Shane Richie will take a short break from EastEnders as Alfie Moon to star in Dick Whittington at Theatre Royal Plymouth. The show will run from December 12 to January 10, meaning Alfie won’t be off-screen for long. Meanwhile, Ellie Dadd and Steve McFadden are also confirmed for pantomime projects. On-screen, Kat and Alfie continue to deal with Zoe Slater’s complicated return. Keep scrolling to know more.
Shane Richie’s Stage Move And Short Break
The BBC soap favourite Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon, is stepping into a new spotlight this winter. He will be the main figure of Dick Whittington in Plymouth. The performances are in the Christmas season. It will begin on December 12 and will end on January 10. This means Richie is taking a break from the soap. However, it won’t be a huge gap. His pantomime commitment overlaps with the soap’s Christmas filming break.
It is for sure that he will be highly active in Walford. Fans would be able to see him right behind the bar of The Queen Vic with Kat. EastEnders have already confirmed this news. They said that his short absence will not affect his long-term storyline. After hearing this news, the fans were relieved.
However, he is not the only one who is preparing for a festive stage run. Other cast members would be taking a short break. Ellie Dadd will play Belle in Croydon this December. Steve McFadden will be in Aladdin at The Alban Arena. These appearances are not new for soap stars. This year, many soap stars are balancing their panto shows with their soap roles.
Fans are worried they might miss their favourite characters, but the show says it won’t be for long. And they will return to the soap after completing their other commitments. Walford will continue to feature Alfie, Amy and Phil even when they are temporarily not in the show.
Zoe Slater’s Past Causes Strain In EastEnders
While Shane Richie is heading to the stage, Alfie Moon remains part of some intense onscreen stories. We will see Alfie and Kat dealing with their daughter Zoe’s past. Zoe has brought questions along with her. The parents want to know what happened with Zoe when she was away from Walford. However, Zoe is not ready to tell anything related to her past.
We recently saw the Greg episodes. Things soon became intense when Zoe was held alongside Kat and Stacey. We saw how Zoe’s darkest secret was revealed. She had two children, but she lost one and gave away another. The entire Slater family was shaken. However, soon the hostage moment came to an end. The women managed to knock Greg unconscious. The danger had gone away. Now, Kat wants to reconnect with her daughter after being away for so many years. However, Zoe remained silent, and her silence has only made Alfie, Kat and Stacey more frustrated.
Executive producer Ben Wadey has also spoken on the ongoing storyline. He pointed out that Kat wanted a simpler reunion than what reality had provided. He also explained that meeting an adult daughter after so many years is more complicated than she expected. Soon, the story is set to build towards Christmas, where we can see more fallouts and drama. For more EastEnders spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.