There’s ex’s at war, a cruel blackmail campaign and a family broken in next week’s EastEnders.
Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned, and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) is proving that old adage very true when it comes to her ex, Max Branning (Jake Wood), as she continues to dig for both the identity of his secret woman, and the information she needs to destroy him; will she find either?
Creepy Craig Ingram (Matthew James Bailey) continues his cruel scheme to humiliate Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega), but when he learns of Amy Mitchell’s (Ellie Dadd) upcoming inheritance, will he come up with an even worse plot?
After being forced to do Ned Hawkins (Jamie Bamber) a violent favour, Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) warns Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) to stay away from the insidious newcomer, but will she listen?
Elsewhere, Mo Harris’ (Laila Morse) family attempt to lift her spirits, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) remains focussed on her mission, and Gemma Hawkins (Patricia Potter) turns to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) for help.
Ready for some spoilers? Thought so…
Monday, October 19
Denzel is desperate as his blackmailer demands money or else he’ll leak his half-naked picture, and after Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) is blocked stealing money from the Minute Mart to help, Denzel’s forced to pawn a signet ring Howie and Kim Fox-Danes (Delroy Atkinson and Tameka Empson) have bought him for his birthday, though later, Craig sends the picture to his family out of jealousy over Amy.
After trying to talk Suki Panesar-Unwin’s (Balvinder Sopal) into selling No.31 to him, Max agrees to financially support Cindy after her card is declined when she returns home from her honeymoon with a young man, Rafael (Daniel Garcia), in tow. She later finds a lipstick in his flat and is dead set on finding out who his new woman is.
Elsewhere, Kat is gutted to learn the man who owned Charlie Slater’s (Derek Martin) cab has been cleared by police over Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) death, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) questions Alfie (Shane Richie) over Kat’s behaviour and Gemma and Jodie (Anna Constable) try to hide their car issues from Ned.
Tuesday, October 20
Jasmine, Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan) and Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) organise a bingo night in Zoe’s honour to lift Mo’s spirits, but their efforts are affected by Cindy’s continued harassment of Max.
Cindy continues to investigate Max’s secret woman, and discovers his plan to by No.31, before overhearing a conversation he’s having on the phone and laying into him, later finding something that snatches her attention on their laptop.
Elsewhere, Denzel’s forced to admit to his family that he sold his birthday present to pay the blackmailer off, Craig suggests he and Amy move away when he learns of her impending inheritance, Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) learns that Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) had a fling with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Phil agrees to help Gemma with her car.
Wednesday, October 21
Rallying Lauren with the knowledge of what she’s found on the laptop, Cindy scuppers Max’s attempts to by No.31 by exposing his issues with his New Zealand property, with Suki selling it to another buyer, leading Max to declare war on Cindy. They both later turn to Oscar for help, with Cindy’s suspicions further stoked after a chat with Kat about the man who left Zoe.
Mark is unnerved and pulls away from Lauren when he spots Ned and Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff), before warning her that they’d both better stay well away from him.
Also, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Amy remain at loggerheads as she searches for a way to access her inheritance, while Ian continues to lean on Ned.
Thursday, October 22
Lauren is left feeling cold by Ian’s new outlook on life, and disregarding Mark’s warning, she becomes suspicious of Ned’s influence on him and starts digging, later receiving a cryptic clue from Ryder as to his dad’s former career.
As the HMRC start breathing down Max’s neck, his problems multiply when Cindy remains determined to find out what else he’s hiding.
Concurrently, Denzel tries to get answers from Amy, but she remains cagey.