EastEnders star Shane Richie has said that Alfie remains as determined as ever to reunite with Kat (Jessie Wallace) as Christmas approaches.
Ever since Alfie returned to the Square earlier this year, he has set his sights on rekindling things with his ex-wife - but she has remained steadfastly committed to Phil (Steve McFadden).
In scenes being shown next week, Alfie attempts to use the guise of the Walford pantomime to engineer a kiss with Kat, despite her having already rejected his advances.
"He's just got it in his head that if they have one passionate kiss, he can break the spell," Richie explained. "Alfie thinks Kat's under Phil's spell, and if he can just give her a kiss, he'll break it.
"If he can remind her of the magic that Kat and Alfie had, he can get back with her. He's like a dog with a bone - he will not let go."
He continued: "[After the panto] Alfie feels slightly deflated. Kat comes in and says 'we need to talk' and he thinks he's about to get a dressing down. But they end up talking underneath the Christmas tree, and Kat's had a couple of drinks, and suddenly Alfie thinks things are going in the right direction..."
Richie began playing the part of Alfie in 2002 and has since had several stints of being in and out of the soap, but he added that he is mindful that newer viewers may be so young that they haven't encountered Alfie before.
"What's interesting about Kat and Alfie is that there are millions of people who know their story, but there's also a new generation that doesn't know their history," he said. "They are watching it as a blank canvas.
"To them, this guy has turned up and is a bit stalkerish and is persistently trying to get with Kat. She's already with somebody and was about to marry him, and this man who wears a leather jacket and flowery shirts keeps trying to take her away.
"So, trying to play those beats as an actor is really interesting. I'm always aware that there's an audience who doesn't know who Alfie Moon is, and they don't know his history. But there are also millions of people who say 'They've got to get back together!'"
EastEnders continues tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm on BBC One. body check tags ::
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