ZapGossip

Eric Richard to return to EastEnders as soap revisits Kat Moon’s past

Eric Richard will return to ‘EastEnders’ later this month as the soap revisits Kat Moon’s horrific past.
The former ‘The Bill’ actor made his debut as former cabbie Maurice last week when the character told Kat – played by Jessie Wallace – that her late father Charlie Slater (Derek Martin) may have known about the sexual abuse she suffered from her evil Uncle Harry.
The news came as a huge shock to the outspoken Walford woman, and resulted in her losing concentration and running over an elderly guy on her moped on the way home.
But that predicament is certainly not over as Kat will spot the OAP she mowed down, leaving her all flustered again, so much so she tells husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) what happened.
Alfie attempts to make things right by getting in contact with Maurice, who heads to the Slater house for a chat.
But Kat is less than impressed when she finds the former cab driver in her house, and Alfie attempts to get her to speak to him.
Kat’s Uncle Harry raped her when she was a child, and she later gave birth to Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan).
Harry was introduced to ‘EastEnders’ fans in May 2001, played by Michael Elphick, but he left Walford in October 2001, and the character later died of a heart attack off-screen in February 2002.
Eric, 78, will have no doubt spotted a familiar face in the green room because Scott Maslen – who plays Jack Branning on the soap – appeared as The Bill’s DS Phil Hunter before he first signed up to star as ex-cop Jack in Albert Square in 2007.
Billy Murray, who played corrupt cop Don Beech in ‘The Bill’ from 1995 to 2004, has also stepped foot in Walford a fair few times when he portrayed Johnny Allen in the soap from 2005 to 2006.