EastEnders fans, this week feels like a pot that’s about to boil over. Some returns bring answers. There is a new scheme in town, a desperate bid for power. When he thinks he has got it all, a Slater walks in and ruins the whole game. Keep scrolling to know more.

Oscar’s Return Stirs Drama As Ian Eyes The Vic

Oscar Branning is back in Walford, but he is not just here to say hello. Oscar does not want to go back, and he is trying hard to stay. Lauren hesitates but finally gives in, warning him to behave. Jack tries to calm him and opens up about Max and Tanya.

But Oscar is already cooking up chaos. He fakes a fall at the chippy to squeeze money from Ian. Stacey watches it unfold with a smirk while a social worker stands nearby. Ian storms off and makes a bold announcement to Kathy and Harvey. He wants to rebuild the Beale empire. And he has his eye on one thing, the Queen Vic. The pub is for sale. Ian wants it. And he is ready to shove Stacey and Kat out of the way to get it.

Stacey’s £100k Scratch Card Throws A Curveball.

But the Slaters are not giving up. Jean fears she will lose her cleaning job if Ian takes over. The women gather quickly and try to think of something. Then Stacey rushes in with what seems like a miracle. She is holding a scratch card.

She has won one hundred thousand pounds. Enough to buy the pub. Enough to stop Ian right there. Now it is war.

EastEnders fans are in for a turbulent week in Walford, where secrets unravel, power plays intensify, and one shocking twist after another keeps viewers on edge. With Oscar Branning’s unexpected return, Ian Beale’s ruthless ambitions, and Stacey Slater’s wild stroke of luck, the soap’s latest episodes feel like the beginning of an all-out turf war. Let’s break down the drama brewing on Albert Square.

Oscar’s Return Stirs the Pot

Oscar Branning, son of Max and Tanya, reappears in Walford—older, moodier, and clearly with no plans to quietly blend back into the community. Though his visit is framed as temporary, Oscar has other ideas. He’s determined to stay, despite Lauren’s hesitation. At first, she tries to send him packing, but her resolve softens. She agrees to let him stay—on one condition: he has to behave.

Jack Branning, caught in the middle, attempts to restore peace by opening up to Oscar about the complicated history involving Max and Tanya. But Oscar isn’t interested in family therapy. He’s focused on causing chaos—and he doesn’t waste time getting started.

Ian Beale Targets the Queen Vic

At the same time, Ian Beale is hatching his own comeback plan. He may be older and bruised by past failures, but he’s still as ambitious (and sneaky) as ever. After witnessing Oscar stage a dramatic fall at the chippy—clearly trying to scam him for money—Ian fumes. And that anger fuels a bigger decision.

In a scene packed with classic Beale bravado, Ian declares to Kathy and Harvey that it’s time to rebuild the Beale legacy. Step one? Buy the Queen Vic.

With the iconic pub up for sale, Ian sees it as the crown jewel of his comeback. He wants control, visibility, and most of all, revenge. And if that means pushing Stacey and Kat Slater out of the way, so be it.

The Slaters Fight Back – With a £100k Twist

But Ian isn’t the only one playing for keeps. Word spreads fast, and the Slaters are quick to realize what Ian’s planning. Jean is particularly worried—if Ian takes the Vic, she could lose her cleaning job, and their household might be in serious trouble.

The family quickly gathers to come up with a plan. That’s when Stacey bursts in with what can only be described as a game-changer—a winning scratch card worth £100,000.

In a moment of sheer disbelief, the Slaters suddenly have the funds to buy the Vic themselves. It’s enough to turn the tables and stop Ian in his tracks. But as EastEnders fans know, luck often comes with a cost.

What’s Next: War Brews on the Square

Stacey’s win doesn’t just spark celebration—it sets off a full-scale power struggle. Ian now has a true rival for the Vic, and it’s personal. He underestimated the Slaters, and that mistake might cost him everything.

Meanwhile, Oscar’s reentry into Walford life could become another unpredictable wildcard. His manipulative streak is already showing, and it’s unclear whose side—if any—he’s on. With social workers nearby and the community watching, one wrong move could make things spiral fast.

As the week unfolds, fans can expect:

• Tensions to rise between Ian and the Slaters.

• Oscar to dig deeper into trouble, possibly dragging Lauren or Jack with him.

• Stacey to realize that money might solve one problem but create many more.