on screen) it was acknowledged this was a huge mistake.

Numerous producers namely Santer and Kirkwood mooted bringing back Kathy but both claimed they could not find a "plauable way" of doing so.

It is strange that DTC has managed to do this where both Santer and Kirkwood have failed to do so.

An article from 2005 regarding the rumoured return of Kathy:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/KAFFY+COME+HOME%3B+Gillian's+pounds+200K+lure+to+save+soap.-a0128141441

What I dont want is a long drawn out saga of the police snooping round and arresting Kathy. Ive had enough of detectives trying to nick people. Its not The Bill. But I cant see how she can avoid arrest????

They could of at the the time just gone down the route that Kathy was in trouble and Phil needed to look after him to keep him safe there was no need to kill her off - knee jerk reaction

Yes
I think he has done it well.

It's quite a dark storyline underneath it all. It's more than just bringing back a dead beloved character. I believe there could be mental abuse behind all this.

But wasn't the original story Ben survived the car crash and Kathy didn't and he saw her body being removed from the wreckage

It was always going to be a tough sell but I think DTC has managed to pull it off. The best thing he did was spring Kathy on the viewers in a live segment. There was no time for the press to jump on the idea and deride it because the reaction from viewers was largely positive. From there it was just about getting all the ducks in a row with the backstory and it seems to be falling into place bit by bit. A successful idea expertly executed in my opinion.

I don't remember it ever being said that Ben was never in the car crash.