EastEnders shock: Kathy needs help - and phones Tracey the barmaid!

(Image credit: BBC/Jack Barnes)

We saw Phil (Steve McFadden) delete Kathy’s number from his phone - but we can reveal that won’t keep this “ghost” from haunting him. She’s going to use her old mate, barmaid Tracey (Jane Slaughter), to get to him!

Yes, we don’t remember them being great mates, either, but it seems Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) thinks Tracey is her best way of getting Phil’s attention. Maybe Kathy remembers that Phil flirted with Tracey years ago… Or maybe there's a connection between them that we don't know about - yet.

It’s another surprising twist in the story about Kathy’s resurrection. We’ve barely seen Tracey lately and now she’s being dropped in the deep end of a big Mitchell drama.

We’re going to hear her speak - and she’s going to do more than ask someone what they want to drink. In fact, after the shock she gets, she’s probably going to be the one needing a drink.

But Tracey’s dramatic scenes aren’t just in the pub… They start there, though.

We can reveal Tracey gets a phone call at the Vic from Kathy, who thinks Tracey’s someone she can trust.

But if Kathy thinks she can trust Tracey not to tell anyone she’s alive, well, it looks like she’s wrong… Because stunned Tracey immediately confides in Mick (Danny Dyer).

Only after talking to Mick does Tracey leave the pub and meet Phil in the Square, to pass on a message from Kathy.

So now Phil knows that Tracey knows Kathy’s alive… But what neither of them know is that Ronnie (Sam Womack) has overheard them…

Kathy’s secret is leaking out faster than water through a sieve. It can’t be long now before Ian (Adam Woodyatt) and Ben (Harry Reid) see their mum…

See this drama unfold in our picture special here.

EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, August 31, 8.00pm. These scenes can be seen on Friday, September 11.