{"id":43853,"date":"2024-01-15T20:56:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T19:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1960634"},"modified":"2024-01-15T21:58:59","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T20:58:59","slug":"eastenders-airs-moving-farewell-for-aunt-sal-and-special-tv-reference-to-star-anna-karen","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-airs-moving-farewell-for-aunt-sal-and-special-tv-reference-to-star-anna-karen\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders airs moving farewell for Aunt Sal \u2013 and special TV reference to star Anna Karen"},"content":{"rendered":"

A fitting tribute. <\/p>

By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 15 January 2024 at 19:56 PM<\/p>

\n\n

EastEnders has paid tribute to late star Anna Karen with a heartwarming reference to her television career in a special episode tonight (15th January).<\/p>\n

The BBC soap aired the funeral of Karen\u2019s iconic character Aunt Sal Martin<\/a>, who was the sister of fellow EastEnders<\/a> legend Peggy Mitchell (Dame Barbara Windsor).<\/p>\n

Ahead of the service, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) was keen to check that sister Sam (Kim Medcalf) had booked the cabs to take them there.<\/p>\n

Sam assured him that it was all sorted, adding: \u201cHow else are we gonna get there \u2013 on the buses?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Anna\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Anna Karen as Aunt Sal in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The line pays homage to Karen\u2019s appearances as character Olive in the ITV sitcom On the Buses, which aired from 1969 to 1973.<\/p>\n

The show also starred Reg Varney as Olive\u2019s brother Stan Butler, and the actress starred alongside Varney in all seven seasons.<\/p>\n

The EastEnders dialogue, written by Jonny O\u2019Neill, was a fitting way to honour Karen, whose performances as the formidable Aunt Sal were unforgettable.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the Mitchells turned out for the character\u2019s farewell, Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) shared some humorous old stories of their relative with his cousin, Ricky Branning (Frankie Day).<\/p>\n

Viewers were then given their first glimpse of Sal\u2019s widower, Harold Martin (David Sterne)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) initially noted that Harold didn\u2019t look much like a man who had just lost his wife, Harold\u2019s touching eulogy moved the congregation.<\/p>\n

Harold recalled how he and Sal had their ups and downs, but explained how much he loved her, and urged everyone who had their very own Sal to cherish them.<\/p>\n

Of course, though, the drama was never far away, as Sam soon had cause to be angry with Phil<\/a> when Harold dropped a bombshell.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n