Perdita
01-01-2021, 11:35
EastEnders producer Jon Sen has offered the first hints about the explosive storylines coming in 2021.
The soap ended 2020 with a powerful New Year's Eve episode where Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) made a breakthrough about the childhood abuse he suffered, and 2021 will kick off with yet more life-changing moments for the Carters as Linda (Kellie Bright) must decide whether to leave Walford with Max (Jake Wood).
As the New Year begins, Mick will finally have a confrontation with his abuser Katy Lewis (Simone Lahbib) as he find some solace from a familiar face. But, can he still save his marriage?
"After 15 years, we're set to say goodbye to Max Branning and it's safe to say he'll go out in dramatic style," Sen promised. "We'll also see the ongoing effect of Mick's abuse and with Frankie intertwined with the Carters evermore, she struggles now that the truth is out."
No-one in Walford realises that Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) has killed his second victim ? Tina Carter. With the Carters believing that Gray actually helped Tina skip town, who can stop the killer before he strikes again?
"One of the big moments of last year was the death of Chantelle and everybody's asking the question of when Gray will receive his comeuppance," Sen acknowledged. "The soap gods never forgive something like that and we need to see Gray pay, but I'm going to keep when that'll happen close to my chest but it's something we've talked about a lot."
Speaking of Walford killers, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) is just out of prison and back in Denise Fox's (Diane Parish) life, with their daughter Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams) in tow.
More trouble can be expected for Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) and Martin Fowler (James Bye) too, as Ruby risks pushing her new husband away by escalating her feud with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
Callum (Tony Clay) also may face judgment day, as he continues to be torn between his pledge to his police superiors to bring in Phil (Steve McFadden) and his love for Ben (Max Bowden).
"There's some brilliant stories coming up for Stacey and Ruby, there's obviously much more to play with Lucas' story as the real aftermath of his re-emergence comes to bear on Denise's life," Sen teased.
"We've got the ongoing story of Callum and his duplicity in having gone undercover against Phil, all the while Ben is none-the-wiser and only falling deeper in love?"
Kheerat (Jaz Deol) will still be struggling after Chantelle's death, but he'll form a bond with another Walford family. Elsewhere on the Square, one popular Walford couple reaches a breaking point while love blooms for more than one unlikely pair.
"We've got some really great stuff for the Panesars as we see Kheerat team up with an unlikely family on the Square. There's also a few surprising romantic pairings that I'm looking forward to seeing blossom as well as love on the horizon for Isaac and Lola," Sen said.
"We will continue to see how Billy suffers with Jay and Honey too. Tiff and Keegan are still going strong, albeit penniless, and we're looking forward to seeing what happens when they move into Number 25 with Dotty and the chaos that ensues. We'll also be getting a closer look at some of the newer residents as they have stories yet to be discovered?"
Let's not forget the newly-betrothed Ian and Sharon Beale (Adam Woodyatt and Letitia Dean). Though Sharon is set on making Ian pay for what he did to Denny, the New Year brings new perspectives on her plotting.
"Of course the big moment from Christmas was Sharon's deathly scheming against Ian after she masterminded the attack with Phil that didn't go quite to plan," Sen said. "Sharon isn't about to let Ian off the hook that quickly, her poisonous plotting is just getting started and she wants to avenge Denny's death once and for all."
EastEnders continues on Friday (January 1) at 8pm on BBC One.
Digital Spy
The soap ended 2020 with a powerful New Year's Eve episode where Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) made a breakthrough about the childhood abuse he suffered, and 2021 will kick off with yet more life-changing moments for the Carters as Linda (Kellie Bright) must decide whether to leave Walford with Max (Jake Wood).
As the New Year begins, Mick will finally have a confrontation with his abuser Katy Lewis (Simone Lahbib) as he find some solace from a familiar face. But, can he still save his marriage?
"After 15 years, we're set to say goodbye to Max Branning and it's safe to say he'll go out in dramatic style," Sen promised. "We'll also see the ongoing effect of Mick's abuse and with Frankie intertwined with the Carters evermore, she struggles now that the truth is out."
No-one in Walford realises that Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) has killed his second victim ? Tina Carter. With the Carters believing that Gray actually helped Tina skip town, who can stop the killer before he strikes again?
"One of the big moments of last year was the death of Chantelle and everybody's asking the question of when Gray will receive his comeuppance," Sen acknowledged. "The soap gods never forgive something like that and we need to see Gray pay, but I'm going to keep when that'll happen close to my chest but it's something we've talked about a lot."
Speaking of Walford killers, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) is just out of prison and back in Denise Fox's (Diane Parish) life, with their daughter Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams) in tow.
More trouble can be expected for Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) and Martin Fowler (James Bye) too, as Ruby risks pushing her new husband away by escalating her feud with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
Callum (Tony Clay) also may face judgment day, as he continues to be torn between his pledge to his police superiors to bring in Phil (Steve McFadden) and his love for Ben (Max Bowden).
"There's some brilliant stories coming up for Stacey and Ruby, there's obviously much more to play with Lucas' story as the real aftermath of his re-emergence comes to bear on Denise's life," Sen teased.
"We've got the ongoing story of Callum and his duplicity in having gone undercover against Phil, all the while Ben is none-the-wiser and only falling deeper in love?"
Kheerat (Jaz Deol) will still be struggling after Chantelle's death, but he'll form a bond with another Walford family. Elsewhere on the Square, one popular Walford couple reaches a breaking point while love blooms for more than one unlikely pair.
"We've got some really great stuff for the Panesars as we see Kheerat team up with an unlikely family on the Square. There's also a few surprising romantic pairings that I'm looking forward to seeing blossom as well as love on the horizon for Isaac and Lola," Sen said.
"We will continue to see how Billy suffers with Jay and Honey too. Tiff and Keegan are still going strong, albeit penniless, and we're looking forward to seeing what happens when they move into Number 25 with Dotty and the chaos that ensues. We'll also be getting a closer look at some of the newer residents as they have stories yet to be discovered?"
Let's not forget the newly-betrothed Ian and Sharon Beale (Adam Woodyatt and Letitia Dean). Though Sharon is set on making Ian pay for what he did to Denny, the New Year brings new perspectives on her plotting.
"Of course the big moment from Christmas was Sharon's deathly scheming against Ian after she masterminded the attack with Phil that didn't go quite to plan," Sen said. "Sharon isn't about to let Ian off the hook that quickly, her poisonous plotting is just getting started and she wants to avenge Denny's death once and for all."
EastEnders continues on Friday (January 1) at 8pm on BBC One.
Digital Spy