EastEnders viewers were left shocked after they realised the current Kathy Beale character is the same age as her mother-in-law who starred in the show four decades ago.

Eagle-eyes fans have unearthed a throwback snap of Lou Beale, portrayed by the late Anna Wing. 

A Reddit user posted the old picture alongside a snap of Kathy, who is played by Gillian Taylforth, for a few side-by-side comparison. 

Dubbed as a ‘stereotypical dominant East End matriarch’ by the BBC, the image of Lou appeared to be much older than Kathy. 

Lou was pictured aged 75 as during a 2020 episode of the soap it was revealed Kathy’s onscreen age was 70.

And difference between the two left fans shocked as they couldn’t believe how close they were in age. 

EastEnders viewers were left shocked after they realised the current Kathy Beale character is the same age as her mother-in-law who starred in the show four decades ago

Fans unearthed a throwback snap of Lou Beale, portrayed by the late Anna Wing and a fan posted the picture alongside one of Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) for a few side-by-side comparison

‘Isn’t it funny how people looked older back then? I think the hairstyles had a lot to do with it,’ wrote the person who had shared the two pH๏τos, seen by the Sun, on Reddit.

‘Seems unfair to compare anyone to Gillian Taylforth. She clearly defies any and all conceptions of the ageing process.’

‘I feel like not only have expectations of beauty changed, women don’t ‘have to’ age anymore and the fashion is just younger. I think it’s been a fairly quick change, even women in their 50s were depicted quite old back then (think dot was late 40s?)’

But other Reddit users claimed that Gillian had been open about having cosmetic procedures and tweakments to help defy ageing.

‘She’s open about having cosmetic work done. Gillian’s work is very well done, very naturally so people don’t realise,’ posted one Reddit user.

Gillian recently revealed her beauty secrets that have left her looking younger than her on-screen son Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt.

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant previously said that she keeps her slim figure with regular exercise including workout sessions at home where she hops on a bike or uses a running machine. 

The Bill actress revealed that she focuses on a healthy diet and starts every day with a up of H๏τ water and fresh lemon to cleanse her system.

Dubbed as a ‘stereotypical dominant East End matriarch’ by the BBC, the image of Lou appeared to be much older than Kathy (Kathy pictured)

Read More EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth finds love again with new man who is ten years her junior – as she moves on from convicted drug baron ex

The star told The Mirror that she eats lots of fruit and vegetables and tries to limit her alcohol intake. 

She told the publication that she loves salad and even admitted that she no longer eats potatoes. 

She said: ‘We don’t eat many potatoes in our house – I’m a fruit bat and ‘veggieholic’.  

The star added that she doesn’t like to eat late unless she’s going out for dinner and will indulge in a glᴀss of wine on the odd occasion.

And all of these tips and tricks have allowed the Sєxagenarian to stay at a eight-and-a-half-stone.

Gillian also takes pride in her skin care and uses various anti-ageing serums and has vowed never to go under the knife. 

In 2015 the actress opted for a ‘non-surgical face lift’ ahead of her 60th birthday.

The Hollyoaks star was treated by Dr Aamer Khan at the Harley Street Skin Clinic – and opted for procedure which uses dissolvable thread to remove wrinkles.  

During the procedure, which costs around £1,500 and takes about half an hour, a thread made of polylactic acid is drawn through the skin after injections of local anaesthetic.

The thread is used to give a tailor-made result, lifting specific parts of the face.

And Gillian is not the only EastEnders star who has undergone a transformation. 

Lou was pictured aged 75 in 1985 as a 2020 episode of the soap it was revealed Kathy’s onscreen age was 70 (pictured in 2004 aged 89)

Leтιтia Dean continued to showcase her impressive weight loss during filming on Wednesday.

The actress who plays Sharon Mitchell showed off her eye-catching new hairstyle as she headed into the church to film George Knight’s big day.

Over the last few years, Leтιтia has prioritised her health and well-being and has cut out one of her bad habits.

While her total weight loss is undisclosed, in January the actress said she’d gone from 10st 4lbs to 8st 3lbs, dropping a reported four dress sizes in just four months.

Leтιтia admitted she tried ‘faddy diets’ in the past which never worked but after ditching junk food she has now started to feel better.

Speaking to Closer, the soap star said: ‘It was incredible. I found I had so much more energy than when I used to eat junk food.’

Now Leтιтia has made long-term changes and enjoys ‘grilled skinless chicken’ and ‘lots of greens’.

She said: ‘The main reason I wanted to do something about my figure was that I was so sick of extreme dieting and my weight yo-yoing.

‘I just woke up one morning, and I’d had enough. For years and years – as long as I can remember – my weight had yo-yoed up and down. I’d go on fad diets like Atkins or I’d only eat eggs.’

Leтιтia noted that she did ‘lose a stone in a couple of weeks on a yoyo diet’ but admitted it is not sustainable and she quickly slipped back into her old ways.