The whole episode was very well played and constructed. I think the way it drew the audience in was quite subtle - as Carol walked back from the bookies across the square, the background sound faded to leave a stillness so that the audience became drawn into the shock grew upon Carol.

My only slight quibble is that the closing titles should have been done in complete silence - no music.

Neighbours always used to do a nice montage of pictures over the years during the closing titles whenever a character died.

I'm sure EE did that before, might have been when Ethel died? (can't remember who).
But to be fair to try and do a montage of Billie would have posed a bit of a challenge, he wasn't that dominant a character (to put it politely!).

don't watch Easties but making a mental note never to go drinking with Croc.