Where is Kat in EastEnders? And why was actress Jessie Wallace suspended from the soap?

3 September 2020, 18:39

Why did Kat actress Jessie Wallace leave EastEnders? And when will she be back? Find out everything...

Kat Slater first arrived in EastEnders back in September 2000 and has been a regular character ever since.

But before lockdown, viewers noticed that the second eldest Slater sister hadn’t been seen in Walford for weeks, with actress Jessie Wallace taking a break from the BBC soap.

So, where is Kat Slater and what happened to her? Find out everything…

Where has Kat Slater gone on EastEnders?

Back in March, Kat was over the moon to discover that Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) had been let out of jail on bail.

However, viewers then watched her receive a phone call from a mystery person as the conversation became tense.

She later told boyfriend Kush (Davood Ghadami) she needed to get away quickly and was seen saying goodbye in the Queen Vic before leaving.

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Was Jessie Wallace suspended from EastEnders?

The sudden exit paved the way for actress 48-year-old Jessie’s temporary departure from the show.

It was previously reported that the actress’ on set behaviour led to her being pulled into emergency talks with soap bosses.

A source told The Mirror at the time: "Bosses were left with no choice but to discipline her. Scriptwriters are currently coming up with a storyline to explain Kat’s temporary exit from Walford.”

Additional reports that Jessie had ranted at members of the crew after being drunk on set were denied by BBC bosses.

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When will Kat be back in EastEnders?

Kat was written out of the soap for around three months, however what was extended when EastEnders was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

She will be back on the Square soon after EastEnders returns to our screens on September 7 having been spotted filming, with Stacey Slater also making her return.

Actress Lacey Turner also took a break from our screens to look after her newborn baby.

Meanwhile, Jessie is on her third stint on Eastenders, after first joining the soap as Alfie Moon's girlfriend in 2000. The couple went on to be one of soapland's most popular couples before leaving in 2005.

They returned to the show in 2010 for a further five years, while Jessie came back to Albert Square in 2018 alone to reprise her role and her character is now dating market stall holder Kush Kazemi.

Earlier this year it was reported Jessie was single after her two year relationship with Paul Keepin came to an end.

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