It’s a week packed with explosive revelations, emotional reckonings, and shocking twists in EastEnders as the fallout from Cindy’s blackmail explodes in the most public way imaginable, Ravi loses control when he learns the truth about Joel and Avani, and Zack makes a drastic decision that could pull him away from Walford for good.

Cindy Drops Two Bombshells That Rock Walford

Cindy Beale takes center stage next week as her plan to take control of Kathy’s businesses explodes into scandal. After secretly recording a steamy kiss between Kathy and Harvey, Cindy wastes no time using the incriminating footage to her advantage. While Ian is blissfully organizing a welcome-home party for baby Jimmy, Cindy corners Kathy with a brutal ultimatum: sign over the house and businesses or face public humiliation.

When Kathy resists, Cindy doesn’t hold back. She reminds Kathy that Harvey provided her with an alibi during the Christmas Day incident — essentially helping her cover up an attempted murder. Shaken and running out of options, Kathy confesses everything to Harvey, including that she was responsible for attacking Cindy.

Kathy tries to tell Ian the truth but stops short when he reveals how relieved he is to be rid of Cindy. Realizing she could destroy her son’s peace, Kathy chooses silence and instead makes one last-ditch effort to negotiate with Cindy. She offers to sign over the property if Cindy deletes the footage. Cindy, initially resolute, changes her mind when Kathy points out that jail time or complete betrayal of Ian will destroy any chance of reconciliation with her family.

As the party gets underway at the Vic, Kathy reassures Harvey that the footage has been deleted. But in true EastEnders style, the drama is just getting started. Cindy arrives and makes a jaw-dropping announcement: she is now the new owner of The Albert. Ian and Peter are left reeling, especially when they realize Cindy blackmailed their gran to get it.

But Cindy isn’t finished. During Elaine’s toast to newly engaged Harvey and Jean, Cindy connects her phone to the pub’s projector — and plays the footage of Kathy and Harvey kissing for the entire pub to see. Cindy had a backup copy after all. Jean is left stunned by Harvey’s betrayal, and the fallout threatens to tear multiple relationships apart. Cindy may have won the battle, but the war has only just begun.

Ravi’s Fury Explodes After Avani’s Secret Is Exposed

Meanwhile, in another corner of Walford, a dark and deeply emotional storyline reaches a boiling point. Avani’s relationship with Joel is thrust into the spotlight after Suki catches wind of something suspicious going on between her granddaughter and an older man. Ross, Joel’s dad, had hoped to keep Joel’s past — including a disturbing upskirting incident back in Sydney — under wraps. But that plan quickly unravels.

Vicki Fowler and Ross discover a secret sex tape Joel made of himself and Avani — a video he proudly showed to Tommy Moon. Although Ross forces Joel to delete it, there’s no trust he did. Suki is outraged when she learns what happened and pressures Avani to tell her mother, Priya. The young girl, deeply embarrassed, refuses — but Ravi has already overheard the bombshell.

Furious, Ravi storms into Joel’s house, pins him to the wall, and unleashes his rage. Ross jumps in to defend his son, and the two fathers brawl as Avani rushes in and breaks it up, revealing the encounter was consensual. Devastated and humiliated, Avani flees to the park, where she collapses into Suki’s arms, crying, “I just wanted to feel wanted.”

It becomes clear that despite her earlier tough facade, Avani is deeply hurt. Suki and Priya comfort her, reminding her that she is deeply loved and worthy. Ross, in a surprising turn, agrees not to press charges against Ravi — but sternly warns him to stay away from Joel.

Zack Plans to Leave Walford – And Take Barney With Him

Elsewhere, Zack finds himself pushed to the brink as Nicola’s threats escalate. After discovering he’s the father of teenager Barney Mitchell — a child he never knew existed — Zack tries to forge a connection. But Nicola is determined to keep Barney away and even admits to killing Shireen Bashar to keep others quiet.

Terrified and desperate to protect Whitney and their daughter Dolly, Zack makes a life-altering decision: he’s going to flee Walford and take Barney with him. Whitney, now living in hiding, tells Zack she’s found a safe place for her and the girls. Zack takes this as a sign to get out while he still can.

However, his decision hits a snag when Vicki Fowler warns him about the danger of taking Barney away from the Mitchells — especially without proper evidence. But when Zack learns that Barney feels like an outsider in his own family, he becomes more determined than ever to protect him.

Zack quietly begins collecting proof that Barney isn’t safe around Nicola and Teddy. But will his plan backfire? And can Vicki stop him before he risks the wrath of the Mitchells?

Avani Makes a Devastating Confession

As the week wraps up, Avani continues to wrestle with her emotions in the wake of the Joel scandal. She insists to Suki that the relationship meant nothing, brushing it off as a one-time thing. But the truth is more complicated. Suki, unwilling to let it go, alerts Priya, and the two women confront Avani with their concern.

“I just wish you’d waited longer,” Suki says gently, hoping her granddaughter will open up. “It’s not that deep. We had fun,” Avani replies, still trying to mask her pain. But as Suki continues to push, and Ravi’s rage lingers in the air, Avani begins to break.

Eventually, she admits the heartbreaking truth: her actions were motivated not by love, but by a desperate need to feel wanted. She breaks down in Suki’s arms, confessing that she’s realized it wasn’t the positive experience she told herself it was.

In a moving final scene, the family comes together. Priya rushes in to hug her daughter, and the Panasars stand united in support of Avani. But with Ravi still seething and Joel’s dark past coming to light, this story is far from over.