In an EastEnders episode that could’ve easily been penned by Stephen King as a sequel to Misery, Ronni Ancona makes a ‘big impression’ and channels her inner Kathy Bates.
Ancona’s soap alter-ego Bea Pollard – the twisted fraudster who has ruined Billy Mitchell’s (Perry Fenwick) life – lurks in the shadows, before knocking Honey (Emma Barton) unconscious.
She wakes in a remote cottage, with no way of contacting her family or escaping.
Across the Square, things are heating up for Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), though not in a good way. Their affair is almost exposed when his fiancée Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) comes dangerously close to finding them together.
Elsewhere, Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) clashes with Sheila Atkins (Sheila Ruskin), and Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace) finds her new parenting role a challenge.
Here’s everything happening in the episodes of EastEnders airing between Monday 6 and Thursday 9 July.
x EastEnders spoilers for next week
1. Bea Pollard kidnaps Honey Mitchell
There’s a police cordon outside No. 18, and the Mitchells are the talk of Walford. Honey sneaks off to secretly meet husband Billy with their sister-in-law Nicola (Laura Doddington), but when a discovery is made, a detective calls Honey away to address the matter.
Later, determined to lure Bea out of her hiding spot, Honey and the residents stage a vigil broadcast online.
Someone is watching from afar, and she becomes adamant that it’s Bea. She chases after them, and her suspicions are confirmed. She makes it clear that Billy’s name needs to be cleared, but a scuffle ensues, and Honey is knocked unconscious.
After being bundled into a car, Honey wakes up in a remote country cottage fearing for her life. Bea insists that they sort everything out.
Meanwhile, back in Walford, the community rally together to find Honey. Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) is concerned when she tracks her phone… but finds it smashed up in a bush.
As Billy fears the worst, Nicola, Linda and Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal) set off in the hope of finding her.
Will Honey be OK? And is this the end of Bea’s reign of terror?
2. Priya Nandra-Hart threatens to expose her affair with Max Branning
Cindy notices Priya lashing out at daughter Avani (Aaliyah James), and questions her behaviour. Max quickly leaps to her defence, explaining the volatile situation with her ex-boyfriend Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
When Priya learns that he’s been discussing her personal business, she angrily warns him that he’s treading a fine line.
Cindy’s suspicions about their relationship is rising, and while Max claims that he’s planning a surprise for her, Priya blackmails him into a meeting at The Arches. He tried to end their affair, but in true Branning style, he succumbs to temptation once again!
Unexpectedly, Cindy and Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa) show up, and Priya quickly hides in the boot of a car. Like a slapstick film, Lauren then climbs into the front of the vehicle and unknowingly drives Priya away.
Max scrambles to excuse his behaviour, while Priya manages to make a quick escape. Later, she turns to Suki for support, and then threatens to expose Max.
3. Kim Fox confronts Sheila Atkins
Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) and Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) grow closer when she addresses her concerns about dad Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).
It’s a tough time for the Fox-Branning clan, with Kim deciding not to visit sister Denise (Diane Parish) in hospital for fear of exposing the secret surrounding Sheila. As we know, Sheila has been offering financial support for her great grandson Jordan Fox (Jahsaiah Williams), while remaining in touch with his murderous father Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith).
Jack knows how much Denise is missing her sibling, and pushes Kim to head to the wards. It’s an awkward encounter, but she manages to keep the information about Sheila under her hat.
Later, however, Kim and fiancé Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson) decide to confront Sheila. She cleverly relays the defence strategy that she overheard Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) solicitor detailing earlier, forcing Kim to worry that if she gains access to Jordan, it’ll be more upheaval for Denise upon her return home.
4. Avani Nandra-Hart reaches out to dad Ravi Gulati
As viewers know, Ravi has been absent from Walford for quite some time.
Before returning from a secure mental heath unit, he wrote a letter to then-girlfriend Priya, saying how it was time for him to move on and end their relationship. She didn’t read the note in time, and when he arrived on her doorstep to pack his bags, assumed he was back for good.
The two slept together, though afterwards, he revealed his real intentions for returning.
Priya was heartbroken, and dealt him a troubling ultimatum: stay and rebuild his life, or go and throw away their family life. Sadly, he chose the latter, believing they’d be better off without him.
In forthcoming scenes, as Will Mitchell (Freddie Phillips) opens up to his mates about the worrying situation with his mum and dad, Avani is prompted to call Ravi and ask whether he could visit on her birthday.
Will Ravi respond to her?
5. Kojo Asare is looking for love!
Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) is looking to his future next week.
After finally moving back into his own flat – following a horrific period in which he was groomed by a drug dealer – things seem to be looking up for the fan-favourite, with him now living with niece Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) and her boyfriend, his best pal Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway).
However, could it be that their relationship leaves him wanting his own belle? In forthcoming scenes, Kojo asks the pair to help him find a girlfriend.
6. Eve Panesar-Unwin struggles to bond with foster daughter Ria Virdi
Becoming foster mothers so suddenly after their application was approved was never going to be easy for Suki and wife Eve.
The two have had youngster Ria Virdi (Aaria Sharma) come to live with them, though in upcoming episodes, it becomes clear that bonding with the child is an uphill battle for Eve.
To make matters worse, she begins to wonder what Suki possesses that she doesn’t, as Ria gravitates towards her.
Read more:
- EastEnders to feature popular Strictly Come Dancing star in upcoming Walford Pride storyline
- EastEnders legend teases “dangerous” dynamic between Max Branning and Cindy Beale
- EastEnders boss teases “emotional” Denise Fox scenes from blood cancer storyline after 20 years on the show
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