EastEnders Spoilers Week 21 (23 - 27 May 2011)

[Perdita]

Monday 23 May
8.00-8.30pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders

As an exhausted Dot readjusts to home life with Jim, her friendship with Edward hits rocky ground, in the week's first visit to Walford. Meanwhile, Michael plays dirty to manipulate Jack against Ronnie and Christian makes an ill-advised attempt to reach out to Zainab. Patrick faces a nasty shock on his return home from holiday.

Tuesday 24 May
7.30-8.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders

Dot faces an impossible decision as the reality of being Jim's full-time carer takes it toll, while Carol and Max are heartbroken to witness their dad's decline, as the drama in Albert Square continues.

Thursday 26 May
7.30-8.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders


Dot feels betrayed when she discovers Carol, Max and Jack discussing Jim's future without her, in the latest drama from Walford.

Meanwhile, Rainie has an upsetting confession for Ronnie that could make or break her relationship with Jack.

Elsewhere, Masood is livid when he learns that Syed is babysitting Kamil and Jodie arranges a "sten" night ahead of Fatboy and Mercy's nuptials.


Friday 27 May
8.00-8.30pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders


Christian makes a momentous decision when Syed's attempts to heal the rift between Masood and Zainab leave him out in the cold, in the week’s final visit to Albert Square.

Meanwhile, Yusef offers a solution to Zainab's disturbed sleep, Mercy has a wobble ahead of her wedding and Lydia moves some of her valuable possessions into Janine's flat.

[tammyy2j]

Meanwhile, Yusef offers a solution to Zainab's disturbed sleep

Let me guess sleep with him

[Perdita]

Let me guess sleep with him

[alan45]

Syed tries to support Zainab as she hits rock bottom on EastEnders later this month, but his efforts lead to tension with Christian.

With Zainab and Masood's marriage continuing to crumble, they try to pretend to Tamwar that everything is okay, but there's no fooling Syed, and when he pays a visit to his mother at the Minute Mart, he suggests that she and Masood should try to get some relationship help.

When Zainab dismisses Syed's suggestion, he's forced to snap at her and she's soon sobbing away as her inner turmoil is too much to bear. For a moment, the pair come together, but Zainab eventually pushes Syed away and insists that she's fine.



Christian is watching and interrupts them as he thinks that Zainab is being unfair to Syed, but he then receives a rejection of his own as Syed tells him to stay out of it.

A Walford insider revealed: "Zainab is struggling to keep it together when she knows that her marriage is in crisis, and when Syed arrives at the Minute Mart trying to help, she breaks down.

"Not wanting to show how broken she is, she quickly composes herself and insists she is fine. Syed knows that she is a proud woman and doesn't want to let her guard down. However, Christian thinks this is just another example of Zainab taking advantage of Syed - but he is shocked when Syed tells him to keep his nose out."

[alan45]

23rd May

Michael pays a visit to Jack, unaware that Ronnie has returned to live at the flat. The pair have a discussion about the boxing club but Michael is stopped in his tracks when he spots some underwear. Michael wrongly assumes that Jack has wooed a new woman, but he finds out what's really going on when Ronnie comes out of the shower. Jack is disgusted that Ronnie is there and Jack ushers him out of the flat.

Over at the café, Jack tries to explain himself to Michael - declaring that his relationship with Ronnie is all he cares about. However, Michael insists that people on Albert Square aren't happy to see Ronnie back and he describes her as "sick". Jack then grabs Michael and threatens to knock him out, but he soon lets him go and storms out. However, out on the Square, Jack can sense that everyone feels the same way as Michael. Arriving back at the flat, Jack leaves Ronnie devastated by telling her that she'll have to leave again as their current arrangement isn't going to work…

Meanwhile, Patrick returns home to discover that the Minute Mart has been burgled. Although Zainab is to blame for failing to lock up properly, Denise takes the blame as she can see how stressed Zainab is. Later, Syed spots an upset Zainab and when he approaches her, he's surprised as she reaches for his hand before bursting into tears. Concerned, Syed takes his mother back to the flat, where she explains the situation with Masood, Jane and Ian. Although Syed tells his mum that Masood loves her, she vows that she'll be kicking him out once Tamwar is married. As the day continues, Christian visits the Minute Mart and, optimistic that the situation with Zainab is now improving, he invites her to dinner. However, Zainab is furious to realise that Syed must have told him everything and she tells Christian to choke on his 'lousy smug concern'.

Elsewhere, Kim finds Fatboy attractive when he explains that his wedding plans with Mercy are a sham, and Dot orders Edward to leave and never come back after he confesses her true feelings for her as they watch a film.

24th May

It's a bad day for Dot as she's still struggling to look after Jim, Marta is late for work and last night's incident with Edward is still on her mind. Looking into her purse for money to buy syrup from the shop, she spots that some cash is missing and, assuming Marta has stolen from her, she sacks her. When Carol turns up at the house, she reminds Dot that she needs help, but Dot insists that she can cope on her own. Carol then hands Dot a video tape containing old footage of Jim, which makes her upset so she tells Carol to leave.


Dot then visits the launderette to clean Jim's sheets, where she refuses help from Max. However, when Heather offers to help and points out that she knows what it's like to have older residents who have accidents, Dot finally relents and lets her sort things out. As Dot's day continues, she spots Edward, who has been trying to call her all morning. Edward insists that they should talk in The Vic, but when they get inside, Dot doesn't feel comfortable and Alfie even has to suggest that she goes to the back of the pub to calm down.


While at the back of the pub, Dot has a chat with Kat but offends her by speaking about how she sympathises with Ronnie. Not wanting to return home to her difficult situation with Jim, Dot pays a visit to Jack's because she wants to see Ronnie. After speaking to Ronnie, Dot tells Jack to remember his wedding vows and look after his wife. Finally returning home, Dot spots smoke coming out from the oven and realises that dinner is completely ruined. After turning up some music to drown out the sound of Jim's buzzer, Dot finds the money that she thought Marta had stolen. As Jim starts crying out, Dot breaks down in tears.

Wanting to sort out the situation with Dot, Max and Carol both visit her house and find her hunched over Jim's bed. They're both shocked by Dot and Jim's desperate situation, and Dot finally admits that she can't cope.

26th May

Jack has allowed Ronnie to stay over for another night while he sleeps on the sofa, but things are looking more positive for the pair as Jack says that he may not carry on sleeping there for much longer. When Roxy hears that the couple have arranged a lunch date at the Argee Bhajee, she convinces Ronnie to come to the salon for some pampering and head to the shops for retail therapy beforehand.

Later, following an argument with Jack at the café, Rainie decides to cause some trouble by heading over to his flat while Ronnie is there and asking for some underwear that she left when she stayed over. Ronnie later tells Roxy about Jack being with another woman, but Roxy informs her that he gave her his wedding ring to keep hold of rather than throwing it away. Realising this must mean something, Ronnie goes ahead with the Argee Bhajee date and when she's there, she kisses Jack. Finally making a decision, Jack tells Ronnie that he won't give up on their relationship…


Meanwhile, Dot is upset when she overhears Carol, Jack and Max discuss Jim being put into a care home as they pay a visit to her house. Returning to her stubborn ways, Dot insists that she can care for Jim herself. Later, at Max's house, the Branning siblings remain convinced that Jim needs proper care so they call an ambulance to collect him today. When Fatboy hears what's going on, he tells Dot that he'll fight for Jim with her. However, during a moment alone with Jim, Dot finally realises that everyone is right and Jim needs to be in a care home, so she reluctantly says goodbye to him.

Elsewhere, Zainab allows Syed to babysit Kamil because he is unwell. Yusef witnesses this and soon shares the news with Masood, who storms round to Syed's and takes Kamil back.

Also today, Jodie arranges a "sten" night ahead of Fatboy and Mercy's nuptials.

27th may

Following some flat-hunting, Christian tells Syed that he has found a two-bedroom place where they could raise their adopted child, but Syed fears that things are moving too quickly. Soon afterwards, Tamwar talks to Syed about their parents, who are still trying to protect him by pretending that there's nothing wrong. However, Tamwar soon hears what's going on as Syed reveals all. Later, Syed visits his mum at the Minute Mart and suggests that she and Masood should get some relationship help. Zainab snaps at her son but soon breaks down and they come together for a moment as Syed comforts her. However, Zainab then pushes him away and insists that she's fine. Christian is watching this and interrupts as he thinks that Zainab is being unfair, but Syed tells him to stay out of it.

At the same time, Yusef is keen to help Zainab with her tiredness and arrives at the Minute Mart with some medication for her. Explaining that he just wants to help, Yusef encourages her to take the pills. Later, back at home, Zainab and Masood continue trying to keep up an act in front of Tamwar, but he snaps at them and tells them that he knows exactly what's going on. Will Zainab and Masood work things out, or is this the end for them?

Meanwhile, Christian suggests that Syed should try to befriend Zainab, but he's hurt when Syed rejects the idea and insists that it won't help. Syed senses that Christian is upset and reassures him that their relationship is strong. Caught in the moment, Christian asks Syed to marry him - will he say yes?

Elsewhere, Mercy is getting ready for her wedding with Grace's help, but it's clear that all is not well. At the same time, Fatboy pays a visit to Dot's in order to invite her to the ceremony, but Kim tells him that she isn't around. As Kim tries to make a move on Fatboy, he's forced to explain that he's truly in love with Mercy but is too scared to tell her. Back at Grace's flat, Mercy is ready for the wedding but drops a bombshell by declaring that the ceremony is off as she doesn't want to live a lie.

[Perdita]

EastEnders legend June Brown has predicted that her character Dot Branning will struggle to cope without her beloved husband Jim living under her roof.

Next week's episodes of the BBC soap see Dot finally accept that her ailing partner needs to be moved to a care home as she can no longer cope with looking after him herself.

Dot makes her decision after another difficult day of caring for Jim (John Bardon) proves to be the final straw, leading to her breaking down in tears and ignoring his buzzer.

Speaking to Inside Soap, Brown commented: "That's the point where she realises Jim needs to be taken into a care home. She and Carol watch a video of him in happier days and the contrast between what he was then and what's now is so great."

Asked how Dot will cope without Jim, the actress replied: "I think she'll be very lonely and feel she doesn't have much purpose in life. It was really important to tell this story because there are so many people in a similar situation to Dot.

"It was moving to act out, too - not just because of Dot and Jim's relationship, but because I'm really good friends with John Bardon in real life."

Next Tuesday's episode of EastEnders focuses entirely on Dot in the build-up to her decision, which sees her encounter various friends and relatives on the Square as she avoids going home to Jim.