7 huge EastEnders questions that need answering after anniversary week
Walford has been changed forever.
EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders’ 40th anniversary celebrations have come to an end, after the BBC soap produced four action-packed episodes to be proud of, including a flawless live instalment.
The happiness of Billy and Honey’s wedding day was derailed by a dramatic explosion in The Vic that caused the d.e.a.t.h.s of two major characters, and saw the sensational return of an iconic blast from the past.
While some long-running plots came to an end, the exciting episodes also kicked off some potential new storylines, ahead of the next chapter of Walford with a new executive producer at the helm. Here are 7 questions we are left with after this unforgettable week of drama:
1. How will Martin’s d.e.a.t.h affect Walford?
The biggest talking point from the big anniversary week is undoubtedly the tragic d.e.a.t.h of Martin Fowler, as he died from his injuries after being struck down by a falling beam in the pub wreckage. It was a bold and divisive move from outgoing executive producer Chris Clenshaw, but it made for unmissable television. James Bye and Lacey Turner delivered Martin and Stacey’s heartbreaking goodbye so brilliantly that it was easy to forget that those scenes were performed live.
Martin was the definition of a legacy character as the first baby ever to be born on EastEnders, so it’s difficult to imagine the enormity of the impact his d.e.a.t.h will have on Walford. There will no doubt be emotional scenes ahead as the residents of Albert Square say goodbye to one of their own – with Monday’s episode (February 24) taking place the day after this terrible disaster.
Ruby will be devastated to have lost not only her partner but Roman’s dad, especially as he had only just come into his son’s life. But Ruby doesn’t realise that while Martin and Stacey were trapped in The Vic, they had made plans to get back together and even get married again. With emotions running high, it remains to be seen whether Stacey will tell Ruby about these major developments.
But we will soon see a temporary exit for Stacey, with Lacey Turner giving birth only weeks ago and returning to the soap especially for the live episode. What is next for Stacey, and for grieving Walford?
2. How will Sonia leave?
The other d.e.a.t.h this week was k.i.l.l.e.r Reiss, who initially caused the explosion by crashing a car into The Vic after swerving to avoid hitting Ian. Amid the carnage, he reappeared inside the pub to reach out to Sonia as she went into labour. But after an altercation with Bianca, Reiss was k.i.l.l.e.d by none other than a falling bathtub. It was a fittingly comedic end for the hapless villain as well as for actor Jonny Freeman.
Since Natalie Cassidy announced last month that she would be leaving her role of Sonia in upcoming scenes, there was a lot of speculation as to whether the character would also perish in the explosion. However, Sonia thankfully survived and with the help of Lauren and Bianca (and a public vote), her baby girl Julia was delivered safely.
Sonia’s exit is still on the horizon though, and how she says goodbye to Walford is up in the air. She has been through a lot over the last year, so perhaps she feels she needs a fresh start elsewhere. The question is, will she take her sister with her, or is Bianca sticking around for a while longer?
3. Will Cindy get revenge on Kathy?
After all the chaos of the pub explosion, it’s worth noting that this week we also finally discovered who attacked Cindy on Christmas Day. Cindy took a stand and pointed a gun at Ian, who she suspected was responsible, but Kathy intervened and admitted that she was the one who whacked her with a shovel.
It’s a reveal that might have felt a tad underwhelming but certainly made sense considering the pair’s historic rivalry.
Ian offered her money to not report Kathy to the police – but Cindy responded by pushing him into the path of an oncoming car. Cindy and Kathy were later trapped together in the pub, and while Kathy was tempted to leave her rival to bleed out, Cindy warned her that her d.e.a.t.h would always be on her conscience, so she was reluctantly helped to safety.
As Cindy was taken away in an ambulance, the paramedic told her she should be grateful to her mother-in-law. But Cindy made it clear that she wouldn’t be thanking Kathy anytime soon, and it seems that this story is far from over. Ian previously threatened to make Cindy’s life a living hell if she didn’t stay quiet about his mum. Is this the start of another Beale battle for the ages?
4. Can Phil get the help he needs?
In devastating scenes this week, struggling Phil made the decision to take his own life. His plan was thwarted by Cindy stealing his gun and using the one bullet on Ian, so there were mercifully no fatal consequences when he later pulled the trigger in the garage.
Grant was unable to help his brother, but Nigel made his friend realise he was still needed by finally disclosing his heartbreaking dementia diagnosis. With Linda by his side, he spoke to a professional about his suicidal thoughts and eventually agreed to spend some time in a mental health facility.
Steve McFadden has been nothing short of phenomenal in this storyline, so it would only be right for EastEnders to continue to follow Phil as he accepts help and tries to find a way to move forward.
5. Will Nigel leave with Grant?
Speaking of Grant, next week he faces criticism from the rest of the Mitchells for how he handled the situation with Phil, with his attitudes towards mental health stopping him from supporting his brother. After some tense confrontations, Yolande advises Nigel to tell Grant about his dementia. He doesn’t want to do so, but it’s too late, as Grant overhears the conversation.
As Grant struggles to come to terms with this bombshell about his old friend, he decides to support an unlikely source. He decides to leave Walford but asks Nigel to move back to Portugal with him, promising to look after him through his worsening condition. Are we about to see two more exits in the aftermath of anniversary week?
6. What’s next for Denise and Jack?
Denise’s long-running love triangle concluded this week when she decided to pursue a relationship with Jack over Ravi – thanks to a groundbreaking viewer vote. The audience was obviously split over the outcome, with some concerned that Denise’s reunion with her ex-husband will mean the show retreading old ground in future episodes. But actor Diane Parish made it clear that it won’t be smooth sailing for the couple going forward, teasing that viewers should “expect drama”.
Diane also pointed out in an Instagram Live after the episode that the door was now open for Ravi and Priya to be together, another popular pairing amongst fans. Could there soon be another romance on the cards?
7. Does Zack have a secret son?
It seems only right to bring things back to poor old Martin (no, we are still not over it). One of the final conversations he had before the d.e.a.d.l.y explosion was with Zack, who told him some juicy gossip, explaining that he had a fling with Nicola 16 years ago. This was already revealed to viewers when Nicola first arrived in Walford last year, but this past connection has remained a secret ever since.
This got Martin thinking, and he jokingly suggested that Barney could be his son, as he is around the right age. Zack shrugged this off, and this was soon forgotten as the horrific tragedy unfolded in the Square. But did Martin have a point, and could Zack and Nicola’s past be explored in the future?
EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
