Oh I'd be sooo happy if it was that kathy didn't come back. But adam woodyatt said something about not knowing who did it (see iplayer prog about the death) but knowing one thing and he smiled happily.
Plus, why would he try to tell ian get worried when ben came in (too much for his son to take in?) and then we saw Phil giving ben a very un phil like hug. Phil would have been cross with ben for giving max the arches, surely? I can't see anything else fitting.
Plus, I thought Gillian Taylforth's partners had cancer , not her?