EastEnders 2016

[Perdita]

EASTENDERS

Farewell Peggy…hello Sam!
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Following Peggy's emotional exit a few weeks ago, the grand dame of Walford will be laid to rest over the summer. While few details have been revealed, we can promise that it's at Peggy's farewell that Sam Mitchell (Danniella Westbrook) will make her much talked-about return. What does this dramatic return mean for the Square's residents?

A bleak summer for the Beales
The Mitchells aren't the only family facing a difficult time over the summer, as the Beales are still reeling from Bobby’s shock confession while waiting to hear if their lad faces a stint in a young offender's institution. Meanwhile, Steven's return to the Square continues to send emotions spiralling as Ian struggles to forget the past and forgive the lad for his actions.

Also this Summer…
• Having made a brief return shortly before Peggy's death, Grant Mitchell will be back…
• Following their rocky reunion, Lauren and Abi eagerly await news from Max - but will he reach out to his daughters?
• The pressure builds for the Cokers as Babe continues to blackmail Les and Pam. Can anyone stop her?
• Kim tries to stop Vincent from becoming Donna's babyfather – but is it already too late?
• The spark between Bex and Shakil grows, much to Louise's fury. Can the Mitchell sit back and watch them become a couple?


www.whatsontv.co.uk

[Perdita]

EastEnders may have just wrapped up one of its longest-running storylines with Bobby Beale now banged up for killing his half-sister Lucy, but don't expect life in Walford to suddenly go quiet.

Over the next few weeks, we can expect big returns, a shock exit and a heartbreaking send-off for one of the show's all-time greatest icons. Check out our guide below to 12 of the best storylines coming up.

1. Grant vs Phil


Grant's last return may have been brief, but the good news is that he won't be so quick to jump on the next plane back to Portugal when he pops back again in a few weeks' time. Ross Kemp is already back filming at Elstree for a multi-episode stint which is sure to get everyone talking.

The return of Grant will see tensions between the Mitchell brothers reach fever pitch, following his recent threats to make Phil suffer for not paying back a hefty sum of money that he'd lent to him.

Grant recently warned: "No-one else will know. Just me and you. And when the time comes that I don't have to play nice, I'm going to bring you a war, Phil. Just so we're clear." Yikes. Although we suspect that Phil might be equally annoyed if he finds out about Grant's near-kiss with Sharon...

2. Peggy's funeral


Don't worry, the Mitchells haven't forgotten that Peggy is dead. The show gave Dame Barbara Windsor's iconic character a fitting swan song last month and we have no doubt that Peggy's funeral will be equally memorable.

The funeral was filmed on location last month and pictures released at the time showed that it was naturally a very solemn affair, with Phil, Ben and Billy acting as pallbearers. As Peggy touched the lives of everyone in her family and many of the other Walford residents too, how will everyone cope with the difficult task of saying one last goodbye?

3. Sam Mitchell's return


Danniella Westbrook recently reprised her role as Sam for a four-episode stint, which will see her hellraising character head back to Albert Square for Peggy's funeral. And the good news for all Sam fans is that she isn't just appearing for the odd token scene here and there – she'll be featuring as part of other storylines too and really will make her presence felt among the Mitchells.

Sam returns with her 5-year-old son Richard, so one big question is how the young lad's father Jack Branning will feel about that. But it won't just be Jack who feels the full force of her return - we all know that trouble follows Sam wherever she goes and it won't be any different this time...

4. Paul Coker's exit


It's rare that we know so little about a character's exit, but show bosses are still keeping us guessing about exactly how Jonny Labey's character Paul will say his goodbyes later in the summer.

Paul currently seems more loved-up than ever with his boyfriend Ben Mitchell, but with show insiders teasing an explosive exit storyline, it's clear that something must happen to tear them apart. Could one of the boys have a wandering eye? Will there be a love triangle? Could tragedy strike? Or could EastEnders defy our expectations by giving Paul and Ben a long-distance romance?! We've definitely got our eyes peeled with this one...

5. Andy the Builder is finally caught out

We've seen huge fan interest in the Andy storyline, but even though he's been on screen for a few months now, there are still many more questions than answers. Why exactly does he want revenge over Danielle's death so many years on? What's his endgame? And is "Andy" actually Gareth, the adoptive brother of Danielle who was mentioned when she was still alive?

The good news is that answers are coming soon, with the storyline gathering pace when Dot Branning makes a shocking discovery within Andy's washing at the laundrette. Detective Dot soon tips off Ronnie about what she's found, but is Ronnie in danger when she confronts Andy alone at home? And just how far will Andy go to get even?


6. Gavin's next move


Kathy Beale's evil ex has a nasty habit of turning up when everyone least expects him, so it's probably not too much of a surprise to learn that we haven't seen the last of him and his villainous ways just yet.

Never too far away and always a posing a menacing threat when he reappears, Gavin is one to keep an eye out for over the coming weeks. Last seen trying to snatch Dennis away from Sharon, what could Gavin's next move be? And as Kathy shared a secret kiss with Buster a few weeks back, could Gavin be the one to expose this secret?

7. Lee's big secret revealed?


Lee Carter's drunken hook-up with Abi Branning shocked us all way back in February, but they've proven more skilful than most Walford residents when it comes to keeping their scandalous secret under wraps.

This story has been very much on the back burner over the past few months, but with Lee and Whitney ploughing ahead with their wedding plans over the summer, it would certainly be a perfect time for the secret to come out and cause some classic soapy drama at The Vic...

8. Will Jay come back fighting?


Fan favourite Jay lost everything this year thanks to his big mistake with his underage girlfriend Star. With his reputation still in tatters and the Mitchells continuing to freeze him out, life isn't looking any better for Jay next week when he struggles to get a new job.

Next week's episodes see Jay once again consider a shock move into drug dealing as he begs Roxy for her supply, telling her that he has no other way to make cash. We'll have to wait and see exactly how this one plays out, but could this be another bad decision that comes back to haunt Jay? And more importantly, does he stand any chance of getting his life back on track?

9. The Cokers are pushed to breaking point


There'll be no let-up for Les and Pam Coker anytime soon, as Babe Smith continues to make their lives a misery with her vicious blackmail threats. She's still determined to exploit her knowledge of Les's secret cross-dressing for every penny it's worth, but this takes a huge toll on the Cokers' business as their decision to raise the prices for their funeral services sparks a backlash from the Mitchells.

As the story continues, there'll be a shocking turn of events that Les, Pam and Babe didn't see coming. But as the pressure continues to mount, will the Cokers be brave enough to stand up to Babe and let the truth come out? Or will the secret be taken out of their own hands?

10. Grant's secret son


As most viewers know, speculation has been rife that Grant could finally come face-to-face with the secret son he fathered with Michelle Fowler in 1995. While it just seemed like one of those crazy fan theories at first, EastEnders' former executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins added fuel to the fire before he left office last month – revealing that he'd even tried to lure back Susan Tully to reprise her role as Michelle.

"Michelle carries the one unexploded secret – the child. But there are ways around that," he told Radio Times. So could those "ways around that" present themselves when Grant heads back in a few weeks?

11. Ian and Jane try to move on


Ian and Jane have been through so much over the past couple of years that even keen cop Keeble couldn't face putting them through more misery when she found out that they'd covered up the truth about Lucy's death for months.

But what next for the troubled couple? The Lucy saga may have reached its conclusion, but you can expect to see more from the Beales over the summer months as it's revealed whether they really can get back to normal and whether Jane makes a full recovery following Bobby's attack.

12. Has Steven really changed his ways?


The shock return of Steven has also been a big talking point thanks to his new look, new attitude and new girlfriend. Steven seems satisfied and settled with Lauren Branning again in the coming weeks, but we have a feeling that EastEnders didn't bring him back just to play happy families.

In a recent chat with us, Aaron Sidwell – who plays Steven – admitted that it'd be "boring" if his character really was totally reformed. And surely that recent clue to a possible romantic spark with Johnny Carter has to be explored again? One thing's for sure, life will never be dull with Steven back on the scene...


Digital Spy

[parkerman]

11. Ian and Jane try to move on


Ian and Jane have been through so much over the past couple of years that even keen cop Keeble couldn't face putting them through more misery when she found out that they'd covered up the truth about Lucy's death for months.

But what next for the troubled couple? The Lucy saga may have reached its conclusion, but you can expect to see more from the Beales over the summer months as it's revealed whether they really can get back to normal and whether Jane makes a full recovery following Bobby's attack.



Aaaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

[Perdita]

So a policeman/woman can now decide that somebody can pervert the course of justice unpunished because they have been through a lot the last couple of years ?? :angry:

[parkerman]

So a policeman/woman can now decide that somebody can pervert the course of justice unpunished because they have been through a lot the last couple of years ?? :angry:
Yes apparently. And Max being in prison for 8 months for something he didn't do is just an unfortunate side effect.

P.S. And what exactly is it that Ian and Jane have "been through"? Has it not all been caused by their covering up in the first place!!!!???

[lizann]

is max not taking any revenge on phil and jane and lauren, only ian?

[Perdita]

is max not taking any revenge on phil and jane and lauren, only ian?

I am sure he will, he should !!

[parkerman]

I have this awful nagging feeling that when Max is shown taken his revenge on Ian, he will be made out to look like the villain...

[tammyy2j]

Yes apparently. And Max being in prison for 8 months for something he didn't do is just an unfortunate side effect.

P.S. And what exactly is it that Ian and Jane have "been through"? Has it not all been caused by their covering up in the first place!!!!???

No one is really mentioning Max, I would have thought Jane and Ian would have at least apologised to Lauren and Abi as a redemption starting point but no nothing all the worry, care and sympathy is being directed at Bobby and the Beales by everyone :angry: