I'm looking forward to them meeting. I'd quite like tptb to do something different and allow them to get along but they will probably go down the predictable route and pit them against each other.

I could actually see them getting on. They've both had experience with drunk Phil, and Shirley is the only one who can tell her about Ben's life since her 'death'. They also share the guilt of abandoning their children at a young age.

Shirley tried to drown Ben so I doubt Kathy will be happy with Shirley when she finds out. Shirley hates Ben and Kathy is likely to defend Ben all the time. I think Denise and Kathy will be friends from the small scene in the cafe.

All good points. I think if they did get along, it could provide a very interesting dynamic/friendship on the square. They do have many connections, and like you say, both share the guilt of abandoning their children. It could be a good move, but I have the feeling that tptb will end up going down the venomous route. They could surprise us though.


To be fair, Shirley had just found out that Ben had killed Heather so she was bound to lash out. I don't know what Kathy's reaction would be but both Ben and Phil seem to have gotten over it.

Shirley may hate what Ben did, but I don't think that cancels out all the years where she was a mother to him. I would imagine that Kathy would be interested in the woman who her son saw as a mother figure when she wasn't there. It was lucky that Ben had Shirley and Hev, imagine if he had only had Phil!

I don't know if Kathy and Shirley getting along would be a viable option but I would much prefer it to them spitting venom at each other and I think an interesting friendship could develop there, if tptb wanted it too.

Honestly thought dtc told us to watch for certain characters now. Stacey and Martin were two and they're not even mentioned

Oh look it's on again today

Shirley was a surrogate mother to Ben and she was a good influence on him but I agree that Kathy should thank Shirley for being there for Ben because Phil was a dreadful father. Ben accidentally killed Heather and she has hated him since she found out. She should never forgive him but she needs to understand that it was an accident.

I have no idea if Kathy and Shirley will be friends or enemies but I wouldnt; be surprised if they don't get on. BUT will they have three Kathy feuds? Kathy vs Sharon, Kathy vs Jane and Kathy vs Shirley? Kathy needs some friends IMO.


DTC mentioned that Martin, Stacey, Sharon and Phil are the characters to watch in the next few months. Stacey and Martin aren;t mentioned in the spoilers but I'm sure they will appear in the episodes. Stacey has some big stuff coming up (her key secret)

Kathy didn't abandon her daughter. She gave her up for adoption so she wouldn't be reminded every day of the fact she was raped at 14.

The only child Kathy has abandoned is Ben and that was down to the fact she was being mentally and physically abused by a psychopath.

Phil and Sharon are in the cast lists for that week

Shirley, Ronnie and Dean are all featuring that week too.

Are the cast lists already up? I can't see them.

It's on digiguide. You need to click on the cast button and you can see them. If not, the BBC will release their version this weekend.

Do they have the full cast lists on there? I only ever see the first few names under the spoilers. Do you have a link?