Next week's EastEnders sees insidious scheming, a predator tightening his grip, and a family at breaking point. Ned Hawkins (Jamie Bamber) is determined to retain control of his family by any means necessary, and next week stumbles on information that works in his favour: that Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) are locked in an illicit affair. With Lauren pleading Mark to do whatever it takes to ensure their infidelity stays hidden, will he comply?
Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) continues to remain under the thrall of creepy copper Craig Ingram (Matthew James Bailey) and his ever-increasing demands for her attention, but what wrath will she incur when she lets her friends gatecrash his flat? Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) remains deep in the throes of grief over the loss of daughter Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), but when she turns against her family and goes head to head with husband Alfie (Shane Richie), will she tear the clan apart forever?
Monday, October 12
Ned continues to pressure Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff) to get back into sport, though when Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) learns of Ryder's former teammate's battle after coming out, she endeavours to support him and encourages him to come out to his parents. Ned overhears when Ryder plans an important conversation with mum Gemma Hawkins (Patricia Potter).
Lauren and Mark's illicit bunk-up at No.31 is interrupted when they realise someone else was in the house, and later Mark is rattled when Ned discloses that it was him, and he expects a favour in return for his silence. Elsewhere, Amy struggles to follow Denise Fox's (Diane Parish) advice to focus on her studies with Craig demanding her attention, Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) runs into her ex Zack Hudson (James Farrar), and Kat continues to struggle with her grief.
Tuesday, October 13
Amy is horrified when her friend group descends on Craig's flat, while Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) learns that his daughter has been skipping classes, leading to a heartfelt conversation later with Jack believing Amy's issues are stemming from Denise's illness, before she faces Craig's anger when he learns who's been at his home.
Mark is horrified by what Ned wants him to do, and while Ned continues to pressure Ryder to return to sport, Lauren tells Mark to do whatever Ned asks to protect their secret, leading Mark to head away to do the awful deed. Meanwhile, Nancy and Zack agree to meet for a drink, while Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) brings Kat some flowers that remind her of Zoe, but she's still in the grips of mourning.
Wednesday, October 14
Craig finds Denzel Dane's (Jaden Ladega) ID in his flat and forces Amy to show him her phone as a test of loyalty, and although he seemingly accepts her explanation, his anger toward Denzel grows. Kat is fully consumed by her grief as she pushes the rest of her family away and hits the bottle hard, and despite an intervention from Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Kat returns home still on the warpath and she continues to spiral.
Thursday, October 15
Kat and Alfie face the utter destruction of their relationship as their argument continues to intensify.
