EastEnders fans predict surprise new Walford affair as Kathy Beale ‘sets her sights’ on married man
EASTENDERS fans are convinced Kathy Beale will go after a married man in upcoming episodes of the BBC soap.
Viewers have picked up on the connection between Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) after their recent interactions.
BBC soap fans have predicted that Kathy and Harvey’s relationship will soon turn romantic, despite him being married to Jean Slater (Gillian Wright).
During Tuesday’s episode (September 24), Kathy and Harvey were seen getting cosy at the Queen Vic after the taxi driver made a sudden return from his holiday in Greece without his wife.
Harvey informed Kathy that he was back to help Stacey (Lacey Turner) with childcare, but added that he’d not heard a peep from Jean, who is still abroad.
Harvey and Kathy shared a touching moment at the Queen Vic that didn’t go unnoticed by fans. They sensed a certain connection between the pair.
In the pub, Harvey chatted to Kathy and revealed he hadn’t heard from Jean a great deal since being back.
The two characters had a lovely evening gossiping, but things then took a dramatic turn when a young man stole Kathy’s bag and ran out of the pub.
Just as the youth left, he knocked a bar stool over and injured Kathy’s leg.
As Penny (Kitty Castledine) and Harvey looked after Kathy, Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) walked back into the Vic with Kathy’s bag. He had chased after the young man and was more than happy to be hailed a hero as he handed it back.
A while later, Harvey helped Kathy tidy in the caff, but they were spotted by a suspicious Kat (Jessie Wallace).
Harvey said he’s just friends with Kathy, but Kat couldn’t help comment on the fact that he said the exact same thing when Maya Houssain (Bharti Patel) entered his life.
EastEnders fans are just as suspicious as Kat. Many took to X, formerly Twitter, to discuss the burgeoning connection between Kathy and Harvey, noting that it’s much more than friendship.
“Kathy and Harvey are definitely going to get closer,” one soap fan pointed out.
While another mused: “I wonder if Harvey and Kathy are going to have a fling.”
Of course, a relationship between the pair would spell out heartbreak for Jean, who is married to Harvey.
Best soap affair love triangles
LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic?
EASTENDERS
Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning’s dad Max in 2007.
Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year.
Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell.
Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler – not realising it was caught on tape – and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic.
Syed/Amira/Christian: Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day.
A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira.
CORONATION STREET
Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street – extending it to bigamy.
He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon.
But it didn’t stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him.
Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband’s nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later.
When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled.
Maria/Aidan/Eva: In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price’s best friend, Maria Connor.
Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day.
But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy.
EMMERDALE
Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale.
She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride’s betrayal via a recording played at the wedding.
Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well – until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle.
Robert’s ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair – but fell to her death before she had the chance.
However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair – after which she announced it to the whole pub.
“Poor Jean, if Harvey has an affair with Kathy, she already betrayed Shirley with Buster which never came out,” said one sympathetic viewer.
Other fans certainly aren’t impressed about the potential pair up.
“Why is Kathy always sniffing around the most boring men on earth? If you’re gonna take someone’s man, at least take someone interesting,” one fan moaned.
While another responded: “I fear we’ll never be free of Kathy’s bad taste in men; her first husband was Pete Beale.”
Kathy has had some major relationships during her long tenure on the soap. Along with Ian’s (Adam Woodyatt) father Pete Beale, she was notably involved with Walford mainstay Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) with whom she shares son Ben Mitchell (most recently portrayed by Max Bowden).
Could Kathy be about to make another controversial romantic choice?
Harvey’s relationship with Jean has certainly been rocky recently.
Viewers are well aware of the tension between them, which began brewing after Harvey’s dishonesty regarding the help he offered Maya, which included working extra hours to provide her with financial aid.
He did this as a way of trying to make up for his son Aaron Monroe (Charlie Wernham) beating up her husband in a racist attack in 2021.
But things seemed back on track for the pair as they headed off for a nice holiday in Greece – that is until Harvey came back to the Square alone.
Will Kathy and Harvey’s relationship progress beyond friendship?