Upon Lauren’s return to Walford last year, she was introduced to Annie, though chose not to say anything to her estranged father. Given recent scenes have shown Max ignoring her calls, it seems that the two haven’t been in touch for quite some time.
Now Linda faces a fresh hurdle – as she realises Max’s son Oscar is living across the road.
It couldn’t come at a worse time for the landlady, as she prepares to give up her beloved Queen Vic and move onto pastures new.
The auctioneer arrives to get the boozer under the hammer, with the Slaters planning to place the winning bid with Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) life insurance money.
Unfortunately for Kat (Jessie Wallace), her plans to reinstate herself behind the bar are stunted by Stacey (Lacey Turner), who drops the bombshell that she can’t give her the money after all.
This seems to come following a mysterious message from Kat’s husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), who is in Barcelona searching for her eldest daughter Zoe (Michelle Ryan).
As the family rally around to think of a solution, Stacey has a sudden change of mind and tells Kat to head back to the pub to get bidding.
It’s a tense moment as a bidding war ensues between Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and a property developer, but who will succeed?
The following day, Linda is looking forward to her fresh start and decides to come clean to Oscar about Annie. It doesn’t exactly go to plan, though – he wants Max to know everything.
Linda desperately tries to persuade Lauren to work her magic and keep Oscar quiet.
Will he agree to say nothing?
