Kat Slater learns crushing secret about Phil Mitchell in bitter EastEnders betrayal
PHIL Mitchell is grief-stricken after the shocking death of his aunt Sal Martin – but things are only set to go from bad to worse.
The EastEnders tough man could see his marriage with Kat Slater heading straight for the rocks as she makes a huge discovery.
Kat and Phil Mitchell (respectively portrayed by Jessie Wallace and Steve McFadden) tied the knot in September, 2023, after postponing their wedding a first time a year earlier.
But wedded bliss is far from a reality for the couple as one of Phil’s secrets hangs over their union like a dark cloud.
Coming up on BBC One, the Walford stalwart gets ready to wave a final goodbye to his Aunt Sal, who unexpectedly drew her last breath off-screen.
Members of the Mitchell clan gather from far and wide to pay their respects as Sal’s funeral takes place next week.
This includes Sal’s widower Harold who is due to make an emotional return.
However, Kat is concerned for her husband as Phil keeps his emotions to himself and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) attends the funeral in her place.
Little does she know that Phil is being blackmailed by his own sister Sam (Kim Medcalf) who knows he has been up to no good behind Kat’s back.
Later on, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) gets The Queen Vic ready for Kat and Phil’s joint birthday bash and Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) makes it clear restrictions will have to be in order.
Meanwhile, Phil refuses to comply with Sam’s demands for money and refuses to be intimidated by her.
In other scenes, Kat’s concerns grow as she catches Phil conspiring with his son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) in the Square, and she later heads to No.29 to confront her stepson.
Unfortunately, blood is thicker than water for Ben and he covers for his father.
In The Vic, Phil finally caves to Sam’s demands before he and Kat have a heart-to-heart on recent events.
Sadly, the warm moment is short-lived when Sam takes the mic and reveals that Phil slept with Emma Harding, making her stance clear.
Viewers of the London-based program will remember that Phil and Emma let loose at Peggy’s, days before his wedding to Kat Slater.
Kat reels at Sam’s claims in later scenes of the long-running show – but how will she react when she finds out that Alfie knew all about Phil’s secret?
With news of Phil’s infidelity rife on the Square, Kat takes herself to The Vic to drink herself into oblivion.
Is this the end of the line for her and Phil?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.