It’s been a dramatic conclusion to our week with the EastEnders.
Gray Atkins’s (Toby-Alexander Smith) manipulation of grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskin) has escalated, and she now has her hands on his son Jordan Fox’s (Jahsaiah Williams) passport.
She’d been looking after the child while mum Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams) visited Fox matriarch Denise (Diane Parish) in hospital. Sheila introduced a new “invisible” game to Jordan, where she took him out of the house and made him promise not to say anything about their trip.
The youngster stuck to his word, and when Chelsea returned home, said that they’d spent the day watching cartoons. While her back was turned, Sheila got her hands on Jordan’s ID and slipped it into her pocket.
She then rang Gray, saying that he just needed to give her the go-ahead and their plan would begin.
Zaraah Abrahams and Jahsaiah Williams as Chelsea and Jordan Fox, and Sheila Ruskin as Sheila Atkins. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
In today’s episode, Sheila took Jordan out again on a secret meeting – this time to the prison to meet Gray. He was thrilled to meet his son for the first time, but Sheila interjected before he was able to reveal his true identity.
She felt like this was too much of a risk, and that Jordan might spill to Chelsea.
When they returned home, Jordan referred to a “man” that he’d met earlier in the day. Chelsea wondered who he was referring to, and Sheila rapidly explained that they’d been speaking to a stranger in the park earlier.
Suddenly, Sheila breathed a sigh of relief as she was saved by the sound of the doorbell. However, the unexpected visitor only raised suspicion further – it was Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), who said that her son Ian (Adam Woodyatt) was on the same wing as Gray.
To make matters worse, when she was waiting to visit him, she saw Sheila and Jordan leaving the visitors room.
Chelsea was furious and ordered Sheila out of the house, unaware that she has his passport and is now planning to abduct him and leave the country.
Sheila Ruskin and Toby-Alexander Smith as Sheila and Gray Atkins. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Will Sheila succeed in her plan?
Meanwhile, across the Square, Mark Fowler (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) came to blows with Max Branning (Jake Wood) over his ‘business partnership’ with his daughter Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa).
Of course, Max is completely unaware of the romantic side of their relationship.
Rushing out of the pub, Mark bumped into Lauren’s son Louie (Jake McNally), and was left guilt-ridden upon hearing how upset he was that his parents were bickering. Knowing that he was the root cause of the problem, he began to consider following Lauren’s wish for him to prove how much he means to her and leave Walford.
Stephen Aaron-Sipple as Mark Fowler and Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Beale. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Later, she was stunned to hear that Mark had told husband Peter (Thomas Law) the truth about what they’d been scheming. The two agreed to stay together, but were interrupted by a situation unfolding over the road.
It was Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) saying a tearful goodbye to Mark, as he jumped into a taxi and drove off into the distance.
Given we know he will be back in Walford by New Year’s Day 2027, when will Mark return to Walford?
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