EastEnders has welcomed back two major characters, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), in Thursday's episode, setting the stage for dramatic confrontations in Walford. Both returns carry ominous implications for other residents, with Ravi issuing a death threat that has fueled fan speculation he is the mysterious gunman seen in the New Year's Day flashforward.
Sharon's Surprise Return Turns Sour
Sharon's return was revealed early in the episode when her brother, Zack Hudson (James Farrar), found her waiting in the hallway. Zack was delighted, as was her ex-partner Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who helped organize the surprise. However, tensions quickly escalated when Sharon announced she was selling her share of their boxing gym, leading to a heated exchange with Phil.
Ravi's Return and Threat
Shortly after, Ravi's return aired. He was seen stepping out of a car after nearly running over his ex, Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Levy). Ravi expressed his desire to reunite with Priya and be a proper father to their children, but Priya rejected him. She stormed off, and when he caught up, she berated him for abandoning her. Ravi claimed he had been "ill" and had recently left a mental health ward, but Priya fumed that she had stood by him and accused him of sleeping with her before breaking up after leaving the hospital.
When Ravi insisted Priya must still care about him because she sent him a picture with her new man in the background, she suggested she had moved on. Unbeknownst to Ravi, his rival is Max Branning (Jake Wood). Ravi later told his stepmother, Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal), that he would not let anything get between him and his family, adding that if that man tried, he would kill him.
Fan Theories: Ravi as the New Year Gunman
Following Ravi's threats, fans have speculated that he may be the gunman who holds Max's children, Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), hostage at New Year. The gunman was first seen in the flashforward on 1 January 2026, forcing Max to choose which child to save. One fan wrote: "It's either setting things up for NYD already (and my theory about Ravi being the gunman being correct) or the biggest red herring." Another said: "The nerve of wanting Priya back when he's treated her like dirt! And issuing death threats... They are trying to sell him as the gunman." A third asked: "So the gunman in the flash-forward is gonna be Ravi huh?"
Max's Wedding Confirmed
The gunman's identity is one of many mysteries ahead of New Year. Fans had also wondered who Max would marry on that day, but Thursday's episode confirmed it is Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), who not only is engaged to Max but also booked their wedding venue for New Year's Day.
