Prepare for a week of seismic shifts in Walford as long-buried secrets claw their way to the surface, betrayals shatter trust, and a familiar face returns to send shockwaves through the Square. From the grim discovery in Paradise Park to a tumultuous engagement party and the unraveling of carefully constructed lies, next week in EastEnders promises to be nothing short of explosive. Hold onto your hats, because here’s a deep dive into the 11 colossal spoilers that will leave you reeling from the 5th to the 8th of May.

1. The Gruesome Unearthing and a Tangled Web of Deceit: The frantic efforts of Nicola Sinclair to bury her dark secret are set to come crashing down. Desperate to prevent the discovery of Shireen’s body before the Paradise Park builders arrive, Nicola makes a risky attempt to exhume and relocate the remains. However, her clandestine plan is shockingly intercepted by Teddy, who, it turns out, is already privy to her horrifying involvement in Shireen’s demise. In a twisted attempt to control the situation and clean up Nicola’s mess, Teddy orchestrates a deal with Benji to move the body, offering him a paltry hundred dollars for the grim task. But in a shocking double-cross, Teddy betrays Benji, leading to his swift arrest upon his arrival at Paradise Park. The repercussions for Nicola are immediate and terrifying as a menacing voicemail from Benji warns her of impending retaliation from his associates, plunging her into a vortex of fear and paranoia. Meanwhile, the truth begins to unravel for others as Harry finally pieces together Nicola’s involvement in ordering Benji to dispose of Shireen’s body. However, a more devastating truth is yet to be revealed: Teddy soon uncovers the chilling reality that Nicola herself was the one who delivered the fatal blow to Shireen.

2. Harry’s Hangover, Heightened Tensions, and a Flirtatious Disaster: The aftermath of recent events continues to plague young Harry, who finds himself waking up in a less-than-glamorous state in the Arches, nursing a significant hangover. A concerned Billy Mitchell attempts to offer a helping hand, but the arrival of Teddy immediately injects a palpable tension into the atmosphere. Billy tries to mediate and smooth things over between the two, but the underlying animosity remains thick and strained. Later in the week, in a misguided attempt to offer romantic advice to Cojo on how to talk to women, Harry’s own flirtatious endeavors spectacularly backfire. While trying to charm a woman at the bar, he is met with a stinging public humiliation as she throws a drink over him, revealing a past encounter where Harry callously slept with her and then ghosted her, leaving him utterly embarrassed. Undeterred, or perhaps foolishly so, Harry then sets his sights on Gina Knight, whom he previously blackmailed. When Cojo innocently reveals Harry’s interest to Gina, she surprisingly agrees to a date. However, their budding plans are abruptly derailed by the shocking news of Shireen’s body being discovered, casting a dark shadow over Harry’s already complicated week.

3. Engagement Party Chaos and a Shocking Return from the Past: Lauren Branning and Peter Beale’s engagement party finally gets underway, but the joyous occasion is far from smooth sailing. The lead-up to the celebration has been fraught with emotional turmoil, stemming from Peter’s initial proposal as an attempt to atone for missing Lauren’s baby scan due to Cindy Beale’s disappearance. Lauren’s initial rejection, fueled by her fear that she might have been the one who attacked Cindy on Christmas Day, added another layer of complexity. Kathy Beale’s subsequent confession that she was the attacker ultimately paved the way for Lauren to accept Peter’s proposal, even turning the tables and proposing to him herself. However, the day of the party coincides with Lauren’s final pregnancy checkup, where the midwife’s mention of potential complications ignites a fresh wave of anxiety within her. When Peter steps away to take an important call, Lauren’s fears spiral, and she can’t shake the feeling that history might be repeating itself, that Peter might once again be absent when she needs him most. Adding to the chaos, unforeseen problems at the Albert, specifically a lack of staff, force Kathy to relocate the entire party to Harry’s barn. Gina, ever resourceful, enlists the help of the unlikely trio of Mo Harris, Jean Slater, and Nigel Bates, but it quickly becomes apparent that their combined efforts are more likely to result in comedic mishaps than seamless party planning. As the party gets underway, Lauren struggles to fully immerse herself in the festivities, her worries about the pregnancy complications casting a long shadow. An ill-timed comment from Ian Beale inadvertently causes Lauren to retreat to the office, overwhelmed by her anxieties. Kathy steps in, offering reassurance and urging her to rejoin the celebration. But the biggest shock of the night is yet to come. Just as the party seems to be reaching its stride, Cindy Beale, who dramatically left Walford for France in the aftermath of the 40th-anniversary week drama, makes a dramatic and utterly unexpected return, throwing the entire engagement party into utter disarray and leaving jaws collectively dropping across Albert Square.

4. Joel’s Shadowy Behavior and a Budding, Yet Troubling, Connection: Joel’s presence in Walford continues to raise eyebrows and fuel suspicion. He further cements his connection with Avani by procuring weed for her after she struggles to obtain it from Declan. Later in the week, Priya Nandra-Hart, Ravi Gulati, and Suki Panesar are taken aback to find Joel and Avani casually spending time together at No. 41, making Joel’s burgeoning crush on Avani abundantly clear. However, a darker undercurrent to Joel’s personality begins to surface as the week progresses. He makes a nasty and unwarranted comment about Avani and then attempts to deflect blame for the ensuing fallout onto Barney. In a more concerning development, Joel makes a direct move on Avani, and the pair end up spending the night together at No. 5A, raising questions about the nature and potential consequences of their burgeoning relationship. Meanwhile, with the Paradise Park project now on hold following the discovery of Shireen’s body, Vicki Fowler and Ross Sutherland find themselves searching for new job opportunities. Ross, however, becomes increasingly fixated on Joel’s seemingly obsessive attachment to his phone. Vicki tries to intervene and offer her support, but Ross stubbornly refuses her help, creating a noticeable rift between them. They eventually reconcile, but the underlying question remains: why is Ross so deeply concerned about Joel’s phone habits? Viewers are still largely in the dark regarding the true motivations behind Ross’s insistence on relocating his family to Walford. While Joel’s known debts offer one explanation, speculation continues to mount about a potentially larger, more sinister secret lurking in his past, a secret that his intense focus on his phone might be connected to and that could be on the verge of being revealed.

5. Zack’s Threat and a Father’s Long-Buried Secret: The complex web of relationships in Walford is about to become even more tangled with the revelation that Zack Hudson is, in fact, Barney’s biological father, a consequence of an affair he had with Nicola fifteen years prior. In a strange twist of fate, Teddy moved to Walford with his sons, Barney and Harry, completely unaware that Zack was living nearby. Zack harbors a strong desire to reveal the truth to Barney, but he is understandably fearful of the potential repercussions from Nicola, who previously resorted to violence by having her heavies assault him. As the Mitchell family grapples with their own escalating drama, Vicki urges Zack to stay out of the volatile situation surrounding Shireen’s death and Nicola’s involvement. However, Zack, driven by a paternal instinct and perhaps a sense of guilt, disregards Vicki’s pleas and directly confronts Nicola, issuing a clear and menacing threat. This confrontation is likely to further inflame the already dangerous situation and put Zack squarely in Nicola’s crosshairs.

6. Lauren’s Ultimatum and a Mother’s Unexpected Assistance: Cindy’s dramatic and unexpected return throws Peter and Lauren’s engagement party into utter chaos, leaving the assembled guests reeling in shock. Peter attempts to diffuse the palpable tension that fills the room, and Cindy, in a seemingly conciliatory gesture, offers Lauren a gift. However, Lauren is understandably frustrated by Cindy’s uncanny ability to once again steal the spotlight during a significant moment in her life. Reaching her breaking point, Lauren issues Peter a stark ultimatum: it’s either her or Cindy. The constant overshadowing by Peter’s former wife has become unbearable. As the Knight and Beale families, still harboring resentment and suspicion, once again reject Cindy, she drops a bombshell revelation, declaring that Kathy was the one who attacked her on Christmas Day, completely upending everyone’s assumptions and throwing the already fractured family dynamics into further disarray. Later, Cindy confronts Lauren at No. 29A, but their tense encounter takes a dramatic turn when Cindy finds Lauren in labor. Putting their bitter rivalry aside in the face of this urgent situation, Cindy immediately calls for an ambulance. When the ambulance faces an unforeseen delay, Cindy takes decisive action, taking matters into her own hands and ensuring Lauren gets to the hospital as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Chelsea Fox is tasked with informing Peter that he is about to become a father, adding another layer of emotional intensity to an already tumultuous day.

7. Gina’s Growing Suspicions and Harry’s Tight Lips: Gina Knight finds herself increasingly determined to uncover the truth behind the recent unsettling events, particularly Harry’s strange behavior. In a somewhat awkward and ill-advised move, Harry attempts to teach Cojo how to flirt with women. However, when Harry tries to put his own advice into practice at the bar, it spectacularly backfires, leading to the aforementioned drink-throwing incident and public humiliation. Undeterred, Harry then tries his luck with Gina, the very woman he previously blackmailed. When Cojo innocently reveals Harry’s interest, Gina surprisingly agrees to a date. However, their tentative plans are quickly overshadowed by the breaking news of Shireen’s body being discovered, casting a dark cloud over Harry’s thoughts and actions. Next week, the tension escalates when a desperate Nicola accosts Gina in the Square while frantically searching for her son, further complicating the already tangled web of secrets and lies. Later in the week, Gina and Jay Brown are enjoying a quiet drink together when a clearly intoxicated Harry stumbles into the scene. A concerned Jay calls Nicola and Teddy to come and collect Harry, but Gina’s suspicions about what is truly going on behind the scenes continue to grow. Determined to get to the bottom of Harry’s erratic behavior, Gina confronts him at the cafe, but Harry remains stubbornly tight-lipped, only serving to heighten her suspicions and fueling her determination to uncover the truth.

8. Will the Vic Reopen Amidst Lingering Grief? As the community anxiously awaits updates on Lauren’s labor, everyone gathers at Harry’s barn, offering a semblance of support during this tense and uncertain time. In a seemingly positive development, Linda Carter and George Knight excitedly announce that The Queen Victoria pub will reopen the following day in time for the VE Day celebrations. However, their hopeful news is met with a distinctly muted response from many residents, who are still deeply affected by the recent tragic death of Martin Fowler and are reluctant to return to the Vic so soon. A concerned Alfie Moon tries his best to lift Linda’s spirits as she becomes worried about Elaine’s well-being amidst the community’s somber mood. Observing the lack of enthusiasm surrounding the Vic’s reopening, the atmosphere in Walford remains heavy with unspoken grief and lingering sadness.

9. Ross’s Confession and a Relationship on the Brink: Cornered by the mounting inconsistencies and Vicki’s persistent questioning, Ross Sutherland finally cracks and confesses the full, devastating extent of their financial woes to Vicki, revealing the true and desperate reasons behind their sudden departure from Australia. The shocking truth of their deep-seated debt and the circumstances that forced their relocation to Walford leaves Vicki utterly reeling and heartbroken. The weight of Ross’s deception proves too much to bear, and in a moment of profound disappointment and shattered trust, Vicki makes the difficult decision to leave him. In Thursday’s episode, a remorseful Ross desperately attempts to make amends for his lies and betrayal, but Vicki remains resolute in her unwillingness to forgive his actions. The future of their relationship hangs precariously in the balance, leaving viewers to question whether their bond can possibly survive such a fundamental breach of trust.

10. Nigel’s Nostalgia and a Community Coming Together: As the residents of Albert Square prepare to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Nigel Bates is particularly enthusiastic, albeit slightly confused, mistakenly believing it to be the 50th anniversary. Jean Slater and Phil Mitchell initially plan to gently correct his misunderstanding, but instead, in a heartwarming gesture of community spirit, they decide to organize an impromptu party to celebrate the occasion. Janine Butcher manages to convince a reluctant Mo to join in the festivities, adding her unique brand of chaotic charm to the gathering. Although Linda initially resists the idea of reopening the Vic so soon after Martin’s death, her resolve weakens as she witnesses the growing VE Day spirit amongst the market traders. In a poignant moment of unity and remembrance, The Queen Victoria reopens its doors, and the community comes together to honor the fallen, including the recently departed Martin, finding solace and strength in their shared history and collective grief.

11. Harvey’s Holiday Dilemma and a Family Divided: The bond between Harvey Monroe and Cathy Beale has deepened significantly in recent times, forged in the shared crucible of personal struggles. Following Martin’s tragic death, Harvey made a heartfelt promise to Cathy that he would finally end his relationship with Jean, but he has been grappling with finding the right time to break the news. He plans a romantic caravan holiday with Cathy, envisioning a fresh start for their relationship. However, when Jean inadvertently discovers the holiday plans, the Slaters mistakenly assume that the trip is intended for them, creating a deeply awkward and emotionally charged situation. Harvey now finds himself facing an agonizing dilemma: either cancel the long-awaited holiday with Cathy to avoid upsetting the Slater family and maintain a semblance of peace, or risk his future happiness with Cathy by potentially causing significant hurt and division within his extended family. His choice in the coming week will undoubtedly have significant and lasting consequences on his relationships with both Cathy and the Slaters.

Next week in EastEnders is poised to be a rollercoaster of dramatic revelations, emotional confrontations, and unexpected twists. With secrets being unearthed, betrayals shattering relationships, and a shocking return from the past, viewers will be glued to their screens as the lives of the Walford residents are irrevocably changed. The question isn’t just what will happen, but who will survive the fallout?