EastEnders icon devastated by shock death in heartbreaking scenes

EASTENDERS icon George Knight has been left devastated by a shock death tonight.

The former professional boxer - who is played by actor Colin Salmon in the BBC soap - was with his adopted mum Gloria when she passed away listening to a recording of his birth mother singing.

Viewers watched last night as George forgave Gloria for everything she had done after Eddie was found guilty of murdering George’s biological father.

But as she left the court she collapsed as George battled to save her.

In tonight’s episode the doctors revealed that the damage to Gloria’s heart was irreparable.

And she would not be leaving the hospital.

Despite this George sat with his mum and listened as she told him she still had things to share with him.

Sending him to her flat, she gave him the location of a box containing all the information she had on his birth mum, including a picture of him with his parents and a recording of her singing.

When he arrived back Gloria told him to reach out to his estranged son, because family is all that matters and then she talked to him about the tape.

“When you first came to us, you wouldn’t stop crying and so I reached out to Margaret and she sent this tape,” she told him.

“It worked like a charm. I’d like to hear it now.”

As it played, George told her she could come and live with him and he’d look after her, as she called him: “My Georgey.”

But as George spoke he realised Gloria had passed away.

“Mum,” he cried as he hugged her and broke down in tears in the emotional scenes.