Kat and Alfie on EastEnders on October 21, 2025 / BBC
EastEnders legends Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie will both take breaks from the soap later this year, it has emerged.
The pair appear as married couple Kat and Alfie Moon in Walford and are the current proprietors of The Queen Vic, with many of their family working behind the bar.
Last week it emerged that Michelle Ryan has been axed from her role as Kat’s daughter Zoe Slater just a year after she returned – and in a shock twist, the character is to be killed off.
Wallace and Richie’s breaks will come over the Christmas period as they both are due to appear in panto, although due to the soap shutting down filming for a fortnight at that time of year their absence from screens is expected to be minimal.
Discussing Ryan’s departure, a spokesperson said: “We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future.
“However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers.”
Ryan is already thought to have filmed her final scenes, meaning that her exit could air as soon as late August into September.
