Two familiar faces have returned to EastEnders as Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Priya Nandra-Hart’s (Sophie Khan Levy) affair has heated up.
The pair have been unable to keep their hands off one another for weeks, despite the fact he’s engaged to marry Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
She almost caught them in the act earlier this week when Priya propositioned Max in The Arches, dropping her coat to reveal that she was naked. They were stunned to hear Cindy and daughter Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa) approaching, and had to think fast to keep their secret under wraps.
Priya was pushed into the boot of Vinny Panesar’s (Shiv Jalota) car, which Lauren then boarded and drove off in!
In today’s episode, a panicked Max went to chase the vehicle, which only raised suspicions with Cindy. She wanted to know why he was acting so shifty, and revealed that she’d went ahead and booked their wedding for New Year’s Day.
Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
He was stunned, knowing that their future depended on whether Lauren would find Priya in the back of the car.
Fortunately for the cheating couple, Priya managed to escape and wrapped herself in a fluorescent jacket. She frantically called Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal) for some spare clothes, and then made her way to the car lot to confront Max.
She was determined to expose their affair, and as the argument flooded out into the street, she stepped in front of a car. Out climbed estranged partner Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), who said that he was determined to rebuild their family after realising he’d made a mistake by walking away.
Priya was adamant that they’d reached a point of no return, and when he mentioned an earlier photo she’d sent him after the first time she slept with Max, it became apparent to her that he was jealous.
Later, Cindy asked Priya to help with her wedding preparations, and suggested that she may be jealous of her relationship. Priya guffawed at the suggestion – but it was clearly true. She strutted back to the car lot and straight into Max’s arms, deciding to try and intensify Ravi’s fury by sending another photo.
Letitia Dean as Sharon Watts. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
He opened the snap, and swore to Suki that he was going to find out who she was sleeping with, and kill him.
Meanwhile, next door, Zack Hudson (James Farrar) received a huge surprise when he returned home. Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) was in the hallway, having brought ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and their son Albie back to Albert Square.
Before Phil left, Sharon found opportunity to tell him about her business plans. She wants to sell her half of The Boxing Den, so that she can cut some of her ties with Walford and have more time to spend with Albie.
It would also mean she could visit old pal Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully, Jenna Russell) in Florida.
How will Phil react to this news?
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