EastEnders enthusiasts are convinced that Mark Fowler's latest desperate measures will result in a fatality. In Thursday's episode, aired on 14 May, Mark discovered his debt to gangster Russell Delaney had doubled after his father, Grant Mitchell, threatened the drug lord. In a state of panic, his aunt Sam persuaded him to take drastic action.
Sam instructed Mark that he needed Lauren Beale to collaborate with him on stealing and selling cars from her lot. Lauren had previously refused, but Sam suggested Mark could force her hand by making her turn to him out of necessity. Consequently, they took a car Lauren was due to sell and set it ablaze.
Fans observed that just before this scene, Bea Pollard, who had been evicted from Honey and Billy Mitchell's home after stealing Honey's identity, was sleeping rough on some bin bags. Some speculated she might be too close to the fire and perish, as the character is rumoured to be departing soon.
"I think Bea was bedding down in one of the lock ups by the car," one fan commented. "Hopefully that will be her leaving scene." Another added: "Was that Bea asleep on the ground when Mark threw petrol all over the car and put a lighter to it?" A third said: "I thought the same thing. Near the car - bet she saw it all."
However, others pointed out that Bea appeared to be inside McClunky's, the chicken shop where she works. One wrote: "Bea camping out at mcklunky's on a bin bag..." Another said: "Sure she was in the chicken shop." A third added: "She was in the chicken shop, you could see counter in the background."
This development follows Bea's actions that left Honey hospitalised. When it was revealed Bea used Honey's identity to open a credit card, landing her friend in £5,000 debt, Bea tried to convince Honey it was a misunderstanding. When that failed, she claimed she only did it to buy things for people and make them like her. She nearly persuaded Honey to let her stay, until Honey's husband Billy arrived home.
Billy threw Bea out. In a fit of rage, Bea flipped the safety lever on his ladder, so that when he went up to clear the drains, he would fall. But in a sick twist, it was Honey who climbed the ladder. She fell and couldn't be roused by Billy, as Bea watched from the shadows. Honey was rushed to hospital and eventually woke up. Despite convincing everyone she wasn't responsible for Honey's fall, Bea was not allowed to stay in Walford and was told to leave.
