Eastenders Spoilers 19th - 23rd May

[alan45]

Heartbroken Stacey is haunted by the enormity of her grief

New mum Lauren follows a gut feeling, but will it work out?

Dejected Vicki goes unheard when she offers up her advice

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Monday

Lauren Branning is secretly struggling with new baby son Jimmy

It was touch and go on the day of Jimmy's birth earlier this month, when the baby stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated in hospital.

Matters aren't helped having Lauren's hated future mum-in-law, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), back on Albert Square and wanting to be involved with the baby.

Lauren worries that her past painkiller addiction may have been harmful for Jimmy's health.

So she confides in fellow former addict, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), and reveals her fear that something isn't right with Jimmy...

Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) is stressed out at the Slater house.

Her mum Stacey (Lacey Turner) refuses to leave her bedroom as she continues to be consumed by grief after the death of her ex-husband, Martin Fowler.

When family relative Kat (Jessie Wallace) finds out that teenager Lily is under such pressure looking after her younger siblings, she becomes worried about the situation...

Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) pays the price for his affair with Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) when boss Kat sacks him from his taxi-driver job at Kat's Cabs!

Plus, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) is feeling sad that he is not in touch with his daughter Clare, as the day of her 40th birthday arrives.


Tuesday

Lauren Branning is certain there is something wrong with her new baby son Jimmy

Lauren's fiance, Peter Beale (Thomas Law), is unsure what to think.

But he becomes increasingly worried about Lauren after their health visitor Belinda (Sarah Durham) suggests she could be experiencing symptoms of post-natal depression...

Later, Lauren becomes alarmed when she notices something odd while looking at Jimmy's eyes.

She rushes off to the paediatric ward at the hospital where she demands an EMERGENCY appointment!

Lauren is worried that Jimmy is blind...

Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) calls a family meeting at 5 Albert Square.

Is it possible that Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) may need professional help after the death of her ex-husband, Martin Fowler?

Stacey has been refusing to leave her bedroom and has left her teenage daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) to cope alone with her young daughter, Charli.

But when Stacey finally appears downstairs, how will she react to finding her family talking behind her back?

Zack Hudson (James Farrar) becomes more convinced that his secret teenage son, Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman), isn't safe at home.

Especially since Zack now knows about the chilling secret Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) and her ex-husband Teddy (Roland Manookian) have been hiding about the MURDER of their son Harry's (Elijah Holloway) ex-girlfriend, Shireen...

PLUS, Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) worries about being able to find a new job after being sacked from Kat's Cabs.


Wednesday

Peter Beale is becoming increasingly worried about his fiancee, Lauren Branning

Lauren is convinced there is something wrong with their newborn baby, Jimmy.

However, a healthcare visitor has suggested that Lauren may be experiencing symptoms of post-natal depression...

Peter is further alarmed when the couple's young son, Louie innocently reveals he has seen former addict Lauren taking pills...

Meanwhile, Lauren is determined to get baby Jimmy examined at the hospital.

After a phone call from Lauren's midwife Hannah, Peter races to the hospital with his dad Ian (Adam Woodyat) and family friend, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

A hospital consultant, Miss Ayub, examines Jimmy's eyes and then reveals a devastating diagnosis:

Lauren and Peter's new son is severely sight impaired...

"You hear stories all of the time, where parents have this instinct that comes over them, and they won’t leave until they at least have the reassurance," says Jacqueline Jossa who plays Lauren. "All she wants is reassurance because she doesn’t actually know what’s happening. It’s a gut feeling. Lauren is that mum that would do anything for her kids.

"I think it’s a real mix of emotions. The unknown is a scary place to be. But Lauren finally feels like she wasn’t going crazy and now she is determined to be there for Jimmy every step of the way."


Thursday

Stacey Slater has spent a LOT of time hiding away from the world since the death of her ex-husband, Martin Fowler,

The rest of the Slater family is starting to wonder if Stacey needs professional help to deal with the guilt and grief she's suffering with.

However, it seems like Stacey is ready to face the rest of Albert Square.

Stacey leaves the house for the first time in weeks.

Then she announces plans for a big family meal.

But family relative Kat (Jessie Wallace) becomes concerned that Stacey is trying to do too much, too soon.

And it's not long before Stacey is thrown into a spin when she realises her mobile phone is missing.

Which contains voicemails, photos and text messages from Martin.

Stacey races off in search of her phone, afraid the memories of Martin could be lost forever...

When Stacey's teenage daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) and Kat catch-up with her at the Laundrette, they fear she could be experiencing a bipolar episode...

Meanwhile, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and her fiance Peter Beale (Thomas Law) are back home on the Square.

The couple share an emotional moment as Lauren tries to convince Peter that things are going to be alright despite their baby son Jimmy's devastating medical diagnosis...

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eas...gic-storyline/

EastEnders fans will see Stacey Slater's mental health deteriorate next week, forcing the desperate Slaters to rally round her and Lily before it's too late.

With Mo and Jean away, and Stacey locked away in her bedroom day after day, teenage mum Lily reaches breaking point, unable to cope alone. Will the Slaters find a way to help mother and daughter get back on their feet after losing Martin?

"Stacey's mental state is in a worrying place," explains our Walford insider. "She's shut herself away from the world, but Lily urgently needs her mum."

The trouble begins when Mo and Jean head out of Albert Square, and Stacey refuses to leave her bedroom. With Lily and Freddie in charge of running No.31, the responsibility takes its toll on stressed Lily ? but she lies to Kat and Eve, pretending everything is fine.

However, the truth about the chaos at home emerges when Freddie realises Lily is bunking off school to do chores. Telling Kat how bad things have become, Freddie begs for her help.

"Kat can't believe the state of the Slater household," says our source. "But her biggest concern is Stacey and how severely grief is affecting her. If she can't look after herself, what happens to Lily and Charli?"

Taking charge, Kat orders a family meeting and summons Alfie, Eve and Suki. They put together a childcare plan, but it becomes clear that Stacey might need professional help. When the mourning mum emerges, she dismisses Kat's support and barricades herself back in the bedroom, leaving Lily distraught.

The next day, Stacey leaves the house for the first time in weeks. But when she invites everyone for a big family meal, Kat's worried it's too much for her to handle. At home, Stacey paints on a smile, ordering everyone to cheer up ? but terror soon grips her when she realises her phone has fallen into the laundry.

"Freddie's on the way to the laundrette," our insider reveals, "but Stacey's phone is in there with all her photos, texts and voicemails from Martin. It?s a race against time?"

As Stacey rushes to the laundrette, Alfie is shaken when Arthur tells him a worrying secret about his mum. Kat and Lily try to calm Stacey down, but they're terrified she's experiencing another bipolar episode.

When they return home, Alfie shares the information Arthur told him, but this admission causes an incident between Stacey and Lily that leaves their bond shattered. Will mum and daughter be able to forgive each other ? or is their relationship damaged for good?

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eas...mmy-diagnosis/

EastEnders' Lauren Branning has her world turned upside down next week, when baby Jimmy is diagnosed with a severe visual impairment.

While looking into her little one's eyes, Lauren realises that something doesn't seem right. Immediately, the mum-of-two calls the GP, but they are unable to offer an appointment.

"Lauren sees no choice but to race to the hospital," confirms our Walford source. "She insists that he is seen as a matter of urgency."

The week kicks off with Peter Beale trying to support new mum Lauren, even though he's clearly still worried about her history with addiction. Meanwhile, Cindy Beale once again tries to worm her way back into Lauren and Peter's lives ? and the added pressure just leaves Lauren even more convinced that she's a terrible mum.

"Luckily, Linda arrives with a gift at the perfect time, and the two mums share an honest conversation about their mental health struggles," reveals our insider. "In fact, mum-of-five Linda offers even more words of wisdom when she advises Lauren to listen to her maternal instincts when it comes to Jimmy."

Lauren is frustrated that Peter doesn't share her concerns about Jimmy's wellbeing, and later opens up to her health visitor, Belinda.

But when Belinda also pushes her worries aside, Lauren is left even more upset. Meanwhile, Belinda privately indicates to Peter that his partner could be suffering from postnatal depression.

But it turns out that Lauren's fears are very much founded, after she races her tiny son to hospital. At first, midwife Hannan feels worried that Lauren might have been using drugs again, and calls Peter to share her fears.

"Lauren attends the hospital without telling anyone, so Peter panics when he returns home and she's not there," says our source. "And to make matters worse, Louie lets slip that he's seen his mum taking pills.

"So when Hannan calls, Peter races to the hospital believing that he's going to deal with a relapse ? but Lauren is left stunned by his presumption."

Eventually, Hannan takes Lauren's worries seriously and suggests that Jimmy should be examined by a consultant. With Linda and Ian Beale also present at the hospital, the doctor looks over Jimmy and confirms to Lauren and Peter that their baby is severely visually impaired.

Stunned by the diagnosis, Lauren returns home with her son, and she shares a heart-to-heart with Stacey Slater, before also chatting to Lily Slater. It's not only the Slaters that Lauren confides in though, as she does her best to convince Peter that their young family will make it through.

As Peter and Lauren brace themselves for the journey ahead, will they unite for their baby's sake? Or will the pressure drive a wedge between them?

EastEnders bosses have been working on this storyline with guidance from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

EastEnders' executive producer Chris Clenshaw tells us: "It was imperative that we worked with RNIB and experts in the field when consulting on Jimmy's visual impairment storyline to ensure it was portrayed sensitively and accurately.

"The story will continue to develop over time as we look to focus on how the diagnosis affects Lauren and Peter as parents, their family and later, the effects this will have on Jimmy."

Louise Gow, RNIB's Head of Eye Health, Optometry and Low Vision, adds: "Working with EastEnders on this important storyline involving Lauren, Peter and baby Jimmy has been such a great experience. The team at EastEnders has worked closely with RNIB by listening to our advice and developing a story that authentically captures the experiences of parents of children with visual impairment.

"While every family's experience is different, the story demonstrates the emotional impact and challenges of vision impairment. It highlights and raises awareness of the support that is available for people with sight loss ? parents, carers, children, and young people."

[tammyy2j]

A mother's instinct is never wrong

[lizann]

harvey can work in the chippy or run Martin's stall