Ian Beale hears news that she dies in a car crash just as I predicted it would be a car crash before even reading the spoilers.

Even her husband ex-husband Pete Beale died in a car crash and it was also off-screen. Only diffrence was Pete's death in the car crash was pre-arranged for his involvement with a woman called Rose Chapman.

Sad that another EE original character has died and that too off-screen. Only originals left wo were in first episode are from Ian and Pauline and Nick Cotton if he ever returns and of course Sharon.

Ali and Sue Osman are still alive. As is Punk Mary.

An original character has died every year for the last four years now: Angie, Den, Mark and now Kathy. Stop this pointless slaughter producers!

It's unlikely that Ali and Sue Osman would ever return to EE even though they are still alive.

Yeah I compleletely agree about the producers are slaughtering all the original characters and most of them have been off-screen.

Pete Beale in 1993, Angie Watts in 2002, Mark Fowler in 2004 and now Kathy joins the list in 2006.

Its harsh to shut the door on a wonderful actress.There could easily have been a storyline without 'killing her off'.

What's wrong with an off screen death

The funeral could be off screen as well as Kathy lives miles away,
Alot of people will be upset to hear about Kathy in the square,
wonder what will happen to her son Ben?

Off-screen deaths are the worst way for a character to die. I would rather see them die on screen instead.

It means that a character can never return.I thought that was fairly obvious.

But that's life, People can't die in Walford or London all the time.

Its obvious isn't it? The whole reason for killing Kathy is for Phil to get his son back

Since when is Kathys surname Hills?

That was her orginal name before becoming a beale, then mitchell and then that guy in south africa she married

[quote=JPS Corrie King]Its obvious isn't it? The whole reason for killing Kathy is for Phil to get his son back QUOTE]

Hmmm now I see but what about Ben's stepdad or even Ian?

[quote=TakeDown247]
Ben's stepdad probably won't want him so Ben comes to Walford and there is custody battle for him by Ian and phil and it's obvious who wins

I disagree.He could be with Phil for loads of other reasons so I dispute that it is obvious.

To me the only obvious fact is that a fabulous actress will never get the chance to return to EEs in the future.

But Kathy's death is the reason Ben reunites with Phil. that is why Kathy is being killed off which is a stupid idea because Ben can be with phil in many other ways.

Lack of imagination by the tits in charge of EE? Never!

But seriously it is so short sighted, it's not even going to draw a big storyline, just rehashing the same old bollocks between Ian and Phil.

Gillian Taylforth still has a job with Footballers Wives. What more does she want?

[quote=irfan2088]
What a stupid comment, obviously in line for a script writing job on EE .. why on earth would the boys full time stepfather who has taken on the full role of father for virtually all his life not take full custody of him automatically? To me it just stinks of bringing up more stupid toilet chain pulling "bullying humour" between Phil and Ian, who appears to have so many children he forgets all about them (ie Baby Bobby). We all know it will kick off another stupid battle between the two of them, and then which ever one will get the kid still wont have to deal with the everyday worries of expense, childcare and parental responsibility - look at Ian just going off to South Africa without even telling Jane who he is assuming will look after his kids - and he hasnt even mentioned Steven who went off to Australia or where ever since he left - mmmmm caring!

I agree.

Jesus it's not as if she wanted to return to EastEnders because she never did or would have.

Streetcars, what a foolish thing to say. In case you missed it, Kathy is a LEGACY character, that means its an insult to long time fans to kill her off offsecreen, as she is a pivotal character in the show's history, they are cutting off a lot of potential story by killing her off screen.

[quote=nanamoan]
I'm sorry but Ben's stepdad did not adopt Ben and with Phil and Ian around it's unlikely that Ben will stay with his stepdad especially with Phil knowing that Kathy is dead. Phil will pull out all the stops to get Ben back in Walford. Ben COULD stay with his stepdad in a situation like this but as I've said it's unlikely that Phil would let him anyways.

I am a legacy in my own way, but if I was to leave my job, I wouldn't expect them to have me back whenever I felt like it.

She would have returned eventually but she was asked back a couple of times and she did say no, you can't really blame her but she can't keep the EastEnders bosses hanging on until she is ready to come back.

[quote=Pansiks]
This is wrong - PHil is a criminal he would not get custody, Ian is his halfbrother, he has hundred of children he dont bother with anyway and it would be very unlikely in view of the fact that the child has lived with the stepdad in a different country with different rules governing it to the UK that he would be randomly sent over here to live because his mother has died,. Pansiks I dont know what your obsession is with criticising all my comments on here but its starting to wind me up

[quote=nanamoan]
I'm not criticising your comments atall I'm just debating them. Your comments all seem to be picking holes in EastEnders like you seem to forget that it's a soap opera so when I debate alternative scenarios with you I'm not criticising you personally or your comments. I didn't realise that it was so serious and personal on here.