EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday’s episode (April 17), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.

EastEnders has aired a surprise return as Sonia Fowler leaves Walford behind – and she isn’t the only one saying goodbye.

Having decided to move to Bali with her long-lost dad Terry, Sonia packed up the last of her things in today’s episode, while listening to an emotional recording of her grandmother Dot.

But not everyone was happy about her plans, as Bianca had seen Terry’s dark side when he violently grabbed her the previous evening.

She confided in Kat and Freddie, who encouraged her to tell Sonia the truth. Bianca showed her sister the bruises on her arms, so Sonia angrily confronted her dad.

rocky cotton, eastenders

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While Sonia believed Bianca, she was left torn about her future. She visited the prison to get some advice from none other than Rocky, with Brian Conley making a surprise return for a heartwarming cameo.

Viewers will remember that Rocky once posed as Terry for several months, so as a former father figure in Sonia’s life, he gave her the permission she was looking for to leave Albert Square.

As the community gathered in The Albert to bid farewell to one of their own, with Sonia giving a poignant speech, it appeared that she had decided to go to Bali after all. But she soon revealed that she was no longer leaving with Terry and would go to stay with Whitney instead.

terry cant, eastenders

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Related: EastEnders sets up next stage of Nigel’s emotional storyline

Terry’s true colours came to the surface, and he raged at Sonia and Bianca, with his horrid behaviour confirming Sonia’s decision.

Back home, Terry returned for the money for the flights and ended up admitting that he had come to Walford to improve his image rather than to make amends with his daughter.

As he got aggressive with Sonia and Bianca, Bex intervened, pushing him into the garage and locking the door. Bex had the tickets to Bali, so they decided to go anyway – with Bianca taking Terry’s place.

bianca jackson, sonia fowler, eastenders

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Related: EastEnders threatens to expose Nicola Mitchell’s deadly secret

Sonia said a final goodbye to Martin at his memorial, then told delighted Lauren and Peter that they could rent her house when the Knights move back into The Vic.

With Bianca asking George to let Terry out of the garage after a few hours, the trio left in Terry’s car. Bex took the wheel, while Sonia and Bianca made a stylish exit in the speedboat.

There was a hilarious final nod to Sonia’s trumpet, as she, Bianca, Bex and baby Julia headed into the sunset.

EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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