Monday, May 5 – Engagement Joy Turns to Disaster

It’s supposed to be a happy day for Lauren Branning and Peter Beale as they prepare to celebrate their engagement, but cracks begin to show early on. A midwife appointment throws up potential complications with Lauren’s pregnancy, and to make things worse, Peter seems distracted, even leaving the appointment to take a phone call — much to Lauren’s frustration.

When a problem at The Albert forces Kathy to relocate the party to Harry’s Barn, Gina does her best to rally Mo, Jean, and Nigel to help, but it’s clear they’re not quite up to the task.

As the party kicks off, Lauren is still uneasy and heads to the office after a tone-deaf remark from Ian. Kathy manages to coax her back into the celebrations… only for everything to go sideways when Cindy Beale crashes the party. Tensions are immediate.

Elsewhere, a hungover Harry is found sleeping at the Arches. Billy brings him to Walford East, where things go downhill when Teddy shows up. Later, Billy tries to smooth things over with his nephew.

At No.43, Vicki and Ross are hunting for jobs, but Ross becomes distracted by Joel’s strange obsession with his phone. Their disagreement leads to a brief fallout, but they eventually reconcile. However, Vicki’s worries escalate when she sees Zack ignoring her advice and threatening Nicola as tensions with the Mitchells continue.

Tuesday, May 6 – Lauren’s Ultimatum, Cindy’s Shock

The fallout from Cindy’s sudden arrival is immediate. Partygoers are stunned, and while Peter tries to keep the peace, Lauren gives him a clear ultimatum: her or Cindy. Though most of the Beales and Knights reject Cindy once again, she strikes back — revealing some explosive information about Kathy.

Later, Cindy decides to confront Lauren at home but is completely thrown when she walks in to find Lauren in labour. Their long-standing animosity is interrupted by real-life urgency, forcing Cindy to shift gears.

Meanwhile, Gina is harassed by Nicola, who’s searching for Harry. She later meets Jay for a drink, but their night is interrupted when a drunken Harry stumbles in. Jay calls Nicola and Teddy to help, but Gina isn’t buying Harry’s excuses. She pushes for answers, but he stays tight-lipped, deepening her suspicions.

Wednesday, May 7 – Race to the Hospital, VE Day Plans Divided

Cindy steps up when Lauren’s ambulance is delayed, taking it upon herself to get her to the hospital. Chelsea rushes to inform Peter. As the Walford community gathers at Harry’s Barn for updates on Lauren and her baby, there’s a rare moment of unity.

Inspired by the communal warmth, Linda and George announce that The Queen Vic will reopen for VE Day celebrations. But not everyone is thrilled. Mo and Zack, still grieving Martin’s recent death, feel it’s too soon for festivities. Linda senses the tension and grows concerned about Elaine, who’s been keeping her distance since the explosion.

Meanwhile, Ross finally confesses the real reason they left Australia — and it’s not just financial. Vicki is devastated by the revelation and walks out, leaving their relationship hanging in the balance.

Thursday, May 8 – The Vic Reopens for VE Day, Nigel Causes Concern

VE Day arrives, and the mood on the Square is a mix of celebration and sorrow. Nigel is excited to commemorate the 80th anniversary, but it quickly becomes apparent that he believes it’s 1995 — a concerning sign that raises alarms for Jean and Phil.

While Jean initially chickens out of confronting Nigel, she and Phil end up organizing a last-minute party instead. Though Linda initially refuses to reopen The Vic, a glimpse of the upbeat market traders persuades her otherwise.

As the party gets underway, the residents of Walford gather to honour the past, including the dearly departed Martin. The Queen Vic finally reopens, marking both a fresh chapter and a bittersweet moment for the grieving community.

At No.31, Kathy seeks comfort from Harvey, but Jean interrupts them. Kathy tries to downplay the situation, though Jean is preoccupied with worry over Nigel. Later, Harvey suggests a caravan holiday with Kathy — but when Jean stumbles upon the brochure, the Slaters wrongly assume the trip is for them, causing more chaos.