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Shane Richie reveals the ONLY EastEnders reference made in spinoff Redwater - and why Kat and Alfie look so different

The series follows Kat and Alfie Moon as they travel to Ireland to search for Kat's long lost son

Lara Martin 

Shane Richie has revealed the moment just ONE reference to EastEnders is made in the upcoming dark Kat and Alfie Moon spinoff Redwater - and why the characters may look very different to viewers.

The actor - who played former Queen Vic landlord Alfie - co-stars with Jessie Wallace (aka Kat) in the upcoming BBC One drama, a six-part series set in Ireland that revolves around Kat’s search for her long lost son.

But fans of Albert Square hoping for the script to be peppered with EastEnders references may be disappointed, as Shane reveals there’s just ONE mention of Walford in the entire show.

And even then it’s more a subtle nod than an outright conversation.


“It's interesting because looking back on the show now, we don't mention Walford, we don't mention the Queen Vic, we don't mention Albert Square," said Shane during an interview with The Ray D’Arcy Show.

"I'm the only one calls her Kat - everyone else calls her Kathleen.

“And the only reference I make to the history of Kat and Alfie is when we go into a bar and Stanley Townsend, the wonderful actor who plays the pub landlord, says, 'Alfie, do you know your way 'round the pub?' And I give Kat a look and I go, 'Yeah, kind of'.

“That's the only reference we make to Alfie's history."
 

Shane also told Daily Star that was a conscious decision to separate Redwater from EastEnders, which has also been done by making Kat and Alfie ditch their trademark clothing from Walford.

“We made a conscious decision to change our look - Alfie with the flowery shirts and leather jackets and, of course, Kat with the leopard skin,” he explained.

The image change is evident in newly released promo photos for Redwater, showing Alfie in a pale denim blue jacket and pink shirt, and Kat wearing a vibrant yellow jacket.

Kat and Alfie arrive in Redwater, described as a small Irish harbour village, to search for Kat's long lost son Luke, the twin brother of daughter Zoe, who also appeared in EastEnders.


But their search uncovers deep hidden secrets in the idyllic village that residents would no doubt rather leave buried.

It's a very dark plot - compared to ITV's Broadchurch - and viewers have been promised they'll be on the edge of their seats as things play out.

"We have a really important and fantastic story to telL," said director Jesper Nieslen. "About how one woman's search for a lost child opens a Pandora's box, revealing the terrible lies and secrets in the little village of Redwater.

"A story about how the strong bonds of love in a family can hold everything together, and yet at the same time destroy everything. It has echoes of a Shakespearean drama, told in a rich cinematic style, loaded with humour and suspense."

The debut episode of Redwater was written by Matthew Graham, a former EastEnders scriptwriter who is very familiar with Kat and Alfie.

"When I was an EastEnders writer, Kat and Alfie were two of the most dynamic characters to write for," he said.

"To revisit them and to transport them into a community riddled with secrets and lies was too good an opportunity to pass up. Kathleen Moon is an unwitting bomb in Redwater, and creating the debris from her explosive arrival is what drew me to this project.”

* Redwater stars May 18 at 8pm on BBC One

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