EastEnders has confirmed that Oscar Branning will strike up a new friendship next week – one which could expose his secret crime.

This week, viewers saw the desperate teen break into Patrick Trueman’s house to steal money, unaware that Lauren had already paid off the dangerous Mike, a figure from Oscar’s past.

Things soon went wrong when Patrick returned home, and Oscar accidentally pushed him to the ground. As Patrick was rushed to hospital, Oscar managed to get away in time, but Howie spotted his ankle tag and realised that he was the culprit.

But Howie has kept this quiet, instead blackmailing Oscar and Lauren and taking Patrick’s gambling winnings for himself to solve his own financial troubles.

With the situation seemingly resolved, Lauren is keen to move on and get her little brother back on track. When she spots Oscar chatting to Patrick’s fiancée Yolande in next week’s episodes, she isn’t best pleased and urges him to keep his distance from the family.

Meanwhile, Patrick returns home from hospital, having luckily escaped serious injury, but he suffers with anxiety in the aftermath of his attack.

Howie notices how much he is struggling and feels awful, considering he has used the knowledge of Patrick’s attacker to his own advantage.

He isn’t the only one feeling guilty, as Oscar later overhears Yolande talking to Kathy about Patrick’s wellbeing, explaining that her partner currently feels too frightened to leave the house.

Oscar wants to help the Truemans in any way possible, so he kindly offers to help Yolande carry her shopping bags back home.

When the teen arrives at No.20, he checks in with Patrick, and the pair soon strike up a friendship. They even play a game of dominoes together, and it looks like Oscar might be able to help Patrick through this difficult time.

But news travels fast, and Lauren soon finds out through Kathy that Oscar is coming to the aid of his neighbours.

Lauren can’t believe that her brother is playing with fire when he should be keeping a low profile. Has Oscar taken too big a risk, and will Patrick find out that his new friend is also his attacker?