EastEnders fans believe they have worked out the identity of the gunman in the New Year flashforward, as Craig Ingram grows closer to Amy Mitchell. They speculate that Craig may exploit Amy's secret about attacking Joel, leading to drastic consequences.
Craig and Amy's Developing Storyline
In next week's spoilers, Amy (Ellie Dadd) is set to confess something about Joel's (Max Murray) attack after Craig (Matthew James-Bailey) questions her about her friends. When her dad Jack (Scott Maslen) interrupts, Craig covers for Amy, pretending he was checking on her welfare.
Today's episode showed Amy trying to extract information from Craig about his investigation. Her anger towards Joel has led many to suspect she is responsible for his attack. Some fans suggest Craig might take advantage of Amy's vulnerability, possibly grooming her.
Fan Theory: Blackmail and Murder
One fan theorized: "So we know from various spoilers that Craig and Amy are about to have storyline where they get closer whilst amid his investigation into who whacked Joel but I reckon there's a lot more to it."
The fan continued: "Like many people have guessed, I reckon Amy hit Joel over the head and Craig will find out and use it to his advantage. Basically, he's a creep who blackmails Amy in some way (hopefully not the grooming way but that'll probably be it). But Max will find out try to have Craig killed for messing with Amy (this is the 'murder' he's accused of in the flashforward)."
They added: "In the process, Amy's secret is exposed and she goes to prison for attacking Joel - hence why she's not in the flashforward and why Jack is so upset."
Roxy Mitchell's Possible Return
The fan then suggested this could lead to a major return: "And this brings me on to my real theory/wishful thinking: Roxy, who has been in witness protection, hears her daughter is in prison because of Max and returns to make him pay, holding his children at gunpoint so that he has to pick one to save."
Another fan agreed: "This sounds very plausible, I think you could be right. The Amy and Craig thing has to be leading somewhere and I did wonder why Amy isn't in the flashforward episode, and think Craig could be the one Max 'kills'. Amy does seem to be hiding something doesn't she."
They added: "As for Roxy, i feel like there's been so much talk about a possible return and a witness protection thing, and there was that scene recently of Amy looking at photos in the same episode as the Bea fake death thing, so I think Roxy could return for sure."
Roxy Mitchell, played by Rita Simons, was last seen in 2017 when she and her sister Ronnie drowned on New Year's Day. If she returned on New Year's Day, it would mark the 10th anniversary of her exit, just ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Mitchell sisters' arrival in Walford.
