This article contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of EastEnders, which airs on BBC One at 7.30pm or can be streamed on iPlayer now.
Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) has given birth – with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) by her side!
It’s definitely not the labour that Lauren had planned, but the women were placed into an impossible position when the ambulance was delayed.
Cindy had returned to Albert Square just a short time before, gatecrashing Lauren and Peter’s (Thomas Law) engagement party.
Following a hostile environment and with nothing to lose, she decided to reveal that Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) had attacked her at Christmas.
The Knights (Colin Salmon and Harriet Thorpe) were stunned by the revelation, and initially wanted to report Kath’ to the police.
However, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) went on to explain that Cindy was also responsible for the explosion at The Queen Vic, which killed Martin Fowler (James Bye).
Cindy then swanned off into the night, clutching a bottle of champagne and wanting to face-off with Lauren again. When she arrived at the flat, Lauren’s waters had broke.
In today’s episode, the women learned that they’d have to wait an hour for the blue lights to cart her off to hospital.
Taking the matter into her own hands, Cindy got her soon to be daughter-in-law to the ward. She began to leave, thinking that she wouldn’t be wanted at the bedside, but Lauren ordered her to stay.
She was deeply concerned that the baby would be harmed by the drugs that Cindy had supplied to her throughout the pregnancy, and was fearing the worst.
During her contractions, Lauren had an open and honest conversation with Cindy – the two discussed everything that had happened over the last year and how they both could go into self-destruct mode when scorned.
It really seemed like they’d made a breakthrough!
After giving birth to a baby boy, the rest of the family gathered. The midwife said that there was no immediate signs of withdrawal, and Lauren breathed a sigh of relief.
Cindy didn’t get a welcome reception from Ian or Kathy, though Peter thanked his mum for being there at a difficult time.
It was at this point he told her that she was to play no part in his son’s future, and should leave.
With Cindy out of the room, the couple announced that their newborn would be called Jimmy – a fitting tribute to Lauren’s late grandfather Jim Branning.
Despite being ordered to go, Cindy still lurked around in the corridors and wanted to speak with Ian and Kathy.
But what does she want?
