Next week’s EastEnders episodes promise high drama and intense emotions as Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) finds herself teetering on the edge, desperately trying to keep her darkest secret buried — but fate may have other plans.

Fans recently learned the shocking truth that Nicola was responsible for the death of Shireen, the former girlfriend of her eldest son, Harry (Elijah Holloway). Shireen had vanished four years ago, and until now, her fate remained a mystery. It was revealed that Nicola’s violent gang connections had concealed Shireen’s body, burying her deep within a deserted warehouse in Dartford — a place tied to the Mitchell family’s distant past.

After making peace with Nicola, Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) decided to move forward with a new business venture alongside Junior Knight (Micah Balfour), and ironically, the project would take place in Dartford — dangerously close to Shireen’s hidden grave. Realizing the catastrophic risk this posed, Nicola grew increasingly desperate to stop Teddy from going through with his plans. Her guilt and fear began to mount, but she couldn’t bring herself to reveal the full truth.

In the upcoming episodes, the tension at the Mitchell household reaches boiling point. Teddy, suspicious and frustrated, demands that Nicola tell him everything about what happened to Shireen. His instincts scream that something is deeply wrong, and he believes their son Harry deserves to know the truth about his missing ex-girlfriend. However, Nicola insists that exposing the truth would destroy Harry — sending him into a spiral he may never recover from.

Though reluctant, Teddy agrees to stay silent for now, torn between protecting his family and doing what’s right. Meanwhile, their younger son Barney (Lewis Bridgeman) picks up on the strained atmosphere between his parents. Innocently, Barney’s observations force Nicola to reflect on her own actions and the devastating consequences they could bring.

Later in the week, Teddy confronts Nicola again. He warns her to abandon whatever risky plan she’s concocting, assuring her he has a different strategy. Teddy moves swiftly, halting any construction work at the Dartford site. In a twist, Teddy and Nicola strike a precarious deal with local gangster Benji — a dangerous man who knows more about Shireen’s fate than he lets on.

To pay off Benji and keep their secret safe, Nicola decides to sell Harry’s Barn, a cherished family property. But Teddy isn’t willing to let that happen so easily. He offers an alternative solution, though it soon becomes clear that whatever he has in mind will only deepen their web of lies. Nicola is left reeling, blindsided by Teddy’s bold, unexpected move — and the situation becomes even more complicated.

The drama intensifies when Nicola, alone at Harry’s Barn, comes face-to-face with a mysterious intruder. The chilling encounter forces her to confront the very real possibility that her secret is no longer safe. Someone out there may know what she did — and they might be coming for her.

Is Nicola’s life in danger? Could her role in Shireen’s death finally come to light?

As the walls close in around her, Nicola finds herself at a terrifying crossroads. With enemies lurking in the shadows and her family’s future at stake, she must make impossible choices. Will she finally come clean, or will her desperate attempts to cover up the past only lead to more tragedy?

One thing is certain: EastEnders viewers are in for an explosive week where betrayal, fear, and shocking revelations reign supreme. Stay tuned — Nicola Mitchell’s darkest hour is only just beginning.