Inside Soap UK 35 - 2017

EastEnders has copped some flak this year, with people saying the show has been too quiet and the plots not dramatic enough. Well, hold on to your hats – because for this week to be any more dramatic, Dot would have to parachute in, having secretly been a spy all these years, while Mick is being possessed by the ghost of Angie Watts! It really does have it all, from a big show-stopping stunt (or two, or perhaps even three!), and some killer twists in the current plots – to seeds sown for some huge new , plus emotional moments that will have you blubbing! Phew! After all that drama, I think we need to brighten things up a little. And they don’t come much shinier and sparklier than the…

What could possibly be more harmless than a neighbourhood garden festival? Certainly, the residents of Albert Square feel no reason to worry as they gather to celebrate Walford In Bloom. But little do they realise that a terrible chain of events will soon lead to the grisly death of one of their friends… The day dawns bright while Walford’s most community-minded survey the result of their green-fingered labours – and the Square has never looked more beautiful! The trouble is, it’s just a facade… Resentment is simmering, as a group of angry protesters heckle the visiting mayor, determined to put a stop to the planned ‘Halfway House’ hostel. A riot breaks out, but the police don’t have time to intercede before work on an exposed gas main is disrupted –…

“Everything falls into place for Jane – Max was never going to let sleeping dogs lie” Against a backdrop of chaos and carnage, Steven’s worst nightmare unfolds this week – as Jane threatens to tell Lauren and Ian that his cancer story is a sick lie! However, after Jane learns that Max is part of the deception – and that he’s secretly plotting to wreak a terrible revenge on the Square – her life is placed in deadly danger when Max orders Steven to silence her for good… “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” insists our EastEnders spy. “Jane is threatening to undo months of Max’s wicked plotting – and don’t forget that he’s doing the bidding of some very ruthless people. Meanwhile, Steven has been pushed to the point…

As the dust settles on the Square, it becomes clear that not all the locals are accounted for – prompting an anxious search by their families. Martin’s bloodied face says it all as he screams for his pregnant wife Stacey, while Jay can’t hold himself back once Phil’s nearest and dearest realise that he’s nowhere to be seen. But is it already too late to find the much-loved pair alive? “Imagine everyone’s horror – Phil and Stacey could be in any kind of state,” sighs our sneak. “Having no idea where they are, or how badly they’re hurt, is devastating. Their loved ones will do anything to find them – but with the area in bits, where do they start?” While Martin appears injured himself, nothing will stop him from…

“Walford is suffering – so perhaps Linda realises life is too short to keep secrets…” Following the blast, Linda drops a huge bombshell of her own this week – after she finally admits what she’s been hiding since she returned home to Albert Square. The secret comes tumbling out during a heart-to-heart with one of Mick’s best mates, Jack. But as Linda confesses the truth, what will it mean for the future of her marriage to Mick? “We know Linda was away from the Square for a lot longer than she needed to be,” muses our Walford snitch. “She was meant to be looking after her mum, but there was clearly more to it. At one stage, it seemed she was ready to tell Mick everything, but then of course…

The mayhem gripping Albert Square prompts traumatised Ted to reach for his gun – and there are horrific consequences as he pulls the trigger on someone! The terror of the gas explosion brings back awful memories for war veteran Ted, and Joyce is shocked to witness just how shaken her husband is. She’s always been dead against Ted keeping his firearm in the house, so she’s understandably disturbed when he grabs it for protection. And while Joyce tries to coax the weapon away from him, her worst fears become reality… As a kindly neighbour calls round to check on the couple, Ted’s gun goes off – but who has he shot, and how serious is it?…