Next week in EastEnders, Walford is set to erupt with drama as returning faces, emotional breakdowns, and shocking confessions shake the Square to its core. As familiar characters battle mounting pressure, one dramatic event after another threatens to unravel families, destroy relationships, and test loyalties.

At the centre of the week’s chaos is Lauren, who is days away from giving birth. She and Peter visit the midwife for a final check-up before their engagement party, but the conversation quickly turns to potential delivery complications. While Lauren becomes visibly anxious, Peter appears distracted and even steps out to take a call—leaving Lauren furious and further rattled. With their baby’s arrival imminent, cracks begin to show in their relationship just as their future is meant to begin.

Tensions escalate at the engagement party, which has been moved to Harry’s Barn after a problem at The Albert. Gina takes the reins to organise things with the help of Mo, Jean, and Nigel, but their amateur efforts quickly backfire. Meanwhile, Lauren, still on edge, is pushed to the limit when Ian makes an insensitive comment. Seeking peace, she retreats to the office—but Kathy steps in, offering comfort and encouraging her to rejoin the celebration. But just when things seem to settle, a bombshell hits: Cindy returns.

Cindy’s unexpected arrival turns the party into a powder keg. Her presence not only stuns the guests but sends Lauren into emotional overdrive. Fed up with the constant family drama, Lauren forces Peter to make a choice—her or Cindy. The fallout is swift as the Beales reject Cindy again, but she refuses to slink away quietly. Instead, she exposes Kathy’s hidden truths, proving that everyone has skeletons in their closet.

Cindy later visits Lauren to mend fences, only to discover that Lauren has gone into labour. In a moment of urgency, she takes charge when the ambulance is delayed, showcasing an unexpected strength. Meanwhile, Chelsea rushes to tell Peter what’s happening, setting the stage for a life-altering reunion that neither Lauren nor Peter could have predicted.

Elsewhere, Zack is caught between his moral compass and the murky world of the Mitchells. Despite Vicki’s pleas to steer clear, Zack confronts Nicola with a threat, determined to expose the truth. But in this family, secrets run deep, and threats have consequences.

Harry, meanwhile, is spiralling. After waking up with a brutal hangover at The Arches, he finds himself pulled into a reluctant heart-to-heart with Billy at Walford East. The situation worsens when Teddy arrives, reigniting tensions. Later, Billy attempts to reconcile with Harry, but the Mitchells remain emotionally fractured.

In another corner of Walford, Vicki and Ross struggle to find stability. While they initially plan to look for work, Ross becomes distracted by Joel’s obsession with his phone, sparking friction. Vicki tries to help, but Ross bristles at her concern, lashing out that he doesn’t need to be parented. Though they eventually patch things up, their emotional volatility hints at a fragile relationship hanging by a thread.

Suspicion brews as Gina begins to question Nicola and Teddy’s behaviour. After being stopped by Nicola in the Square, Gina has drinks with Jay, only for their outing to be interrupted by a drunk Harry. Jay alerts Nicola and Teddy, who jump into damage-control mode. But Gina, ever observant, senses something’s off. She presses Harry for answers, but he refuses to open up, deepening the mystery surrounding the family’s hidden turmoil.

Meanwhile, Harvey offers Kathy some much-needed support, but their conversation is quickly interrupted by Jean. To avoid suspicion, Kathy invents a cover story, though Jean seems more interested in Nigel than anyone else’s drama. Later, Harvey invites Kathy on a caravan getaway—but Jean finds the brochure and mistakenly assumes the trip is for the Slaters. With the secret slipping, how long can Harvey maintain the lie?

The week culminates in a powerful tribute as The Queen Vic finally reopens on VE Day’s 80th anniversary. Nigel, confused and thinking it’s 1995, is excited to celebrate. Jean and Phil prepare to confront him, but Jean has a change of heart and instead decides to throw a community party. Despite initial hesitation, Linda relents when she sees the community coming together, and The Vic throws open its doors once again.

The reopening serves as a poignant moment, honouring the memory of Martin Fowler and offering a glimmer of unity amidst the chaos. But beneath the celebration, personal conflicts and unresolved secrets linger.

As the week unfolds, it’s clear that change is in the air. Cindy’s return has set off a chain reaction, forcing everyone to confront uncomfortable truths. With Lauren in labour, Harry struggling, Zack stirring up trouble, and The Vic reclaiming its legacy, EastEnders is teeing up a week full of tension, heartache, and unexpected alliances.