Amemorable IAN HYLAND on last night’s telly

lfie Moon made one of his more returns to Walford

last night.

One minute Kat was watching him on a screen in a deserted church hall as he starred in a gloriously tacky advert for his new funeral plan business.

The next he was standing behind her in a trademark jaunty shirt. I wasn’t too sure about the name Alfie had chosen for his new venture.

Blue Moon Funerals sounded a bit too Man City flavoured for my liking – and theirs, I would imagine.

He assured Kat he’d done his homework, though.

“I’ve even got a business plan and everything,” he said, sounding like a first week reject from The

Apprentice. It was good to have him back. Let’s be honest, even a subdued Alfie is 95% more cheerful than anything else EastEnders has to offer. The rest of the cast might be a bit worried about that Grim Reaper outfit that Alfie was wearing in his funeral advert though.

Their new boss Kate Oates has a well-earned reputation in soapland for wielding the scythe, so the last thing they need is to have a deathly costume hanging around the Albert Square set giving her ideas.

Unfortunately, the harsh truth is she does need to clear some deadwood. If she doesn’t the show’s long-term future could be in considerable doubt.

I’m not suggesting the BBC would pull the plug on it completely.

However, if the ratings and critical reception don’t improve soon it will surely only be a matter of time before some bright spark in scheduling asks this question:

Why don’t we just make it iPlayer only?

‘‘ Even a subdued Alfie is 95% more cheerful than anything else