EastEnders spoilers follow for Wednesday’s episode (16 July), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.

EastEnders’ Stacey Slater has received some huge news about the late Martin Fowler – and it will completely change her life.

Stacey recently returned to Walford, after taking time to grieve her late former partner, though she and Alfie are harbouring a big secret about Kat’s estranged daughter Zoe.

This week, the Slaters discovered that Ian was planning on bidding for The Vic at the upcoming auction, and Jean feared that she would lose her cleaning job if the Beales were running the pub.

The Slaters hatched a plan to detract Ian from putting in an offer, by pretending that Stacey had won £100,000 on a scratchcard and vowing to bid against him.

stacey slater, kat slater, eastenders

BBC

But this scheme didn’t work and only made Ian more determined to get his hands on the pub. To make matters worse, in today’s episode, Stacey spotted a man outside the house and assumed he was a bailiff.

She managed to hide from him, but as she worried about what this meant for her future, Eve took charge and arranged a meeting with the mysterious Mr Whitecroft.

Stacey and Eve were hostile towards him but Mr Whitecroft quickly set them straight: rather than a bailiff, he was from an insurance company.

stacey slater, eve unwin, eastenders

BBC
Related: EastEnders reveals unexpected teen pregnancy in shocking new storyline

To their complete surprise, Martin had taken out a life insurance policy and Stacey was the main beneficiary, which meant she really was getting her hands on £100,000.

Stacey later told Kat the good news about the money and was relieved that she would be able to ease her financial struggles and pay off her credit card.

But she was keen to invest her windfall, so suggested that they bid for The Vic after all, with Kat and Alfie running and living in the pub.

kat slater, stacey slater, eastenders

BBC

Related: Why EastEnders fans haven’t seen the last of newcomer Okie

Kat was reluctant to accept this kind offer, but Stacey insisted that she wanted to pay her back for all her help over the years – and she got excited about the prospect of being behind the bar again.

Will the Slaters’ plan to buy The Vic work out, or are there more twists ahead?

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.

Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage

Digital Spy’s new print issue is here! Buy Oasis – Live in ’25 in newsagents or online, now priced at just £8.99