Next week's episodes of EastEnders are set to be filled with new challenges as two fresh faces make their way to Albert Square. Linda Carter, portrayed by Kellie Bright, is taken aback when a contact of Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), shows up at The Queen Vic with a proposition.
As regular viewers of the BBC One soap will recall, Dean is currently behind bars awaiting trial for the murder of Keanu Taylor, enacted by Danny Walters. His unexpected arrest followed Linda's confession to the police about witnessing Dean at the crime scene on Christmas Day 2023.
When Fraser, brought to life by Greg Esplin, confronts a vulnerable Linda, Elaine Peacock, played by Harriet Thorpe, steps in and demands he leave the pub.
However, once Linda is alone with her son Johnny, played by Charlie Suff, it becomes evident that she is considering accepting Dean's offer. Despite Johnny's desperate attempts to convince his mother otherwise, Linda succumbs to alcohol once again.
The following day, Linda wakes up at The Vic with a hangover and realises she missed Annie's dentist appointment, causing concern for Elaine.
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Elaine's offer to take Annie to the dentist is met with resistance from Linda, but she is later horrified when the dentist reveals that Annie's dental care has been neglected.
Seeking advice, Linda turns to Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen. However, later in the week, Linda stumbles upon a shocking discovery while bottling up.
The pub landlady is left terrified after receiving a blackmail letter, leading her and Johnny to try and figure out who could have sent it.
Johnny calls Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) to spill the beans, but Linda returns home to find another letter.
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She loses her cool and creates a spectacle as she begins pointing fingers at people in The Vic. Johnny comforts her upstairs while, unknown to them, the person behind the letters pays a visit to Dean. But who could it be?
Elsewhere on the Square, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) is disheartened when her romantic interest Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) is preoccupied with work. She decides to make him jealous by accepting an innocent drink with Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) at The Vic.
Later, Junior makes his way to No. 45 and they end up sleeping together behind Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) back.
Cindy and Junior plan another secret rendezvous at No. 45, but their plans are likely to be thwarted when Peter Beale (Thomas Law) has a meeting and can't run Beale's Eels.
She then enlists Bobby (Clay Milner Russell) to help out by promoting him to manager, but it's clear Bobby is not up to the job. Back at No.45, Cindy and Junior rip each other's clothes off.
Later in the week, Bobby continues to try and prove his managerial skills at Beale's Eels but he grows suspicious when Cindy heads home with a migraine. Will he catch Cindy and Junior in the act?
Elsewhere, Suki (Balvinder Sopal) and Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) have lunch at Walford East to discuss their plans for dying Nish (Navin Chowdhry).
But the mum and son duo are interrupted when Nish arrives with a guest in tow Ayesha, the widow of Hardeep who Nish killed 20 years ago.
After a run-in in the cafe with Nish, Eve makes a decision and heads to The Vic to propose to Suki in front of Ayesha, Stacey and the Panesars.
But during a heartfelt chat with grandson Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), terminally ill Nish reveals that his only wish is to have Suki by his side when he dies.
EastEnders airs Monday-Thursday on BBC1 and iPlayer.
