Next week on EastEnders, chaos and confrontation rock Albert Square as secrets, betrayals, and threats explode across Walford in one of the most emotionally charged weeks yet. Tensions rise among the Beales, the Knights, and the Mitchells, as Cindy makes a jaw-dropping return, Lauren goes into labor, and Zack finally draws a line in the sand with Nicola.

It all begins with Lauren and Peter’s long-awaited engagement party, but things take a worrying turn when Lauren receives unsettling news during a final midwife appointment. Concerns about her pregnancy mount, and her unease intensifies when Peter, distracted as ever, ditches her during the checkup to take a phone call. Lauren’s frustration simmers, and things only get worse when Kathy decides to relocate the party to Harry’s barn due to a last-minute issue at the Albert.

With the party preparations thrown into disarray, Gina scrambles to salvage the situation. She enlists help from Mo Harris, Jean Slater, and Nigel Bates—but the makeshift team struggles to cope. As the party gets underway, Lauren’s anxiety lingers, especially after an offhanded and insensitive comment from Ian Beale. Seeking a moment of peace, she retreats to the barn’s office. Luckily, Kathy follows her and manages to soothe her nerves, convincing Lauren to rejoin the festivities.

But just when things seem to be settling down, a storm crashes through the door—Cindy Beale has returned. Her unannounced arrival stuns the guests and sends shockwaves through both the Beale and Knight families. Peter tries to mediate, but Lauren has had enough. Furious and heartbroken, she gives him a clear ultimatum: it’s either her or Cindy. The mood turns icy as most of the Beales and Knights quickly shut Cindy out. But Cindy isn’t backing down. She lashes back by publicly revealing the bombshell that Kathy was the one who previously attacked her, sending ripples of horror through the room.

Kathy, now exposed, seeks comfort in the arms of her secret lover Harvey Monroe. However, their escape is almost foiled when Jean nearly catches them together. Harvey, perhaps hoping to whisk Kathy away from the chaos, suggests a holiday, but Jean accidentally finds the brochure and misreads the situation—thinking the trip is for the Slaters. Still, Kathy’s secret is now out, and the fallout could be severe. Will she end up facing charges for the attack on Cindy?

Later, as tensions continue to rise, Cindy tracks Lauren down again—only to find her in the throes of labor. With no ambulance immediately available, Cindy takes charge and rushes Lauren to the hospital. Meanwhile, back at Harry’s barn, Chelsea Fox breaks the news to Peter, and he frantically rushes to catch up. As the dramatic birth unfolds, the big question looms—will Peter make it in time? And will both Lauren and the baby pull through?

Elsewhere in Walford, Ross Marshall makes a jaw-dropping confession to Vicki Fowler. After a tense moment involving Ross’s son Joel and his obsession with his phone, Vicki attempts to smooth things over. But Ross lashes out, telling her he doesn’t need parenting advice. Later, after cooling down, the couple reconciles—only for Ross to drop a major bombshell about their past. He finally reveals the truth behind their hasty exit from Australia, a revelation so shocking that Vicki storms out. Ross scrambles to make things right, but Vicki isn’t ready to forgive. What exactly did Ross confess, and can their relationship survive?

Meanwhile, Gina Knight finds herself growing increasingly suspicious of Harry Mitchell’s erratic behavior. The week begins with Nicola Mitchell receiving a veiled threat—one that comes from none other than Zack Hudson. Ignoring Vicki’s warnings to stay out of the Mitchells’ tangled mess, Zack issues a stern warning to Nicola, likely fueled by his secret knowledge that he’s the father of her son, Barney.

That same day, Nicola’s older son, Harry, wakes up hungover at the Arches and is found by Billy Mitchell, who takes him to Wolford East. But things get heated quickly when Teddy arrives, escalating tensions. Nicola confronts Gina while she’s looking for Harry, and later, as Gina enjoys a drink with Jay Brown, a disheveled and drunk Harry stumbles in, prompting concern. Jay, having witnessed his fair share of destructive behavior, immediately alerts Nicola and Teddy.

Gina’s gut tells her something deeper is going on with Harry. When she later questions him directly, Harry keeps quiet, further arousing her suspicions. Is Harry hiding something from his past—or someone else’s secret? Gina senses he’s struggling with serious emotional baggage, but getting through to him might be harder than she thought.

Back at the Queen Vic, Linda Carter and George Knight prepare to reopen the pub for VE Day, but not everyone is in a celebratory mood—especially Mo and Zack, who are still reeling from Martin Fowler’s death. Linda begins to doubt the decision, particularly as Elaine grows anxious about the lukewarm response. Meanwhile, Nigel Bates is excited—perhaps too excited—as he appears to think it’s still 1995. Phil Mitchell steps in to help coordinate a last-minute celebration, while Jean gets Mo involved in an attempt to revive the community spirit.

Eventually, Linda changes her mind after seeing the bustling market traders filled with VE Day cheer. As the Queen Vic reopens its doors, residents gather to honor those they’ve lost—including Martin. The air is heavy with grief, but also with resilience.

And in the background of all this, the legacy of EastEnders legend Ross Kemp looms large. A shocking story from his family’s past emerges during his appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?, where he uncovers that a relative once threatened to decapitate his own mother with a table knife in a drunken rage. It’s a haunting tale, eerily echoing the kind of high-stakes drama we see unfold in Walford daily.

This week, as Zack throws down the gauntlet with Nicola and Gina digs deeper into Harry’s emotional spiral, the question remains—what secrets are still hiding in the shadows of Albert Square? And just how much more drama can the residents of Walford take before everything boils over?

Will Nicola listen to Zack’s warning? Can Cindy truly repair the damage she’s caused—or will her return only wreak more havoc? And with Harry continuing to spiral, who will step in before it’s too late?

One thing’s for sure: next week in EastEnders will be anything but quiet.