EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders’ Nicola Mitchell finally takes baby Ivy in her arms next week, as the mum and her newborn daughter are brought together for the first time.
It’s an emotional moment not only for Nicola, but for George Knight too, who’s soon keen to rekindle their romantic relationship. But how will Nicola react to the idea of the trio becoming a family?
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“It’s been sheer agony for Nicola as each hour passed with her unable to hold the newborn – so the moment when she finally cradles her baby close is a truly special one,” reveals our Walford source.
“George is definitely moved by the sight, but when he then tells Nicola that he loves her, is it a real declaration – or something born out of a heady combination of emotion and exhaustion?”
The week begins with Nicola still isolated from her daughter after being struck down with flu. With Ivy premature and prone to infections, she’s been taken to the neonatal unit and Nicola is being kept away from her daughter for the tot’s safety.
Desperate to see her baby, Nicola grows increasingly frustrated. So, when dad George is offered skin-to-skin contact with his daughter, he turns it down, feeling Nicola should be the first one to hold their little girl.
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“His sacrifice is little comfort to Nicola,” declares our insider. “She lashes out in frustration at her former boyfriend, blaming him for being distracted by the launch of his new restaurant at the time she started her contractions.”
With Nicola more and more determined to see her daughter, it’s a relief all round when she finally gets permission from the medics to hold Ivy. Feeling it marks a new beginning for them all, this is the moment that George makes his declaration of love.
Pointedly, Nicola doesn’t echo the sentiment, but when she later tells her son Harry what George has said, his words give her food for thought.
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“Nicola and George have agreed to co-parent and George has moved into the basement flat in Nicola’s house – but George’s words could move things to a whole new level,” explains our source.
“It’s clear the pair need each other – by the end of the week they are both worn out and are grateful for their mutual support. But are their feelings strong enough between to plan a romantic future together?”
EastEnders is working on Nicola and George’s story with support from Bliss, a charity that supports the families of babies born premature or sick in the UK. Support and information are available via the charity’s website.
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.