EastEnders axe Taylor quip

'EastEnders' chiefs have been forced to make some last-minute changes following the death of Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

Scenes due to air tonight (28.03.11) see the loveable barman (Shane Richie) urged to save his marriage to Kat (Jessie Wallace) by his cousin Michael (Steve John Shepherd), who says: "You can't split up. You're like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton."

According to scripts for the scene - which was filmed earlier this year - Alfie was then meant to quip: "Isn't one of them dead?", referring to Richard, who passed away in 1984.

However, the line has now been dropped and the scene cuts to Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) saying: "You're like salt and vinegar."

A soap spokeswoman called the mention of Elizabeth "pure coincidence".

They added: "A decision was taken to edit the scene as it's so soon after her death."

Things are set to improve for Kat and Alfie - who believed their baby son Tommy had tragically died of cot death, when in reality disturbed Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) had swapped the body of her lifeless tot James with the infant - as Ronnie will soon confess to her crime, allowing the couple to be reunited with their son.