EastEnders star Shane Richie has revealed that there is still a ray of hope for Kat and Alfie Moon's future as a couple.
Kat (Jessie Wallace) split from Alfie last week after he finally told her that he started the house fire which left her badly burned, bringing months of deception to an end.
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© BBC / Nicky Johnston
The Moon family at Christmas
Tonight's episode (December 22) sees Alfie desperately try to convince Kat to give him another chance, but when he instinctively comforts one of their twins, she angrily tells him to get away from them.
The tense encounter leaves Alfie fearing that he could be forced to spend Christmas away from his children due to Kat's fury.
Speaking of the pair's new dynamic, Richie commented: "It's interesting not working with Jessie as much. Kat and Alfie have got the kids so we are working together, but the stuff we're playing at the moment is really interesting.
"This wasn't about infidelity, this is about two people who passionately can't be without each other, yet have been involved in this horrible tragedy."
Kat tells Alfie they need to move out of the Vic.
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© BBC
Kat and Alfie hit the rocks last week
Asked whether the pair's relationship could change permanently if Kat no longer sees Alfie as her 'Man in the Moon', he replied: "Well you just said something there, which is a clue to how they get back. It's to do with history.
"You've got to go right back to find out how they eventually come together, which is what I've been told by the producers."
Richie has previously teased that 2015 will be huge for Kat and Alfie, with a big storyline running between January and Easter.
EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins also said last week: "Kat and Alfie are quieter at Christmas, but their story for next year is new, fresh and exciting. For characters that have been around for a long time, that's very hard to do and we've achieved that."