EASTENDERS fans have been left BAFFLED after Kathy Beale opened her second business and works TWO jobs aged 69.
The busy grandma, played by Gillian Taylforth, 63, already works in the Albert Square cafe and has also just opened a gay bar called The Prince Albert.
But this has left fans wondering if the EastEnders writers have forgotten how old she really is.
Kathy has worked in the cafe most of her life, but after a windfall decided to open a second business.
She sold a necklace her son Ben Mitchell gave to her before he disappeared off to France last January and was stunned to discover it was worth a huge £100k.
But as Kathy is almost 70, fans are stunned that writers thought it was realistic for her to taken on a second business.
Taking to the Digital Spy Forum one wrote: “The character of Kathy is meant to be 69 years old as of 2019 (she was born in 1950).
“However actress Gillian Taylforth is 5 years younger and given her youthful appearance she could pass for 10-15 years younger than that.
“Do you get the feeling the writers are forgetting how old she actually is? For example opening a new business, a late night bar as well at her age seems a bit strange. What almost 70 year old does that?”
While this one said: “I agree. Kathy already works all day in the cafe, and now she has taken on a new business as well.
“She is supposed to be nearly 70, and while it’s great to keep active as long as possible, I do feel like she’s written to be middle aged rather than a pensioner.”
Another one commented: “This is always the problem in casting a younger actor to play an older character, it should always be the other way round.”
Meanwhile, new BBC drama boss Kate Oates said she wanted to introduce the bar to add some diversity to the much-loved soap.
Discussing her plans earlier in the year to update EastEnders, Kate said: “I’m really interested in bringing some more LGBTQ characters in.
“We’re looking at opening a gay bar on the Square which will be a super-cool precinct where gay and straight characters can all just hang out.
“It should be something really exciting, really fun, really visual and feel really true to multi-cultural London.”
A TV source added: “The gay bar will be a great new filming venue for the show and provide dozens of interesting plot lines. Producers plan to use it as a new space and backdrop to film scenes and base drama.
Kate is keen that the bar won’t just be for gay and bisexual characters, but for everyone.
It will offer a different feel to the traditional pub vibe of the Queen Vic.
“It’s an important move for the show to authentically reflect modern London life.”
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