ALBERT Square’s next landlady at the Queen Vic pub is Kat Moon, The Sun can reveal.
The leopard print-loving loudmouth takes over the EastEnders boozer after owners Linda Carter and her mum Elaine Peacock were forced to put it up for sale.
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It marks a glorious return behind the Walford watering hole for Kat — previously Kat Slater, and licensee with husband Alfie Moon from 2010 to 2013.
This time, for as yet unknown reasons, it will be just her name above the door.
A source said: “This will be Kat’s third time working in the Queen Vic, but this will be her first time at the helm.
“It’s a full-circle moment for the character, as when she first moved on to Albert Square in 2000, Kat gained employment as a barmaid at the pub. Then, ten years on, she helped Alfie.
“But now she’s going to be the sole licensee of the boozer and it will kick-start a whole new chapter for the pub.
“Kat follows in the high heels of the Square’s most formidable women — Angie Watts, her daughter Sharon and Peggy Mitchell — and puts her at the centre of the action.”
The move also places actress Jessie Wallace at the heart of the soap and establishes her among the BBC’s most valued talent.
Over the past five years, bosses have relied on Jessie, 53, as part of the soap’s biggest storylines, including Alfie’s prostate cancer battle and a failed marriage to Phil Mitchell.
And its another show of support after Jessie got a conditional caution from cops for assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub in 2022.
Kat’s new job comes after she this week ties the knot with Alfie (Shane Richie) for the third time — more than two decades after first saying “I do”.
They are one of the soap’s most popular couples.
The sale of the boozer comes after it blew up in February, claiming the lives of Martin Fowler (James Bye) and killer accountant Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman).
BIG BOOZE TO FILL..
ANGIE WATTS
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THE Queen Vic’s first lady, serving alongside husband Dirty Den from 1975 to 1988. Angie left when she moved to Spain with lover, Sonny.
PAT BUTCHER
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BOLSHY Pat pulled pints with gravel-voiced husband Frank from 1988 to 1990 but they gave up to look after daughter Janine and run a B&B.
SHARON WATTS
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QUEEN Vic landlady from 1991 as owners Phil and Grant Mitchell (her husband) had criminal records.
She left in 1994 then returned several times.
PEGGY MITCHELL
Barbara Windsor
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AFTER Phil’s affair with Sharon, the brothers’ mum took on the Vic with Grant — becoming the longest-serving landlady, off and on from 1994 to 2010.
JANINE BUTCHER
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LANDLADY for just a few hours. She and fiancé Archie Mitchell blackmailed Ian Beale to sell up but Archie double-crossed and evicted her.
