EastEnders' Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) is set to come under the influence of newcomer Ned Hawkins (Jamie Bamber) next week, with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) growing increasingly suspicious of the former therapist's intentions.
Ian, who has been struggling to adjust to life back in Walford following a distressing stint behind bars, has found an unlikely ally in Ned since the character's arrival last month. While Ned initially appeared friendly, fans have since seen a darker side, including orchestrating a violent situation to keep his gay son Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff) in the closet.
Lauren's suspicions grow
As Ian continues to lean on Ned, buoyed by his words of encouragement, Lauren becomes more wary of his influence over her father-in-law. Lauren has her own reasons to be cautious of Ned, who knows about her affair with Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) and has used this knowledge to blackmail Mark.
Ignoring Mark's warnings about going after Ned, Lauren begins digging into his past and receives a cryptic clue from Ryder about his former career.
What lies ahead
The scenes air from Monday 19th October at 7.30pm on BBC One, or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
