The most controversial member of the Hawkins family is set to arrive in Walford, as EastEnders unleashes further chaos on Albert Square. Nicola Mitchell's (Laura Doddington) estranged mother Rose (Marian McLoughlin) makes her presence felt, much to Nicola's dismay.
Rose's cunning nature revealed
Rose's arrival follows the unexpected appearance of Nicola's sisters Gemma (Patricia Potter) and Jodie (Anna Constable), who turn up with Gemma's son Ryder Roper (Felix Uff). Nicola is far from thrilled by the surprise family reunion but eventually agrees to let them stay, on one condition: Rose must stay well away.
Star Marian McLoughlin, who plays Rose, described her character's duplicitous nature. 'Rose is quite duplicitous in the sense that she appears innocent to the outside world, but there is this undercurrent of menace, and she's very cunning and manipulative,' she said.
'You never know when she is going to strike and twist the knife, and she's always got her eye on her own agenda. I like to think there is also a sense of fun buried deep in there, but she is someone who has been hardened by her life experiences, and she has sacrificed so much of herself for the sake of her family.'
Family tensions escalate
The situation worsens when Gemma's husband Ned Roper (Jamie Bamber) arrives, bringing Rose with him. A furious Nicola refuses to house the entire clan and tells Gemma and Ned to find alternative accommodation. Harry steps in to help, offering Ryder and Jodie somewhere to sleep, while encouraging his mum to finally sort things out with Rose.
Elsewhere, Ned attempts to make amends with Kat after the family's disruptive arrival, but a surprise encounter with old friend Alfie Moon (Shane Ritchie) creates another headache for Nicola. When she heads to The Vic, she discovers her family gathered inside and learns Alfie has offered Gemma and Ned somewhere to stay.
A risky plan to reunite
Rose continues to make her presence felt at Peacock Palace, testing everyone's patience and leaving Linda and Elaine desperate to see the back of her. Gemma later tries to calm the situation by reaching out to Nicola, but old tensions resurface as soon as Rose appears.
Determined to reunite the fractured family, the rest of the Hawkins clan devise a risky plan to force mother and daughter to confront their problems. Rather than bringing them closer, their interference appears to worsen the already damaged relationship.
With Gemma and Ned unable to remain at The Vic, Nicola eventually has a surprising change of heart and agrees to let them stay with her temporarily, a sudden act of generosity she could quickly regret.
