BBC EastEnders spoilers for next week: Double return, George Knight twist and Whitney baby joy

EastEnders airs huge scenes ahead on the BBC soap next week, in the fallout to the brutal Christmas Day murder.

The drama hasn’t stopped at Keanu Taylor’s death though, or the attack on Nish Panesar and The Six’s pact to cover up the crimes. There’s plenty of twists and turns ahead involving characters outside of the big Christmas plot.

Next week will see the return of two characters on the BBC soap, one of whom has not been in Walford for more than a decade. Joining her is a fan favourite last onscreen earlier this year, while she hasn’t been in Walford since 2022.

There’s also two new arrivals in Walford, and they’re about to drop an earth-shattering bombshell on George Knight that will turn his world upside down. Finally there’s some big news for Whitney Dean ahead of her exit from the BBC soap. Here are the biggest moments happening on the BBC soap next week…

Double return

Lauren Branning and her cousin Penny Branning return to the soap next week. Lauren is making a permanent return to the show, with actress Jacqueline Jossa reprising her role. Lauren left Walford back in 2018, while she did make comebacks in 2022 and earlier this year.

Lauren will be returning with her and Peter Beale’s son Louie, but they’re not alone. Joining Lauren in Walford is her cousin, Jack Branning’s daughter Penny.

Penny’s return comes 15 years after she last appeared in Albert Square back in 2008. New spoilers have confirmed their comeback will air in the New Year, with it seeming that the pair’s return scenes will air on New Year’s Day.

Spoilers say that the pair are in Paris, with pictures hinting they are at a party. Something happens during this party that leads to their decision to go to Walford, while it’s being kept under wraps.

The spoiler line reads: “In Paris, Lauren and Penny make a decision that they have to return to Walford due to the events of the evening.” By the end of the week it’s revealed Penny has arrived back in Walford, but are Lauren and Louie with her? A further spoiler reveals Penny struggles to cope with recent events, and she comes to a big decision.

George Knight twist

EastEnders is set for dramatic scenes in the New Year as two new arrivals descend on Albert Square, which leads to a dramatic DNA bombshell being exposed. George receives two unexpected visitors – his adoptive parents Gloria and Eddie.

Gloria is delighted to be reunited with her granddaughters, Gina and Anna. However, it’s tense between Eddie and his eldest granddaughter. What’s happened and can they move past it?

Yet the drama is far from over as later, Gloria reveals a shocking truth to George. As George and ex Cindy Beale try to find out more, they are shocked by what they find.

George is left broken by the discovery as partner Elaine Peacock does her best to comfort him. EastEnders has confirmed a new storyline for George, that will see the character make a discovery about his identity after his parents reveal the true means by which he was adopted.

A press release confirmed: “[Gloria and Eddie] tell George that he was adopted via a process known as farming which saw children advertised for money for parents looking to give children a home. The news leads George to make a discovery about his heritage which causes him to question the identity his parents impressed upon him since his adoption.

“It will soon become apparent to viewers that Gloria and Eddie are not what they seem as it’s clear both are still concealing secrets from their son, and Eddie’s racist ideologies come to the fore as his fractured relationships with his family are exposed as they challenge him on his views.”

Baby joy