Just when EastEnders fans thought Alfie and Kat might be heading toward their long-awaited happily-ever-after, the BBC soap has thrown a dramatic curveball — and it’s sending Alfie halfway across the world.

This week, the couple are prepping for what was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek “fake” wedding reception — a PR stunt to promote their limo business. But beneath the glitz of the party planning, the idea of a real third wedding lingers. Could it be a clean slate? A rekindling of the past? Maybe… but not for long.

As always in Albert Square, happiness doesn’t come easy. Kat cancels the whole thing after a string of stressful events, including her growing concerns about Tommy’s disturbing behavior and Alfie’s increasing distance. Add to that a public mix-up with Jean Slater and a sour-faced Kathy Beale being mistaken as Harvey’s wife in the papers, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos.

But next week, the real drama begins.

Alfie seems distracted — glued to his phone and keeping secrets. When Jean’s emotions spiral after the press coverage and her unresolved heartbreak, Alfie tries to be her support. But then comes a call from Stacey — absent, but very much still part of the tangled Walford web. What she says remains a mystery, but it’s enough to push Alfie to disappear.

Kat, understandably, is shaken. When she finally tracks him down, their tense exchange leaves her with more questions than answers. Alfie drops the bombshell: he’s flying to Australia to visit his troubled brother Spencer Moon.

But is this really about Spencer? Or is it Alfie’s way of running from something — or someone?

Fans are speculating that this storyline neatly covers actor Shane Richie’s short break for his comedy tour — but EastEnders rarely lets a character exit without emotional wreckage. The big question is whether Alfie’s departure is just a temporary retreat or a sign of deeper turmoil to come.

And where does this leave Kat — alone, dealing with Tommy’s unpredictable behavior and still questioning whether she and Alfie can ever truly rebuild?

Brace yourselves. This might just be the calm before a much bigger storm.