Kat Moon’s return to EastEnders is set to be the biggest soap storyline for 2018 after her family is told is she’s dead

KAT Moon’s EastEnders return was never likely to go smoothly – and it’s already shaping up to be one of the biggest soap storylines of 2018.

Fans got very excited when show bosses confirmed JESSIE WALLACE’s much-loved character was heading back to Walford in December.

But I can reveal the Albert Square veteran is set for a turbulent comeback next month as her nearest and dearest and given the devastating news that she has died.

A show insider said: “Kat’s return has caused a lot of excitement, but it won’t be quite what everyone’s expecting.

“Rather than her friends and family rolling out the red carpet the residents are told she has died. It’s set to be a very emotional storyline — but that’s probably fitting for Kat.

“It won’t all be quite as it seems and the writers have some further twists and turns planned.”

Her grandma, Big Mo (LAILA MORSE), who has also returned to the Square, even organises a wake for Kat in the Queen Vic.

A sign stuck on the pub door reads: “RIP Kat Slater. Tonight at the Queen Vic — Entry £10.

“Meat Raffle, Auction, Walford’s Got Talent. Entry only if you’re wearing leopard print!”

Soap boss John Yorke announced the return of Kat, Big Mo and TAMZIN OUTHWAITE’s character Mel last year in a bid to restore the show to its former glory.

He said: “The Slaters are one of the all-time great East Enders families and Albert Square has never felt quite the same since they left.”

Wardrobe better order some more leopard print, they are going to need it.

READ ON FOR MORE OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN

Carol's not very Smillie

HER cheery manner led to the nickname “Smiley Smiley CAROL SMILLIE” in the Noughties.

But the presenter’s grin will be missing when The Voice is screened this weekend as she nervously watches daughter Jodie try to impress the coaches with her vocals.

Carol, who found fame on game show Wheel of Fortune in the 1990s then hosted home improvement show Changing Rooms, joined hubby Alex Knight in the Voice studio.

A source said: “Viewers are used to seeing her grinning wildly but she looked really nervous.”

Carol must hope coaches SIR TOM JONES, OLLY MURS, JENNIFER HUDSON or WILL.I.AM liked the song – there’s a new kitchen in it for whoever picks Jodie.

bizbit

GREAT Pottery Throw Down host SARA COX has revealed she’d love to stay with the BBC2 show if it is bought by a rival channel.

She said: “Rumour has it that there are talks going on. I would be up for doing it again. It was fun to do.”

ITV do the garden

THE £14million Hatton Garden robbers – who carried out one of the biggest jewellery heists in this country’s history – also stole a primetime drama from telly schedules.

ITV bosses were left with no choice but to pull their four-part series about the 2015 robbery at the last minute in December over legal worries and showed crime drama Bancroft in its place.

But I’m told that following the death of ringleader Terry Perkins this week, they have been given the green light to air the show, which stars TIMOTHY SPALL.

A source said: “A lot of work went into the series and they had a good cast but, at the last minute, there were legal concerns surrounding some of those involved.

“There was a particular concern around Terry and how he was portrayed on screen, but now he has died it means producers are much more free in what they can say.

“ITV is now looking at how soon it can get it on screen.”

Perkins, who will be played by Timothy in the series, died from natural causes in Belmarsh Prison.

He and other gang members were last week ordered to pay back £6.5million from the raid.

That's a no then.

Anna Friel's spirits need lifting

ANNA FRIEL’s Brookside days must feel a long time ago.

The Marcella actress says she has been left battling “exhaustion and anxiety” while filming scenes as the ITV show’s tortured detective.

And she says the series, which returns on February 19 at 9pm, has been so tough she is angling for a lighter role to lift her spirits.

She said: “I wish I could say that it doesn’t leave its mark, but it does.

“I know I’m so lucky to play this role and I’m definitely not complaining.

“It’s a tough one because you have to let your mind and body go to where Marcella is.

“The anxiety and exhaustion you feel at the end of the day is real.

“If a wonderful romcom, a musical or something uplifting would be offered to me I would happily accept.”

Or panto.

must watch

WHAT? Animals with ­Cameras, BBC1, 8pm.

WHY? Innovative wildlife series hosted by GORDON BUCHANAN. Offers an ­animal’s eye-view of a ­cheetah hunting in Africa and a fur seal in Australia roaming for food while avoiding deadly sharks.