Huge EastEnders exits and four major returns – with one extremely sinister comeback this spring
EastEnders has had a jam-packed start to the year (nearly half way towards Christmas lads, get shopping!) and spring is not looking like it’s slowing down one bit.
As our exclusive preview ahead shows, there are big changes in Walford – in the wake of Shona McGarty’s upcoming emotional exit as Whitney Dean, there are some familiar faces heading home.
Bobby Brazier is reprising his role as Freddie Slater along with Laila Morse as the endlessly mischievous Mo Harris, and the chaos that follows is everything you’d expect from this pair.
But while there will be a lot of humour to be found in this, the same can’t be said for the other big comeback this spring as abusive killer Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) resurfaces – and throws his family into utter chaos once more with the bombshell of all bombshells.
We are also set to say hello and goodbye to a couple of other fan-favourites, while there’s a new face on the Square that brings new drama for long-suffering George Knight (Colin Salmon).
And elsewhere, the Six story hasn’t gone anywhere – the ladies may think they have gotten away with it but that’s all about to change…
Nish is back – with a bombshell!
We last saw him slink away into the night after being unceremoniously – and deservedly – thrown onto the street by his family, but Nish Panesar is about to re-surface.
We knew it would only be a matter of time before he darkened the Panesar door again, and you can expect plenty of old wounds being re-opened.
With the Keanu murder secret seemingly put to bed after Dean Wicks’ incarceration, Suki is hopeful that she can focus on building her future with Eve Unwin.
But the unwelcome comeback will throw her life into chaos once more – especially when Nish drops the biggest bombshell they could imagine; and one that they didn’t see coming…
Goodbye Whitney amid a big secret
Saying goodbye to Whitney Dean after 15 years is going to be painful for fans – we have been through so much with her and we are all aching for her to get a happy ending.
She has a baby on the way and a wedding round the corner so theoretically the ingredients are there for some long-deserved joy.
But that bubbling secret being held by Zack Hudson and Lauren Branning is waiting to explode and destroy everything.
Bianca Jackson also knows what they have done and is facing a dilemma over whether to put Whit in the picture before she seals the deal on her big day.
Lauren is also full of guilt over what she has done to her best mate, and seems on the brink of cracking with a confession too.
As a sten night gets underway, Whitney will find her waters breaking and, as she goes into labour, things don’t go smoothly. Having been very anxious about her pregnancy given what happened to Peach, will Whitney welcome a healthy baby?
And, beyond that, will she and Zack say ‘I do’, or will the cheating scandal finally come to light and change everything?
Whatever happens, it is leading to an exit for her just around the corner, but the exact circumstances remain to be seen.
Here’s hoping Whitney can break the tradition of misery she has been subjected to but, this is EastEnders…
Double Slater comeback!
Bobby Brazier has had a whirlwind of a time since taking a break from Walford. After a successful stint on Strictly, he was then inundated with plenty of offers and a variety of jobs.
Now, Freddie is coming home to Walford, delighting fans – we have missed his cheeky vibes and, even more excitingly, he is back with Big Mo in tow.
Expect chaos and outrageous antics – we’d expect and hope for nothing less.
Since terrified Freddie left the Square to escape police attention following his attack on stalker Theo, he has been staying with Mo in her caravan.
Before they land back in Walford, we will get an insight into what they have been up to in the interim via a fun-filled TikTok series.
But what brings them back home? They are certainly going to liven things up a bit!
Beware, Six. It’s not over yet…
They thought that framing Dean and having him landed in prison would finally be the end of it, but the truth of Keanu’s death is going to come back and haunt the Six women once more – two in particular!
Satisfied that they have Dean bang to rights, everyone is now trying to just move on with their lives, but they’re in for a rude awakening.
Fresh questions are going to crop up needing urgent answers and it will send a chill down their spines as they realise it’s all far from over.
Finding themselves in the spotlight, it’s particularly bad news for Linda Carter and Sharon Watts…
By George, there’s another Knight shock on the way
Since discovering the truth about his real dad’s murder at the hands of adopted ‘father’ Eddie, George Knight’s life has been in freefall.
He has struggled to come to terms with it all but eventually took the brave step of testifying against Eddie, before then tragically losing his mum Gloria.
With everything weighing down on him, he has been risking his life with bare-knuckle fighting and his frightened family are praying that he can come out of this cycle of violence.