EastEnders‘ Barney Mitchell will receive some life-changing news next week, as the lives of his family members hang in the balance.

Barney has been at the centre of a huge story in recent months, with the revelation that Zack Hudson is his biological father – but the teen is still completely in the dark.

Meanwhile, while Barney is harbouring a crush on his friend Avani Nandra-Hart, she has been more interested in newcomer Joel Marshall. The pair had sex, but she doesn’t know that Joel secretly filmed them and has even shown the footage to Tommy Moon.

Next week, news gets out about Avani sleeping with Joel, and she is horrified when she is subjected to a string of cruel messages berating her online.

“Barney would love to be more than friends with Avani,” explains our source, “but more than anything, he just wants to make sure his mate is okay. He tries to reach out to her about what’s happened, but when he mentions Joel, Avani sees red and storms off.”

But it isn’t long before Barney finds Avani upset in the playground, so he attempts to help her again and comforts her about the abusive messages.

Nicola Mitchell spots the pair together and quickly jumps to the conclusion that Avani is leading her son astray. But when Barney tells his mum the truth, Nicola gives Avani a pep talk herself.

Avani is grateful for this, and for Barney’s constant support throughout her ordeal. The teens continue to grow closer, and Avani asks Barney to come back to her house.

“But things soon go wrong when Barney accidentally misreads the situation,” our insider reveals. “Avani is furious, and she storms off, an altercation which is spotted by Ravi. He gets involved and gives Barney some helpful advice – a far cry from when he dangled him over a bridge…”

Barney and Avani later make up, and Avani even gives Barney a kiss. Are they about to take their friendship to the next level?

But Barney is unaware that Teddy Mitchell, Harry Mitchell and his biological dad Zack have been involved in a dangerous crash, with one car driving into the lake.

As news of what has happened reaches Walford, Vicki Fowler decides to take matters into her own hands and heads over to No.1 to reveal a truth. Barney is stunned by Vicki’s outburst – but what has he discovered?