EastEnders spoilers follow.
Kim Fox's world was turned upside down in EastEnders last week, when she learned that her husband Vincent Hubbard had been murdered three years ago.
Since then, Kim has been desperately trying to find answers over Vincent's fate, and has recruited the help of Howie – the man who stole his identity.
Here, Tameka Empson – who plays Kim – reveals her thoughts on the tragic twist and what the future holds for Kim now.
Did it ever occur to Kim that Vincent could be dead ?
"No, I don't think it occurred to her that he could be dead, she just thought okay he is not around. Before she found out the truth, she questioned herself, was she not enough, did he not truly love her, what did she do wrong? There is no reason for her to think that he could be dead, so when she finds this out it totally rocks her world, there is no coming back, no 'someday in the future'.
"All her dreams are gone, she is very much a romantic person but she puts on a front. However deep down inside she wanted to have the family, the perfect life. There is also a little bit of a friendly rivalry with her sister. She waited to have children, she's got the man, to think she has lost it all.
"She can't give up and she has to keep going to make ends meet until he comes back and now when she finds out he is not coming back she has to figure out how to rebuild her life. She is now in a new world and a new reality and she is thinking what the hell am I going to do?"
Why is Kim adamant that she and Howie have to go to the police?
"Kim hasn't seen anything, Howie is the only person who knows what happened and is neutral about it. For Kim, somebody has to be held accountable for her husband’s death and Kim is so determined to get that. She didn't do a police appeal when he was missing, he was dodgy sometimes, but she just always thought that he would come back.
"Now that it's official that he's dead, and Howie is the last person to see him alive, that means something to her. The fact that Howie is going around as Vincent for her means that something needs to be investigated, she needs to find out everything."
Does Kim suspect that Phil knows something from the start as he was acting suspicious from when Mitch took that first phone call?
"She doesn't suspect that he is involved but she does query only for a short time because Vincent and Phil didn't see eye to eye. If you remember Phil delivered Kim and Vincent's baby, and there has always been a cool relationship between Kim and Phil, so when Kim does say his name and he is blasé about it, there is a bit of a moment but she is not thinking that Phil is anyway involved."
We always see a lighter side to Kim. How was it to play a sadder and more solemn Kim, and how do you think audiences will react?
"I am hoping that the audience will feel Kim's pain and that they will champion her to get justice for Vincent. When life pushes you against the wall, you find an inner strength and you go about your day to day life very differently.
"For Kim she is not only trying to seek justice for herself but she is also doing it for her children – Pearl and Mica. When she sees her children she sees their father and what they had, I think the lioness in Kim comes out, she is going to deal with everything. I think she is one of those women that would do anything for her husband, by hook or by crook.
"Finding out the truth and getting justice is the last thing she needs to do because Vincent was the love of her life. It was nice to play a different side. I like comedy but I do like drama and get gritty. I hope the audience will like this side to Kim."
Do you think that Denise should tell Kim the truth? Why do you think she is lying to her?
"I think she should have told Kim the truth from the get go but I can understand why she hasn't. Something like this I can't imagine a person wants to say it out loud, but ultimately Kim needs to know. I think the timing is important, because things never stay secret forever.
"Even though Denise is lying for the right reasons I think for Kim she should have told her from the start because the facts are the facts. To know everything and not say it is where it gets tricky."
Despite it being a terrible time for Kim, do you think the news will allow her to find closure and move on?
"I think she needs time to digest it all. It's going to take time. In her heart of hearts, Vincent was always going to come back. Now she knows that's not the case, looking ahead to times like Christmas where it's about family and she loves that time of year will be hard for her. She is going to be hurt for a long time. You will see Kim reach her final tether and lines will be crossed, stay tuned to watch!"
EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.
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Deputy Soaps Editor
Sophie is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience as a writer. Previously at BT.com, where she had her own Reality TV column, Sophie joined the Digital Spy soaps team in 2013 and won the Unsung Hero of the Year award at the PPA Awards in 2022.
Over the years, she has written hundreds of articles about the Carters, the Dingles and even Wellard the dog, and has created a number of the site's video franchises. Sophie hosted Digital Spy's first ever podcast 'Soap Scoop' back in 2020, where she spoke to the likes of Alan Fletcher (aka Doctor Karl) and Lisa Riley, has been interviewed on on podcasts and live radio and has represented the company on the panel of the British Soap Awards.
