Soaps

In Pictures: Phil scrambles in EastEnders after Kat and Tommy are kidnapped

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: December 31 2022 | 00:01

Last updated: January 1 2023 | 13:36

Take a look at a fresh set of EastEnders pictures as Phil faces despair in the first week of 2023.

This week on EastEnders, there's despair for Phil (Steve McFadden) as a good New Year quickly turns sour when Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Tommy (Sonny Kendall) are kidnapped.

Phil returned to the Square just in time for Christmas and DI Keeble (Alison Newman) wasted no time in piling the pressure back on him to send down Billy (Perry Fenwick) for her father's murder decades ago, even though he was not responsible.

In a twist, it emerged that Phil's old nemesis Keanu (Danny Walters) was secretly working with him to bring down Keeble, but things escalate in the first week of 2023 as she gets even more desperate.

New Year's Day

Phil's thrilled to see in the New Year with his family at Peggy's, but his good mood is short lived when Keanu arrives and begs him to reconsider him being banished from the Square. Phil's having none of it and Keanu leaves, paying Keeble a visit.

Kat and Phil on EastEnders on New Year's Day, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Billy and Phil on EastEnders on New Year's Day, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Jay, Lola and Phil on EastEnders on New Year's Day, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Jay and Lola on EastEnders on New Year's Day, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Keanu and Karen on New Year's Day, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Keanu on New Year's Day, 2023 © BBC

Monday, January 2

Billy's stunned to hear the full truth about Keeble, but Phil tells him that he can relax, he's off the hook.

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Billy and Phil on EastEnders on January 2, 2023 © BBC

Karen confronts Phil for his stance on Keanu, but Phil won't budge.

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Karen and Phil on EastEnders on January 2, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Keanu on January 2, 2023 © BBC

Tuesday, January 3

Kat and Tommy are frightened as they are taken to an abandoned warehouse. Frantic Alfie arrives to break the news to Phil that they've been taken and he wastes no time in banging on Sharon's door to get to Keanu.

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Phil and Alfie on EastEnders on January 3, 2023 © BBC

NEW YEAR'S EVE EMBARGO: Phil on EastEnders on January 3, 2023 © BBC

Phil tells Keanu to contact Keeble and let her know that he's coming for her. Sharon advises Keanu that the best thing he can do is try to get Tommy and Kat back.

Wednesday, January 4

Sharon begs Keanu to keep his head down but he's determined to help find Kat and Tommy. Phil reluctantly allows Keanu to accompany him as backup, but as they enter the warehouse, they hear a gunshot ring out...