There is tragedy and sadness aplenty in EastEnders next week, with a whopping 61 new spoiler pictures showcasing a legend’s funeral, in addition to all the drama that subsequently ensues.
The BBC One soap airs the heartbreaking funeral of Aunt Sal, with the Mitchell clan gathering from far and wide to pay their respects.
Phil (Steve McFadden) is the subject of Kat Slater’s (Jessie Wallace) concern as she worries about her beau, with Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) agreeing to attend the funeral in her place.
Aunt Sal’s husband, Harold, makes a rare appearance and moves the congregation, including Phil, to tears with a touching eulogy.
Sam (Kim Medcalf), meanwhile, is stunned when Harold reveals that Sal left her, Grant and Phil £100,000, with Phil refusing to hand over her share, but a plan forms when she finds out from Alfie that Phil slept with Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit) prior to his wedding with Kat.
Subsequent scenes see her blackmail her brother for the money, but Phil refuses to budge.
That is, until he has a change of heart and agrees to her demands. But despite getting what she wants, Sam interrupts his and Kat’s birthday karaoke to drop the bombshell of Phil’s infidelity, leaving Kat reeling!
There is a subsequent discussion of Sam being made to flee Walford but will she listen to others’ demands? Or is she here to stay?
Elsewhere, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) calls a crisis meeting in the Vic barrel store with various members of The Six, concerned that Denise Fox (Diane Parish) could be an issue.
Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) is in agreement, revealing word of Denise’s meeting with Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), leaving the matriarchs worried.
Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), meanwhile, feigns interest in Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) for information on Denise, though it soon becomes apparent that there is still a spark between the two.
EastEnders airs these scenes between Monday, January 15 and Thursday, January 18 at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
