Kheerat’s is sorely missed by us all (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

Last week’s EastEnders episodes culminated with the jaw-dropping decision by Kheerat (Jaz Singh Deol) to take the rap for Ranveer (Anil Goutam)’s murder, handing himself in to the police to keep his mother Suki (Balvinder Sopal) out of jail.

And, just in case we were holding out hope that it was all a blip and Kheerat would soon be a free man again, EastEnders confirmed that it was Jaz Singh Deol’s final appearance in Albert Square.

It’s a massive tragedy for all those of us who’ve very much enjoyed Kheerat’s time in Walford, from his protective attitude to his family, to his intense stare-offs with Ravi (Aaron Thiara), to his sweet relationship with Stacey (Lacey Turner) and her family.

We’re going to miss him, but not as much as the folks of Albert Square. In tonight’s episode Suki and Nish (Navin Chowdhry) had gone away together for a few days, so we didn’t see the impact her son’s sacrifice has had on Suki. 

We did see Stacey struggling to get her head around the idea that she wouldn’t be seeing her boyfriend again, unless she got a visiting order first.

She was angry that Kheerat had put his loyalty to his mother over his relationship with her, but Eve (Heather Peace) reasoned that Stacey would have done exactly the same for Jean (Gillian Wright) if the circumstances were different. 

Kheerat left the Square last week (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

Meanwhile not everyone was convinced of Kheerat’s innocence, with Honey (Emma Barton) and Kim (Tameka Empson) among those who thought there was no smoke without fire.

‘I don’t blame them for hiding their faces after they buried some man in the forest like he was dog mess,’ Kim told Honey in her usual forthright manner. And Lily (Lillia Turner) was being taunted at school by bullies who were saying that her mum’s boyfriend was a killer.

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With Suki away, the Minute Mart was closed for business, which was obviously and unsettling turn of events for anyone who’d run out of everyday essentials. Vinny (Shiv Jalota) had to desert the phone shop to try to keep the other family businesses going, while Ash (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha) was struggling to cope at the surgery with a part-time locum. 

‘Last Panesar standing,’ muttered Vi (Gwen Taylor). 

Honestly, it’s all falling to pieces without Kheerat. But in case anyone’s missing him too much, there was one last glimpse of him – on the front page of the Walford Gazette.

EastEnders continues Tuesday November 15 at 7:30pm on BBC One.

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Emotions were running high, and same.