Nana's death sparks whodunnit

When poor old Nana Moon dies in a fire at the Queen Vic at Christmas, the incident will spark off a storm of gossip about who started the blaze.

10:28 26 September 2005

When poor old Nana Moon dies in a fire at the Queen Vic at Christmas, the incident will spark off a storm of gossip about who started the blaze.

It is a storyline as old as Albert Square. Regular viewers have witnessed practically every major Walford landmark go up in flames, usually as part of an insurance scam or a convoluted revenge plot.

This time EastEnders producers are keeping the lid shut tight on the identity of the arsonist - fans will see an anonymous figure entering the pub, after Nana has wandered in, and start the fire.

Confused Nana goes into the drinker thinking she still lives there. Hilda Braid, the 72-year-old actress who plays Alfie's dotty nan, was last week reported to have got confused herself about what scenes she's in and what she's supposed to say.

So it looks like the soap's bosses thought that it was time to get rid of the much-loved character.

Possible suspects with motives for burning down the Vic include Chrissie, Sharon, Phil, Grant and Peggy. And anyone else fed up with the seemingly endless saga of who owns the grotty establishment.