EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday's (July 23) episode, which can now be streamed on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air at 7:30pm.
Shockwaves were sent through Albert Square in the aftermath of Joel Marshall's (Max Murray) attack, with fingers pointed aplenty. Joel was talked into coming to an end of term party by Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) and Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), who had ulterior motives, keen to show him why he's not welcome in Walford.
Joel, as viewers know, returned to the Square last week following his release from prison. He'd been jailed in January for his vile misogynistic behaviour, including a horrific attack on Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) and for recording himself having sex with Avani without her consent. Since his release, Joel claims to have learned from his mistakes but Amy wasn't so sure and thus she resolved to teach him a lesson, with Avani, Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega), Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), Ricky (Frankie Day) – and an apprehensive Lily Slater (Lilia Turner) and Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman) – all in on the plan.
Teens' plan goes wrong
Joel was tied to a fence as the teens poured alcohol on him and filmed the whole thing. He was left alone for 45 minutes – until a horrified Will Mitchell (Freddie Phillips) and Barney urged their friends to go check on him. In shocking scenes, Joel was discovered unconscious on the grass nearby – with a significant blow to the head.
The police arrived, with an investigation led by DC Craig Ingram (Matthew James Bailey) soon getting underway. The parents and guardians of the respective teens arrived at the station in time for questioning, while Avani faced some questions from her loved ones too, with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) keen to know if she had a role in what happened to Joel. Avani was horrified by the suggestion and stormed off, joining her fellow teens at the Arches, where they discussed who could've done this to Joel and who called the police.
Barney's confession?
Barney, meanwhile, waited behind for a private chat with Harry (Elijah Holloway), who emerged from the shadows with a plastic bag – evidently upon his brother's request. Inside the bag was a hammer. 'Please Harry, you've got to help me!', exclaimed Barney as Harry urged him to explain what he's done. Barney broke down in tears. Is this confirmation that he attacked Joel?
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
