EASTENDERS’ dramatic autumn trailer teased an explosive few months ahead in Walford as several ongoing storylines reach their climax.
The BBC One soap released the teaser earlier this evening, exciting fans with the showstopping scenes, which include Lola being taken hostage, paedo Tony’s son targeting Whitney, and Jay’s tragic past returning to haunt him.
Ben Mitchell’s rivalry with the Panesar brothers also looks tense, with the East End bad boy warning them to stay away from his daughter, Lexi, after they seemingly target her mum Lola.
It was previously revealed that the men will get off to a rocky start when the newcomers finally make their debut in the show, and with several punch-ups featuring in the three-minute long clip, it is safe to say that “rocky” is an understatement.
And it isn’t just the Panesars that Ben has to worry about, with Martin Fowler finally returning after going on the run after wife Stacey attacked Phil Mitchell with a spanner to protect him.
While Jean shares her disgust at Martin’s return, Ben warns him that he will be “paying” for what happened to his dad until he decides otherwise.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Ben though, with the character also sharing a sweet nod to his past as a ballerina-loving schoolboy as one brief scene shows him teaching Lexi how to dance while he encourages her to move her hips.
The moment will no doubt be well-received by longtime fans, who have previously questioned why Ben’s obsessive love of dancing had disappeared completely.
Elsewhere, Callum and Stuart’s dad makes an appearance and demands to know why Callum called off his wedding to Whitney.
The character’s romance with Ben appears to be in trouble already as emotional Callum breaks down in tears – no doubt over his dad’s refusal to accept his sexuality.
Stuart also has Rainie’s increasing drug problem to contend with, as Max screams in her face in a sensational confrontation before Rainie is shown looking glazed over as she crawls through a field in desperation.
Her worried partner confronts Kathy Beale for providing her with drugs, which she’d been giving the addict through fear she’d lose contact with baby Abi if she refuses.
Jay is also shown to be struggling, hitting the bottle and seemingly traumatised after organising a funeral for someone from his tragic past.
The troubled character remembers his dad Jase, who was brutally murdered several years ago, and warns the mystery victim: “By the time this funeral is over, and everyone goes home, they’re all going to know it was for an old scumbag like you.”
Billy desperately tries to get through to him – but will it work?
Billy is also left feeling encouraged when Adam and Habiba’s affair is finally exposed – leaving Honey devastated, and Habiba’s auntie and uncle furious.
Mariam and Arshad scream at the illicit lovers to get out of their home before telling Honey’s ex that she is the only one who can make her happy.
Emotional Honey is also seen confronting Habiba, with the affair scandal far from the only drama threatening to be exposed in the coming weeks.
Sharon finally tells Keanu that Mel knows about their baby as the grieving mother continues to blackmail Sharon over her dirty secret.
However, the trailer ends with Mel swearing on her life that she will leave Sharon alone, leaving fans to wonder if she could have sealed her fate and will be killed off when the truth finally does come out.
Elsewhere, paedophile Tony’s son Leo continues his pursuit on his dad’s victim Whitney in the pub on Halloween after being unveiled as her mystery new man in today’s episode of the show.
Dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, Whitney asks the bad boy: “What have you come as?” as evil Leo teases: “The big bad wolf.”
Other notable dramas include Gray smirking as he realises just how much power he has over abused wife Chantelle, Mick and Linda’s continued concern over son Ollie, and depressed Bex seemingly starting a battle with alcohol abuse as she desperately downs a glass of champers.
But it’s not all doom and gloom – Keegan and Tiffany finally have sex, Daniel admits his feelings for Jean before they share their first kiss, and Dot finally returns to the square.
Finally, Ian Beale gets punched in the face by Keegan after making a nasty comment – which could be seen as a good or a bad thing, depending on where you stand in the Ian Beale fandom.
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