Friday 27th January, 20:00 on BBC1
An extatic Jane can´t believe it when her family organise a leaving lunch for her, but the celebration is tinged with sadness when Tanya doesn’t show up following their argument. Over at the Branning house, Tanya is feeling guilty about the argument but is unwilling to swallow her pride and make up.
A while later, Ian discovers that Ben is the key witness in the case against Phil, so he begs Jane to stay as he needs her support. When Jane talks to Ben, her feelings of guilt intensify as the troubled teen says that she’s the only one who listens to him. Towards the end of the day, the Square’s residents throw a surprise farewell party for Jane at The Vic. However, with Ian, Ben and Tanya all on her mind, the pressure becomes too much for Jane, so she announces that she can’t move away and runs out.
Acoss the quare, Fatboy loses his job at the car lot as Max is unable to pay both him and Lauren. However, Tyler steps in and offers Fatboy a job at the antiques emporium instead. Later at The Vic, Fatboy grows increasingly paranoid that there is still a spark between Whitney and Tyler. Keen to prove himself, he announces his love for Whitney over the microphone, but when she returns the gesture, it’s clear to Fatboy that she doesn´t feel the same way.
Also tonight, Shirley finally manages to get Phil to see her, but she is shocked when she realises he is aware of everything she has been trying to protect him from. Wanting to make amends, Shirley asks Phil what he wants her to do to make things right – but his request isn’t an easy one for her to swallow.
Also today, Mandy is left feeling rattled as Lucy makes it clear that she knows she’s covering something up.
Thursday 26th January, 19:30 on BBC1
Poor old Jane still can’t pluck up the courage to tell Tanya the truth about her plans to leave Walford, so she keeps up the pretence that she’s staying. Soon afterwards, Tanya asks Jane to accompany her as she attends a follow-up appointment at the hospital. Jane agrees to join her but continues to feel guilty about hiding her plans from her best friend.
A whileLater, the pair head to The Vic together and Tanya confesses that she attended the appointment to get some advice on sex, because she fears that Max could cheat on her as they’re not currently sleeping together. Jane continues to be a supportive friend as they chat, but the mood turns sour when Masood joins them and blurts out that Jane is still leaving. A shocked Tanya immediately storms out and when Jane later tries to make amends, she is cruelly dismissed by her friend. Losing her temper, Jane gives Tanya a piece of her mind, and their friendship is left in bits.
Across the square, Mandy wants to prove that she can be a good mother figure to Ian’s kids, but she’s left disheartened when Bianca gives her some home truths about the unglamorous life of a mother. Determined that her life won’t be like Bianca’s, Mandy asks Ian for a car and quickly manages to get her own way. Later, Mandy is forced to ask Jane for help when Bobby locks himself in the house and fears that Mandy doesn’t want him around. Mandy is relieved when Jane advises that Bobby doesn’t need another mother and will only need her to be his buddy.
Also tonight, Derek’s plan to control the Mitchells business empire starts to unfold, Lauren is left with a new found respect for Max after she joins him for a day of hard graft at the car lot, Bianca is livid when Ray introduces Morgan to his daughter Sasha, Lucy remains suspicious over the phone calls and texts that Mandy is receiving and tries to investigate, while Shirley is furious when she sees what Derek is doing and vows to see Phil to find out whats going down.
Friday 20th January, 20:00 on BBC1
Its clear that Tamwar is still behaving coldly towards Afia, so Zainab tries to step in to resolve the issue and asks Afia to make the first move in reconciling with her husband. However, it seems that Afia is still struggling with the fresh knowledge of what Yusef put Zainab through. Zainab also tries the same with Tamwar, but he remains quite and unresponsive.
A while later, Afia chats to Lucy at the cafe and they strike up a bond as they discuss Yusef and Cindy. Lucy ends up inviting Afia on a night out that she has planned with Lauren and Whitney, but Amira disapproves when she goes looking for Afia later that night.
Across the square, Whitney tells Liam that he’s not a kid anymore and needs to start doing more to help the family. Later, Bianca is furious when the school phone her to report that Liam hasn’t turned up for lessons. Bianca covers for her son, but when she confronts him later that day, Liam reveals that he’s found himself a job at the local fast food restaurant and will be working part time on evenings and weekends to help with the family income.
Meanwhile, Abi discovers that the love letter is for Rose after doing some detective work, and Tanya convinces Jane to attend her interview but is later shocked to learn that the job is in Wales.
Thursday 19th January, 19:30 on BBC1
Today Ben is pleased to have almost got his old banger ready for the derby, but he feels left out when Phil offers Jay a ticket to a boxing match.. Later, DCI Marsden approaches Ben once again, playing on his insecurities about the pressures of being a Mitchell and living up to being the big man. Giving Ben her card, she urges him to get in contact if he remembers anything else about Stella’s ill fated end.
Later on, Ben and Jay present Phil with the finished car and it’s a happy moment for everyone as he’s pleased with their hard work. Phil lets Ben drive the vehicle, but he ends up stalling it which prompts an unimpressed Phil to recruit Jay to take over as driver. Feeling rejected one time too often, Ben contacts Marsden and reveals that he wants his statement changed.
Across the square, Bianca receives a shock when Ray turns up on the Square – and the surprises don’t end there as she realises that Morgan knows who Ray is. An angry Bianca orders Ray to stay away from his son, but he makes it clear that he wants to get to know the youngster. Following some wise words from Whitney, Bianca finally backs down and agrees that Ray can see his son.
Tuesday 17th January, 19:30 on BBC1
It’s apparent to DCI Marsden that she doesn’t have enough evidence to convict Phil, but she gets an idea after spotting the Albert Square hardman teasing Ben. Marsden asks Ben to come down to the station, accompanied by Ian as a chaperone. She then starts asking questions about Stella’s death – keen to know whether Phil has ever revealed what he said to Stella before she jumped. However, Ben is too scared to provide any details of the incident.
Some time later, Ben explains his issues to Ian, admitting that he doesn’t want memories of Stella to haunt him again. When Ben tells Phil that Marsden has re-opened the investigation into Stella’s death, he is left stunned and isn’t happy that Ben went down to see the police.
Across the square, Jane organises a “bangers and mash, give us your cash” fundraiser at The Vic and gives a local radio interview to promote the event. Later, Jane’s old haute cuisine tutor Gethin Williams turns up at the pub, having heard about the fundraiser on the radio. Gethin reveals that he wants to interview Jane for a job at his new eatery.
Also today, Derek and Janine try to show off over how much money they’re donating at the fundraiser, and Lucy continues to scheme against Mandy by planting the pills so that Bobby gets hold of them.
Monday 16th January, 18:00 on BBC1
Ricky and Bianca’s marriage is well and truly on the rocks, but Bianca tries to maintain a sense of normality in front of the children as they are confused about Ricky sleeping on the sofa and David being gone. Later, while sorting through Pat’s belongings, Bianca tells Carol that she is willing to give Ricky another chance as she still loves him but Carol advises that it’s time for her to let go. Ricky tries to show his love for Bianca by planning a romantic meal for the two of them, but it’s not enough. Is it over between Ricky and Bianca
Across the square, Lucy is annoyed when Mandy interrupts bonding time with her Dad. Lucy soon puts a plan into action, resolving to spend time with Mandy so that she can formulate a plot to get rid of her. Later, Lucy manipulates Mandy into getting drunk at The Vic and encourages her to score some pills for the two of them. Keen to be accepted by the teenager, Mandy agrees but Lucy later keeps the pills as part of her plan.
Meanwhile, Tanya and Max remain concerned by Lauren’s excessive drinking so they force her to visit a doctor, hoping that it will work as a shock tactic and make her realise the damage she is doing to herself. However, when they accompany Lauren to the surgery, Max and Tanya are left feeling guilty when they hear that their daughter’s issues could have been caused by them.
Apparently Eastenders newcomer Chucky Venn has revealed that his family are thrilled he is appearing in Albert Square, even more so than when he worked on on the Batman Dark Knight set. He has also featured in The Bourne Ultimatum and the Sky One hit Dream Team, and is due to make his Walford debut as Ray Dixon (Morgan’s father).
We hear that the 38 year old is a lifelong fan of the soap and called his agent to ask for an audition as soon as he heard that the part of Ray was up for the taking.
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Friday 13th January, 20:00 on BBC1 – 40-minute episode
Everyone in Albert Square is getting geared up for Pat’s funeral today. The mourners begin to arrive at the church and Kat is hesitant about going inside as it’s the same place where she buried James. Telling Alfie to go inside without her, Kat heads to James’s grave and offers Jack some words of comfort when she finds him by his child’s gravestone.
In the church, Reverend Stevens leads the service, which gives thanks for Pat’s life. Ricky starts to make a speech, but when he is too upset to continue, Janine takes his place and gives a lovely speech. Later, Pat’s coffin is carried outside to the tune of ‘Sweet Caroline’ one of her favourite songs. Family and friends then gather to throw dirt onto Pat’s coffin.
In the meantime, Bianca isn’t happy when she notices a look between Mandy and Ricky at the graveside together. Ian tries to stop an argument from breaking out by taking Bianca to one side, and as they chat in private, he leaves her stunned by revealing that Ricky had a daughter with Mandy. Soon afterwards, Bianca tries to give Ricky a chance to tell her the truth, but when he doesn’t take it, she announces that their relationship is reached its end.
Also today, Tanya and Max realise that they need to take action when Lauren’s drunken behaviour culminates in her threatening to jump out of the window at home, while Jack and Max are forced to intervene when Derek decides that he wants to eradicate someone from the square.
Thursday 12th January, 19:30 on BBC1
David has been sleeping with Carol in secret and slips her a note to meet in the launderette later on. However, his good mood doesn’t last long when Derek reminds him that his time is running out. David and Michael then put their plan into action to set Derek up. Roxy is recruited to act as a look-out as Michael hides some stolen goods round Dereks place.
Sadly things go wrong when Derek arrives back home, as Roxy tries to stall him for as long as possible but soon catches Michael red handed. David is horrified when Michael confesses that Derek caught him in the act, so he blamed David for the whole thing. Realising the situation with Derek is more dire than ever, David tells Carol that he’ll have to leave Walford again but he wants her to come with him as soon as possible.
Elsewhere, Ian hasn’t told Lucy or Peter about Pat’s funeral, but he pretends to Mandy that the pair can’t make it. Ian also lies that he has told them all about her. Later, Mandy tells Ricky that she’s planning on going to the funeral. As they catch up, Mandy leaves Ricky stunned by revealing that he got her pregnant all those years ago and they had a daughter, who died on the day she was born. Towards the end of the day, there’s a shock at the Beale house as Lucy turns up, demanding to know why she wasn’t told about the funeral. When she sees Mandy, Lucy also demands to know who the hell this women is.
Across the square, Tyler acts as a shoulder to cry on for Whitney despite Fatboy’s warning, Janine realises that Pat’s house will have to be sold to pay off her debts, before offering to buy it so the Butcher family can rent it from her, while Cora urges Tyler to do the right thing by Lauren after realising that he’s in love with Whitney.
Tuesday 10th January, 19:30 on BBC1
David and Carol have spent the night together and they discuss telling Bianca that they are back together after all these years. Then he pays a visit to Derek in an attempt to put the past behind them, but Derek merely repeats his threats of violence. Later on, Michael approaches David and expresses his hatred of Derek, cautiously suggesting that they could team up to bring him down, but David isn’t too keen about this approach.
Later that day, Carol starts to have second thoughts over David and then Derek cruelly offers her some home truths about him. David finds Carol in tears following the discussion, but quickly manages to win her back round and the trust between the pair is restored. When David receives yet more threats from Derek, he decides that it’s time to play hard ball and agrees to team up with Michael to sort him out.
Across the square, Whitney takes Morgan to meet his dad Ray at a cafe. Ray is nervous about meeting Morgan and tells Whitney about his past with Bianca. It turns out that Bianca stole money from Ray before doing a runner, not telling him that she was pregnant. When Whitney brings Morgan inside, Ray is over the moon to meet him.
Elsewhere, Lauren spends her afternoon getting drunk at The Vic as she feels pushed out by everyone around her, and Jane encourages Tanya to bond more with her mother.
