STACEY Slater is trying to juggle her troubled family life and her bap business all at once.
But things get harder for her when an iconic EastEnders bad boy makes his return.
1. Stacey gets bad news
After finding out her twelve-year-old daughter Lily was pregnant, Stacey Slater reliased she’d be set for some troubling times.
The beloved character played by Lacey Turner gets one piece of bad news after another this week as things aren’t set to quieten down as of yet.
But aside from her family issues, Stacey is also desperately trying to keep her bap business afloat.
Unfortunately, a stressed Stacey injures her back next week in the BBC One soap, forcing her to take a step back from her food van.
Thankfully for her, her cousin Freddie (Bobby Brazier) offers to step in to help with the business to let her rest.
All seems to be on the right track for Freddie and Stacey’s Baps as he’s an instant hit with the customers.
Sadly, Stacey later receives an unsettling phone call from Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) who tells her that her van has been broken into.
But there’s more for her…
2. Whitney spills the beans
Stacey won’t be able to catch a break this week as Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) will be breaking her trust in a shocking manner.
Martin Fowler was recently met with an impossible choice to make as he was offered a new job opportunity in Turkey.
The market trader recently struggled to decide what he wanted to do as he felt guilty for leaving his stepdaughter Lily Slater (played by Lillia Turner) at such a difficult time.
But the 12-year-old is soon set to get some surprising support.
Lily first spends some quality time with her aunt Whitney on her market stall.
Later on, Lily begins to question her mother Stacey about her father Ryan and, incensed, the owner of Stacey’s Baps realises Whitney has influenced Lily’s questioning.
The women argue and, frustrated, Whitney promises Stacey to let her tell him about Lily’s pregnancy when she’s good and ready.
But when her test results for her own baby are delayed for a further two weeks, Whitney is emotional and decides to confide in Ryan after some persuasion from Zack Hudson, the father of her unborn child.
Whitney’s emotions unfortunately get the better of her while on the phone and she soon reveals to her brother that Lily is expecting a child at only twelve years old.
Wracked with guilt, Whitney tells Stacey what she’s done before being interrupted by Kat Slater, as mentioned above.
Soon enough, Ryan rocks up Walford…
3. Shock return to Albert Square
Ryan is finally seen in Walford and Stacey is shocked to hear him out in the Café while a sheepish Lily wants to get to know him.
Ryan later offers Stacey to help them out financially – how will she react?
He then heads over to The Vic and exchanges some harsh words with Ricky Mitchell’s parents, Sam Mitchell and Jack Branning.
The police officer portrayed by Scott Maslen recently tried to manipulate Lily into getting an abortion but failed as Stacey is adamant on respecting her daughter’s decisions.
Could Ryan bring his behaviour up?
Is everything really as it seems with Ryan?
4. Lily makes a decision
With her mother’s finances on the rocks, Lily begins to feel conflicted in upcoming scenes of the London-based drama.
Things go from bad to worse as Lily is prepped for her first scan and Sam Mitchell, Ricky Jr. and Ryan arrive to support her.
Ryan drops a bombshell before the scan even begins – how will they all react?
But while Lily is eager to be with her father, Stacey is far from over the moon about his return.
While Lily and Ricky are happy to see their baby, Stacey and Ryan are asked to leave after a harsh exchange.
Lily becomes upset with Stacey for her behaviour but is firmly reminded that Martin Fowler is her father as he’s the one who has always come through for her.
Feeling like a burden to Stacey Slater and well aware of her family’s money issues, she makes a huge decision.
What will it be?
5. Janine shakes things up
Linda Carter struggles to cope following her husband Mick’s disappearance at sea.
But she gets a huge bombshell from her former rival Janine butcher.
The former landlord vanished after trying to save Janine and his former wife Linda (Kellie Bright) from drowning to death.
Mick has been missing since Christmas Day after finding out what Janine Butcher had been up to behind his back.
Since then, Linda has done what she could to get back to normal but with great difficulty.
The iconic Walford pub was even left closed in the care of Denise Fox before Alfie Moon took over in an attempt to help her.
This week, Linda struggles ahead of her first Valentine’s Day without Mick.
Linda’s pal Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) is determined to help her and prepares a party in a bid to distract herself from her own turmoil – the second anniversary of her son Denny’s death.
Unfortunately for the two friends, the night doesn’t go as planned and Linda soon breaks some bad news to Sharon.
Janine Butcher, Mick’s last wife, still wants to sell Mick’s half of The Vic, perhaps due to her hefty legal fees.
Sharon and Linda head to the café with a plan but it’s soon obvious that Linda may have to sell up.
Heartbroken, Linda gets a surprise from Sharon who, hellbent on making her life easier, makes her an offer she won’t be able to refuse.
6. Jack makes a huge mistake
Denise Fox (played by Diane Parish) is growing increasingly frustrated with the copper and feels out of place.
Jack (Scott Maslen) has become aware his marriage with the hair salon owner is being thrown on the rocks but is intent on coming through for his family.
Coming up, he arranges a family lunch at Walford East.
The meal is off to a rocky start when Jack’s son invites his mother, Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) but soon enough, the family start to enjoy each other’s company, putting all their differences aside.
Unfortunately, things still take a turn – Jack becomes incensed when he learns that Nugget Gulati is responsible for the bullying Ricky and Lily have faced at school.
A blazing row breaks out between him and Nugget’s father, Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
The argument sadly continues upon the family’s return to No.27 as Jack projects his anger on to Denise.
Fed up with his behaviour, she storms out and heads back to Walford East to apologise to Ravi.
Sparks fly between the two of them… but will they act on them again?
In later scenes, Jack makes his relationship woes worse when he forgets all about Valentine’s Day.
Spotting her father’s mishap, Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) springs into action and arranges a romantic evening for the couple.
Meanwhile, Ravi is unable to forget the night before and interrupts Denise whilst she’s getting ready at No.27 to tell her about his growing desire for her.
But she doesn’t give in and tries hard to fight against her lust.
Yet Denise could come to regret her decision when she overhears Jack telling Sam that his daughter Amy is responsible for arranging their Valentine’s Day date, not him.
Will Denise run to Ravi as a result?
7. Suki gets betrayed
Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) gets thinking after she hears Sharon Watts mulling over her next business idea.
She decides to put Suki Panesar’s name as a potential buyer for The Vic.
The former con and solicitor is hoping the move can get her back in the businesswoman’s good books.
Sadly, nothing goes to plan.
After Eve helps Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) trick her to sign over half of her property empire to Vinny, Suki (Balvinder Sopal) makes an explosive announcement.
She intends to renew her wedding vows with Nish – and Eve is devastated.
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.
