EastEnders fans are convinced they have identified Joel Marshall's attacker, and it is not one of the teenagers. Since Joel (Max Murray) was found bleeding from a hammer blow, speculation on the Square and among viewers pointed to the teens seeking revenge for his sharing of sexual images of Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James). However, a new theory suggests his stepmother, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), is the real culprit.
Vicki's Guilty Behavior Raises Suspicions
Vicki and Joel's relationship has been fraught. Before his imprisonment, Joel embraced red pill ideology and violently attacked Vicki, beating her severely, filming it, and posting it online. He showed no remorse until changing his plea to guilty at the last moment of his trial.
When Joel first returned, Vicki was distraught and avoided him. But after the attack, she appeared more sympathetic, leading fans to suspect her involvement. One fan wrote: "I hope it was Vicki that hit joel. It’s the only way her behaviour would make sense." Another agreed: "OMG that really would make sense. She's doing this all out of guilt."
Fans Point to a Hidden Understanding
A third fan noted Vicki's shift from indifference to concern: "I totally get that, she didn't care about Joel and now suddenly she does??? There must be a reason!" A fourth added: "I’m convinced Vicki did it just by her casualness with Joel. I think they both know that he knows it was her and they have some kind of understanding that she’ll let him stay if he keeps his mouth shut. Also with how guilty she looked with him in hospital too."
Joel has been allowed to stay on the Square after Avani agreed, but only if he keeps quiet. He threatened to tell police Avani was the attacker. Her friend Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman) believed Avani was guilty and hid the hammer to protect her. In tonight's episode, Barney confessed to Avani, who was furious that he thought her capable of such an act.
Ross Learns the Truth
Meanwhile, Joel's dad Ross (Alex Walkinshaw) finally discovered what the teens did to his son before the attack. They had chained Joel to a fence with a bike lock and poured beer over him. When they returned, he was unchained and lying on the ground, bleeding from the head.
