Just thought I'd start a thread with all the facts about Kathy's "death" we know so far. I know we've all been analysing the story, so feel free to add anything missed.

Nine years ago Kathy, now married to Gavin Sullivan in South Africa, planned to go into hiding with Ben and Gavin, to escape the debts Gavin had run up to some very nasty people.

Ben, and Ian's life were both in danger as a result of these debts (or so Gavin says), meaning action needed to be taken.

Gavin, who is controlling and manipulative, tells Kathy she needs to leave Ben at the last moment- He'd be better off with his sister Sally and they'd collect him later.

Gavin, without Kathy's knowledge fakes the car crash for the life insurance money, and Sally informs everyone they've both been killed.

Kathy plans to collect Ben, but by then they're on the run- both from the debtors and from the authorities if it's discovered they're alive. Kathy has second thoughts about collecting Ben, wanting to give him a "normal life" in Walford. (Obviously this is a contraction in terms...!)

Ian is informed by Jane that there's been an accident, and he's needed in South Africa as his Mother is dead. Gavin's sister has "identified" the bodies. The "funeral" takes place there, and Ian returns home to Walford with little brother Ben.

Six years later Ben kills Heather. Kathy finds out through the publicity around the death, so sends an email to the arches account, which Phil picks up. (Though Kathy did say to Sharon she "called Phil" as soon as she knew about Heather, so this contradicts email being first contact. It's not really known how much contact they have over the next 2 1/2 years.

Phil ends up inside back in January- upon his release he disappears for a few weeks, returning with some urgency with what we assumed was "new" information on Kathy- it's not known for sure though why this period is so relevant in relation to his prison stay, but he does see Kathy on the night of Ian's wedding.

Was this for the first time?

Are these all the details of the scam, or is there more that has happened in South Africa, and since that we're yet to find out?

I was going to start a thread but I hope you don't mind me jumping on your rather good one Mr Disco!

How on earth has Phil known for 3 years?

And rather than being a horrible thug hasn't he been a sweet heart all these years helping all these damsels in distress?!

Didn't someone on here say when Ben returned from South Africa after 'Kathy's funeral' he had injuries and wore an arm brace as he was in the crash as well. Can anyone confirm this please?

Also, if Phil knew about it three years ago, he must have been good at hiding his reaction from people. A retcon, but one which can be thought of as OK. Let's assume he thought it wouldn't escalate into anything more serious like Kathy wanting to come back home as she said early this year in the live episode.

In 2012, he was with Shirley and Ben was about to be sent down for Heather's death. Phil was preoccupied with this and was covering it up for a few months until Shirley found out the truth.

Perhaps they'll explain that Ben was a bigger priority. Plus Ian had a breakdown but was found living rough in the summer of that year. So Phil couldn't tell as it would mess him up even more.

BUT.....it seemed like Phil was about to tell Ian and Ben during the anniversary week. First Ben just before the wedding, but I think someone interrupted them. Then in the Friday episode as the Beales found out the truth about Lucy's murder Phil knocked on the door, telling Ian he needed to know something. Ian said it was a bad time. Why didn't Phil just tell them soon after that?

Furthermore, how much or how little does Kathy's own family know about what went on? Ted, Tony and Sarah Hill?

Phil knowing for three years has really been the only part i dislike. I find that part a bit to hard to swallow for my liking. But then Kathy hearing the news of Ben murdering Heather does sound plausible on why she would choose to get into contact with Phil there and then.

And I still don't get what happened in Prison to a) make him disappear, and b) return with such a sense of urgency over Kathy (one of the first scenes in live week was Phil returning with Peggy where they discuss whether he should let sleeping dogs lie)

Did prison have anything to do with Kathy?

By the way having said all of the above, I think they're pulling off the storyline. They're ticking the boxes around the character- she would never have "died" unless it was to save her sons etc...

This has been a much better return than Den's a few years ago.

I never thought I'd say this, but give it a few years and I'd love them to try this again with Cindy!

No he wasn't

Urgh i hope not

I think it would have made more sense for Phil to originally have dismissed the e-mail as some sort of sick joke, but as time went on he got suspicious and suspected that Gavin was alive and had used Kathy's name to try to check on Ben.

Then when he was locked up, prison gossip gave him a new lead which he disappeared to follow up, only finding out for certain about Kathy this year.