JEAN Slater is set for further heartbreak in upcoming EastEnders scenes.
The beloved character – played by Gillian Wright – unfortunately fell victim to a scam in recent weeks.
In scenes yet to air, Jean’s emotional aftermath continues after getting further bad news.
The soap legend has to push forward despite the horrifying situation.
She was previously seen investing her life savings and pensions with a cold calling operation.
However, Jean was soon left heartbroken upon realising she had lost everything.
Left feeling helpless after this nightmare, she was relieved when a solicitor revealed they could get the money back.
Stacey (Lacey Turner) was still concerned about her mother’s situation and asked Jack (Scott Maslen) to help.
EastEnders worked with experts in the field including independent scams expert Nick Stapleton, The Pensions Regulator and Stop Scams UK on the storyline.
Meanwhile, the story continues as Jean deals with the emotional and practical fallout of the crime.
EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw outlined the storyline’s intentions.
He explained: “Jean’s story will highlight the extreme strategies scammers use to gain a victim’s trust to convince them into parting with serious sums of money.
“Not only will Jean have to cope with losing her pension money, but she’ll also have to deal with a range of difficult emotions as she tells her family and friends what’s happened.”
Nick Stapleton, scams expert and BBC Scam Safe spokesperson, added: “I am incredibly happy to see the issue of scams and fraud getting the attention it deserves with a storyline on one of the nation’s favourite soaps.
“Scams are one of the greatest challenges of modern times; not just the money we lose to scammers as a country, but the emotional and psychological impact for those who go through one.
Gillian Wright has played Jean Slater on EastEnders since December 2005.
The star was only supposed to be a guest-character in a storyline with her on-screen daughter Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), who would struggle to look after her.
However she soon became a regular on Albert Square and has since been involved in some major storylines.
Jean is known among the square for having bipolar disorder and issues with her mental health. The first storyline involved Stacey getting help as she was forced to check her into a psychiatric hospital for her own safety.
After her first departure in 2010, she made a dramatic comeback where she was put in the centre of a major storyline.
She embarked on an unlikely relationship with Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd), however he tricks her to give him a large sum of money. As a result, she becomes the prime suspect of the murder of Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison) before he scams her again to pay for his wedding to Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks).
The actress decides to leave the soap again in 2013, so bosses decided to introduce actor Tony O’Callaghan as love interest Ollie Walters. After he confesses his love for her, she then moves down to Brighton with him.
After several guest returns, she made a full-time comeback in 2018 alongside Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Mo (Laila Morse). She was later put at the centre of a major storyline when she was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer.
“It’s high time we brought that fully into the mainstream and EastEnders is leading the way.”
It’s been a tough year for Jean – who also experienced turmoil in her relationship with Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).
Will she have a quieter time in the New Year?
EastEnders continues on BBC One and iPlayer.
