Pat leaves Eastenders, ratings will stay the same

Pat is leaving Albert Square, presumably after realising that writers have run out of storylines for her. She has literally done everything there is to do in life.

Pam St Clement announced last week that she is quitting Eastenders after playing Pat Evans/Butcher/Wicks/Beale/Harris for over 25 years. The only cast member to have appeared in the show for longer than that is Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale, which in itself is an astonishing testament to how much smug-faced dickheadishness the British public are prepared to tolerate.

Pam St Clement said:

Oh that's clever. Because Pat was well-known for wearing outrageous earrings, and by saying that she is 'hanging them up', it serves as a metaphor for...oh, you got that.

Anyway, while Eastenders devotees everywhere will be mourning the loss of one of Albert Square's most recognisable faces, the news leaves me with the unenviable task of trying to find a suitable 'tribute' clip. Do I go with the heart attack? When she was arrested for hit-and-run? I didn't really want to use the clip where she describes her Downs-suffering sister as a "mong".

So, in the end, I chose this for pure WTF brilliance. Farewell, Pat Evans/Butcher/Wicks/Beale/Harris - I look forward to seeing your next career move. After all, I hear that Widow Twankey can be a really challenging role.