Five huge EastEnders spoilers: an emotional return, police bombshell and HIV horror continues

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EastEnders,18-01-2023,6631,Linda Carter (KELLIE BRIGHT);Alfie Moon (SHANE RICHIE),***EMBARGOED TILL 10TH JANUARY 2023***, BBC, Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

THE fallout from Mick Carter’s disappearance continues as the police rock up the Square with shocking news.

Meanwhile, one resident is trying to hide a secret as another faces a HIV ordeal. Get the lowdown on the EastEnders drama.

Linda Carter comes back to our screens this week

She’s mourning the loss of Mick Carter

She soon gets news from the police

Mick vanished at sea on Christmas Day

1. News of Mick gets to the Square

Several weeks have gone by since the Vic landlord disappeared at sea after trying to save Janine Butcher and Linda Carter from drowning.

Linda (portrayed by Kellie Bright) has since isolated herself to process the probable death of her lost love with whom she was ready to rekindle her marriage prior to his disappearance.

Janine, on the other hand, was arrested and taken away from Albert Square for her unlawful scheming.

But in scenes due to air on BBC One this week, the landlady finally makes an appearance, a shell of her former self.

Alfie Moon (played by Shane Richie) tries to cheer Linda up and realises how bad the Slater family’s money woes really are.

Alfie tries to look for work but is knocked back by Kat Slater on the cabs and Kim Fox at The Albert.

Fortunately for him, he gets an idea when Denise Fox (Diane Parish) reveals she has keys for The Vic.

He asks Patrick Trueman to help him swipe the keys with the intention of reopening the pub to help Linda.

The iconic pub was closed after Mick vanished.

Business soon gets back on track but Denise is horrified to discover the iconic pub full of customers with Alfie behind the bar.

He insists he’s only doing this for Linda but the hair salon owner isn’t happy.

Things go from bad to worse when she finds out from Mitch Baker that Patrick is handing out free drinks.

After giving Alfie hell, Denise demands that Patrick gets everyone to pay up if he doesn’t want to suffer any harsh consequences.

Alfie doesn’t back down and soon comes up with another plan to throw a summer party in The Vic to banish the January blues.

But while the tills are ringing once again, Kim tells Sharon Watts that the Vic is open – and she makes a call.

Business is going well at The Vic, once again, and Alfie is convinced he’s hit the jackpot… but Linda’s arrival rattles him.

Sharon takes Annie and Ollie back to her own home as a distraught Linda accuses Alfie and the rest of her neighbours of not caring about Mick’s death.

In later scenes, Alfie gathers Mick’s friends to surprise Linda with a vigil in the bar for Mick.

Sadly, the police interrupt the event with devastating news about Mick Carter.

What will they announce?

Lola was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour

2. Lola shares her dying wish

Meanwhile, Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) knows she has limited time with her nearest and dearest after she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Determined to not let her illness take over her life, Lola has returned to work, ready to live if to the fullest while she still can.

In recent scenes of the London-based drama, she accepted Jay’s marriage proposal.

The couple are ready to take their relationship to the next level but something else soon begins to weigh heavy on Lola’s mind.

Coming up, she first excitedly asks Kim Fox (portrayed by Tameka Empson) to be her Maid of Honour.

Kim is thrilled and immediately accepts before starting to plan the hen party as Jay (Jamie Borthwick) worries it may all be too much for his other half.

The party planning is well underway and Kim thoroughly organises a long guest list for the hen do.

But she inadvertently touches a nerve when she asks about Lola’s mother.

Lola has been estranged from her mother for several years and when her daughter Lexi asks her about the latter, she’s unable to give answers.

In later scenes, Lola talks to Jay about finding her mother but the mechanic isn’t so sure it’s a good idea for the women to reconnect.

Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) goes along with Jay’s opinion and advises Lola to take it slowly.

Meanwhile, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) is wondering what to get Lola as a wedding present… and comes up with the perfect idea.

What will he do?

Denise Fox flirted with danger when she shared a kiss with Ravi Gulati

3. Denise tries to hide a secret

As her husband Jack Branning faces family issues, Denise Fox took things too far with another Walford resident – hunky gangster Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).

Although she’s married, the hair salon owner recently shared a kiss with the thug before pushing him away out of guilt.

But things could be escalating in scenes due on our screens as she tries to shut things down with Ravi.

This prompts Denise to go see Ravi and tell him that she’s a happily married woman.

Denise assures him he’s got the wrong idea but a flirty Ravi isn’t so sure she’s being honest with him or herself.

In later scenes, Ravi heads over to Peggy’s and drowns his sorrows.

But Denise’s daughter Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams) soon catches his eye and the pair flirt.

Ravi tries to get Chelsea’s affections in later scenes when he swoops in to help her with a heavy delivery.

She invites him for a drink at The Vic to show her gratitude and Ravi agrees after spotting Denise.

Ravi and Chelsea flirt up a storm and he walks her home as they arrange a second date.

However, Denise lets Ravi know how upset she is, confronting him about using her daughter.

Ravi retorts that he will date whoever he wishes.

To make matters worse for Denise, Chelsea asks her to watch Jordan while she’s on a date with Ravi.

Denise bumps into him and warns him off Chelsea once again.

But things between her and Ravi could be getting serious – Chelsea tries to lure Ravi into No.1 for a “drink” following their date.

Twelve-year-old Lily Slater found out she was pregnant

4. Martin makes a drastic move for Lily

As members of her family were recovering from a gas leak, Lily Slater (portrayed by Lillia Turner) was revealed to be pregnant at the early age of twelve.

The news was first announced to her mother Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) who kept the pregnancy a secret alongside her own mother, Jean (Gillian Wright).

But due to her young age, Lily was soon at the centre of an investigation led by social services and the police whom believed she may have been abused.

This resulted in her adoptive father Martin Fowler (James Bye) finding out the truth when he was questioned about his relationship with Lily.

While he was initially furious at the thought of Stacey keeping the truth from him, his attention was soon drawn to Lily’s future.

This was due to the fact Lily showed no intention of aborting her baby and, instead, was considering motherhood.

However, the child recently overheard a conversation between her mother and grandmother about the family finances.

Martin will still be taking action this week in a bid to manipulate Lily into getting an abortion.

He notably begs the owner of Stacey’s Baps to support him in talking Lily into the procedure, but she refuses.

Stacey has been hellbent on building up her bond with Lily and making sure her daughter trusts her.

Thankfully for Martin, he may not have to do much of the work after all.

In later scenes, Lily speaks to an oblivious Whitney Dean (who is also pregnant) about motherhood and she reaches a decision about her unexpected pregnancy.

Will Lily go through with having her baby?

Whitney has no clue Zack Hudson could be HIV positive

5. Whitney faces HIV shock

Motherhood is on the horizon for Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and she’s determined to take it seriously.

On the other hand, Zack Hudson (James Farrar) struggled a lot more with the idea of fatherhood.

To make matters worse, the hunk was also warned he could have contracted the HIV virus after sharing needles with a former acquaintance.

Zack has put off getting tested out of fear and, after a drunken row with Whitney, keeps his distance.

This week, when Suki and Nish Panesar head to the restaurant where Zack is employed, they overhear Whit’s pal Chelsea talking about the chef.

Chelsea reveals that Zack is deserting both Whitney and their baby.

Suki later shares her disapproval regarding Whitney and Zack is severely rattled.

Meanwhile, Whitney prepares for her baby scan and heads off with Chelsea, Felix, Finlay and Sonia Fowler.

Zack spots them but continues to stay away.

At the hospital, Whitney is overwhelmed with love to see her baby for the first time.

Although he’s keeping a safe distance, Zack is desperate to know more about his baby’s blood tests and this soon gets back to Whitney.

The mother-to-be wonders if she should give him another chance, unaware of the reason why Zack is so concerned.

In later scenes, Whitney is a bag of nerves after getting a text from the clinic but Zack offers to support her as she opens it.

She then thanks him but holds him at arm’s length, insisting it would be best if he continued to keep his distance.

Could Whitney have contracted the virus?

EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.