A new six-part drama kicks off soon on BBC One, set on the beautiful, wild Irish southern coast it promises a real change of scene for two former Eastenders. 

First pitched by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alex Lamb when they were staffers on the Albert Square soap back in 2015, the story of Kat (now Kathleen) Moon’s search for a son she never knew she had has slowly morphed from a standard ‘week away’ soap sub-plot into a fully fledged series of it’s own. Produced by Vicky Wharton (Casualty, The Dumping Ground), it’s first episode (written by Matthew Graham, co-creator of Life On Mars/Ashes To Ashes and three-time Doctor Who scribe, no less) will air on BBC One, Thursday May 18th at 8pm.

It transports Jessie Wallace’s Kathleen and Shane Richie’s Alfie across the sea to Ireland, specifically the village of Redwater (real location: Dunmore East, near Waterford, fact fans) that gives the show its name. We’re told it will fill in the storylines of the two characters – including Alfie’s failing health – last seen in the Square in January 2016, while opening up “a whole new world of secrets and lies.”

The synopsis for episode one tells us that:

“Despite promising Alfie that she will keep a low profile Kathleen can’t rest, and is already on the hunt for her son…” 

Promising a much darker, mysterious tone than we’re used to from a soap opera, and a largely Irish cast including the always-watchable Fionnula Flannagan (Lost, Yes Man, The Others), it certainly is an interesting proposition. With the quality production and writing team that it has behind it, Redwater could indeed prove an interesting new chapter in the lives of these two well-loved soap characters.

Check back for more Redwater news as we hear it.

What do you think is in store for Kat and Alfie? Let us know in the comments!