Viewers of EastEnders were touched and amused this week, when the BBC soap appeared to pay tribute to legendary character Pat Butcher.
The iconic Walford resident hasn’t been seen on screen since New Year’s Day 2012, when she was killed off after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Read more: EastEnders viewers worry Honey Mitchell is suffering with an eating disorder
But fans certainly have not forgotten her…
On Tuesday (October 8), those watching from home were thrilled when Ben Mitchell gave a nod to the popular character when he dressed up with his daughter Lexi.
In cute scenes, the East End hardman showed his softer side when he allowed his child to put make-up on him and dress him in a tiara, fairy wand and jewellery.
Read more: EastEnders’ Max Bowden reveals explosive Christmas for Ben and Callum
But it wasn’t just any jewellery… It was large, chandelier-style dangly earrings that could have come straight out of Pat’s own jewellery box.
Fans rushed to Twitter to comment on the resemblance!
One wrote: “Has he gone through Pat’s closet?”
https://twitter.com/Mealingxoxo/status/1181657472211341313
Are they Pat's old earrings?#Ben#EastEnders @MaxBowden pic.twitter.com/rUzltUV6x3
— Walford Web (@walfordweb) October 8, 2019
ben, pat just called from heaven , she wants her earrings bck 😂❤️#eastenders #benmitchell
— fi (@RockgirlFiona) October 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/GemmaDakin93X/status/1181653133996494848
Another added: “Why’s he dressed as Pat?”
A third typed: “Did he steal those earrings from Pat?”
“Are they Pat’s old earrings?” asked one more.
EastEnders viewers were in bits when the BBC soap aired Pat’s funeral on January 13, 2012.
Fans of the soap were devastated to say goodbye to the character, who was one of the longest-serving on the show after 25 years and six months.
Pam St Clement, now 77, carried on acting after leaving the BBC soap and went on to star in Casualty as Sally Hodge.
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