EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday’s episode (14 August), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.

EastEnders’ Joel Marshall has issued Vicki Fowler with a shocking threat, as his behaviour reaches a new low.

Avani had a termination this week, deciding that she couldn’t go through with Suki’s secret plan. As the truth about her pregnancy was revealed, troubled teen Joel found out that he was the dad of Avani’s baby and was furious.

The fallout continued in today’s episode, with Vicki telling Ross that she didn’t approve of Joel kicking off in the Square because Avani decided to end her pregnancy.

Joel overheard this and confronted her, but Ross calmed the situation. Vicki and Ross agreed that Joel should stay away from Avani and her family for now.

But refusing to be told what to do, Joel ignored advice and headed round to berate Avani. He burst into the flat but faced the wrath of Ravi and Priya instead.

Priya had to hold Ravi back to stop him attacking Joel and demanded that the teen leave at once.

Later, Ross told Joel that he’d be away for the rest of the day for work, so urged him to play nice with Vicki until then and reiterated that his son needed to give Avani space.

But Joel ignored this yet again and confronted Avani in public, raging at her for “making decisions about his kid”. When Avani fought back, Joel raised his hand at her – but Vicki stopped him in time.

Priya was keen to tell Ravi about what happened, but Avani just wanted this ordeal to be over. The mother and daughter had an emotional chat about Priya’s past, and she explained why she was so angry at Suki for keeping her in the dark.

Meanwhile back at home, Vicki raged at Joel for almost turning to violence, but he launched into an uncomfortable rant, using misogynistic rhetoric when discussing Avani’s termination.

Vicki desperately tried to reach out to Joel, saying that she loves him and his dad and only wants the best for him.

But Joel threw this back in her face, by criticising Vicki’s relationship with Ross in a disturbing outburst.

“You will never control me the way you control my dad,” he said. “He’s weak, Vicki. If he wasn’t weak, he’d have put you in your place months ago.

“Push me, and you’ll soon find out a proper slapping would do you the world of good.”

With Vicki left devastated by Joel’s vile threat, will she tell Ross about this horrific incident?