charlie is shocked when his daughter kat returns to albert square. kat is trying to avoid some thugs to whom she owes money. they catch up with her at charlie's house, and kat tries to escape. in the commotion, charlie reminds kat that she hasn't even asked about his life or anyone else's in walford. kat's estranged husband alfie then arrives and chases the thugs away. however, charlie is then dismayed to learn that kat is pregnant, and alfie is not the father. alfie and kat reopen the queen vic as landlords and give charlie a job there as a potman. kat gives birth to tommy, on the same day ronnie branning (samantha womack) gives birth to her son, james. kat is rushed to hospital, leaving tommy in charlie's care, but he joins the new year's eve party instead. james dies of cot death, so ronnie secretly swaps him with a perfectly healthy tommy. alfie and the rest of the family then discover the dead baby, believing it to be tommy. charlie admits to kat that the baby was left alone as he was drinking, so kat blames him for the baby's death. charlie tries to make things right, but eventually realises it is best for him to leave. mo begs him to stay but he refuses. mo tells kat and alfie, and when alfie says fathers have feelings too, they run to the tube station. kat forgives charlie and he leaves to stay with lynne. when kat and alfie receive tommy back, charlie visits kat and helps her bond with her son. kat asks charlie to return to walford, but he refuses as he is in a relationship with a younger woman named eileen, and they are getting married. soon after, he returns to lynne's. off screen, charlie suffers a stroke. kat, alfie, tommy and shenice quinn (lily harvey) go to visit him in hospital and stay with him for a while. soon after alfie returns with shenice and reveals kat and tommy are staying with charlie until he recovers. kat later returns to walford with tommy. charlie visits kat and alfie for christmas to celebrate their last days in the queen vic, and is delighted to learn that kat is pregnant again.