Eastenders fans had a shock tonight as a legend of the Queen Vic’s job was at risk.

Kat Moon has only been in charge of the Walford pub for a few days but she’s already keen to put her Slater stamp on it.

The new landlady, who has just be reunited with husband Alfie, is currently getting to grips with the Vic and its finances.

On tonight’s episode, Freddie – keen to get away from The Albert – asked Alfie for a job but was turned down and told there wasn’t enough money to hire anyone new.

But after looking at the pub’s accounts, Freddie was shocked at how much Tracey is being paid and tells Kat and Alfie he could work for half her wage.

Freddie added that Tracey was “getting on a bit,” and probably wouldn’t want to work at a pub for much longer but Kat was outraged at the suggestion of sacking her, saying: “She’s a legend, we’d be slaughtered.”

However Freddie suggested it would be less of a firing and more of a “thank you very much for retiring,” with Kat seeming to go for the idea and telling Alfie to take care of it.

Alfie then went to see Ravi and persuaded him to offer Tracey a job in the mini-mart.

Later, back at the Vic, Tracey (who does speak occasionally) told Alfie about the job offer and said she’d turned it down because she loves the Vic so much.

Kat then decided to take control and pulled Tracey for a private chat. But when the pair returned, a very happy Tracey smiled as she said goodbye to Alfie.

Saying Tracey “has ways,” Kat confessed she didn’t let her go and instead they drank a bottle of wine and Tracey left with the afternoon off and a pay rise.

Tracey, played by Jane Slaughter, has been on the Square since the soap’s first episode in 1985.

After starting on the market flower stall, Tracey took a job in the Queen Vic in 1989 and has been there ever since.

But given all the changes in the Vic over the past three decades it’s no surprise that Tracey has actually lost her job before.

She was sacked by Roxy Mitchell in 2010, then by Linda Carter when she became landlady in 2013.

Tracey lost her job again in 2017 when she was sacked by new bar manager Woody Woodward (Lee Ryan) leading the residents of Albert Square to boycott the Vic.

On X fans were understandably aghast at the idea of Tracey losing her job.

One wrote: “Freddie suggesting they fire THE Tracey! Abysmal!,” while another added: “Freddie wanting to get rid of Tracey. Erm, no pal! She’s the heart and soul of the pub.”