Mel Owen appeared to die in a dramatic car crash last night, in scenes which EastEnders viewers said were some of the best they’d ever seen on the BBC soap.
On Tuesday night (November 12), the Walford businesswoman was involved in a high-speed chase with Sharon Mitchell not far behind her.
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Mel’s plot to expose Sharon and Keanu Taylor’s baby secret ended in disaster when her vehicle was seen smashing into another car, and turning on its roof.
Viewers were on the edge of their seats when Mel left Sharon and daughter-in-law Louise Mitchell’s joint birthday party at the E20 club, determined to beat Sharon to the airport to greet Phil Mitchell stepping off a plane.
Mel, bitter with rage after her son Hunter’s death, planned to spill the truth about Sharon’s real baby daddy to Phil.
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In extremely tense scenes, Sharon and Mel raced alongside each other on the motorway as Mel called Billy Mitchell back at the club and ordered to be put on loudspeaker so the guests could hear a little announcement about some “home truths”.
Well Tamzin Outhwaite, you’re part of what I think has been the best EastEnders stunt in YEARS.
But just as Mel had everyone’s attention, she didn’t spot a broken down car up ahead and, failing to swerve, smashed into the back of it, flipping over in the air and crashing, almost causing a pile-up.
Driving behind, Sharon narrowly avoided the carnage herself…
While Mel’s fate was unconfirmed, many fans watching from home believed she had died in the accident – tying in with actress Tamzin Outhwaite’s exit scenes.
We’ll have to wait until Thursday (November 14) to discover whether Mel’s obsession with Hunter’s death and getting revenge cost her her life…
But many fans were quick to point out that Mel’s late husband Steve Owen also perished in a car crash en route to the airport having kidnapped baby Louise, with Phil in hot pursuit.
Applauding the episode, one wrote: “Well Tamzin Outhwaite, you’re part of what I think has been the best EastEnders stunt in YEARS. I’m literally shocked, speechless.”
Well, @mouthwaite – you're part of what I think has been the best EastEnders stunt seen in YEARS. I'm literally shocked, speechless. #EastEnders
— Tom Gardiner (@IAmTomGardiner) November 12, 2019
GOOSEBUMPS !!! I'm shook 😱😨😰well done to everyone involved in that episode 😭 @Lucy_Benjamin @mouthwaite @DannyWalters_ #LetitiaDean #Eastenders @bbceastenders https://t.co/iYBMV1nu2z
— Keith Farren (@KeithFarren92) November 12, 2019
Can the stunt people get all the baftas for that #Eastenders?
— Louise (@etherette) November 12, 2019
THAT ENDING WAS BRILLIANT!😱😱😱😱 #EastEnders
— QueenElizabeth🤍 (@ekitchener97) November 12, 2019
Another said: “Gossebumps!!! I’m shook! Well done to everyone involved in that episode @Lucy_Benjamin @mouthwaite @DannyWalters_ #LetitiaDean #Eastenders @bbceastenders.”
A third added: “Can the stunt people get all the BAFTAs for that episode of EastEnders?”
“That ending was brilliant!” gushed one more, and another said: “Well done EastEnders, that was awesome!”
Revealing her decision to quit the soap, actress Tamzin Outhwaite said: “When John Yorke asked me to return to EastEnders back in 2017, I jumped at the chance to play Mel once more but it was only supposed to be for a year.
“That year quickly passed and I agreed to stay on for another, but now the time feels right to once again pursue other challenges.
“I will of course miss so many people here at EastEnders, and I will forever have good memories of my time at the show, but I am also excited to experience new roles outside of Walford.”
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