EastEnders has confirmed the next stage of newcomer Joel Marshall’s big storyline, and it involves fellow teen Tommy Moon.

This week, Joel and Avani slept together, but Ross was later horrified to discover that Joel had secretly filmed them having sex without Avani’s knowledge.

As tensions flared, Vicki finally found out about an incident back in Australia involving Joel sending around an inappropriate image of a girl without her consent.

While Vicki believed that Ross was paying off loan sharks with Sharon’s money, he was actually paying off the family of the girl and had been covering up his son’s disturbing behaviour.

Vicki was furious with her partner’s deception, and in today’s episode, she binned a voucher for a hotel and spa, which was his way of saying sorry.

Ross admitted that he was scared to tell Vicki the truth but assured her that there were now no more secrets between them. He refused to give up on their relationship and promised that Joel would make things right.

Meanwhile, Joel was embarrassed in front of Tommy when Avani blanked him in Walford East, following the events of the previous day.

Joel reached out to Avani, but she made it clear that she wasn’t interested, as she regretted sleeping with him and getting caught by his dad.

Tommy later teased Joel about Avani and how he might make it up to her, so he desperately tried to save face with his new friend. He showed him the recording of him and Avani having sex, which he hadn’t properly deleted from his phone.

“It doesn’t matter what they do in public,” Joel said, “it’s what they do in private. That tells us what they’re really like.”

Tommy was shocked by what Joel showed him, but will he be pulled further into this dark plot – and will Avani find out about Joel’s illicit recording?