EastEnders is set to introduce a new mystery amid Martin Fowler’s emotional funeral next week.

After his tragic death in February, Walford is preparing to say goodbye to Martin, with his niece Vicki and daughter Bex returning this week ahead of the sombre occasion.

Martin’s ex-wife Stacey Slater has particularly struggled after his death, since they declared their love for one another in the moments before he passed away. She has been staying with her brother Sean for several weeks but will return in time for the funeral.

In scenes that will air next week, while Lily Slater tries to support her heartbroken siblings on the morning of the funeral, Stacey arrives home drunk.

Sonia Fowler tries to comfort her and helps her to sober up, but she is disappointed when Stacey tells her that she can’t face the funeral.

As Lily’s anger towards her mum builds, Albert Square comes together to lay Martin to rest. Stacey is pictured in these emotional funeral scenes, but it isn’t known what makes her change her mind about attending.

Martin’s partner Ruby Allen is also furious with Stacey after the funeral, and her resentment comes to the surface during the wake.

Stacey later finds Ruby at the allotment and the former friends have a tense confrontation – where there are some major revelations that could permanently destroy what’s left of their relationship.

Meanwhile, Avani Nandra-Hart encourages Lily to resort to alcohol, and Stacey comes home to find her drunk. She tries to make amends with her daughter but isn’t successful.

Things then get even worse for Stacey when she makes the horrifying discovery that Martin’s market stall has been set on fire.

With the beloved stall destroyed, Stacey promises Lily that she will find out who is responsible. Jack Branning encourages her to leave it to the police, but she takes matters into her own hands and confronts who she believes to be the culprit.

With relations between Ruby and Stacey worse than ever, Ruby decides she needs to remove herself from the situation and leave Walford.

Jean urges Stacey to stop fighting with her former friend and start to heal. She takes her mum’s advice and sets out to find Ruby to talk, but Zack Hudson reveals that she has already left.

Has Ruby really left for good, and has Stacey missed her chance to build bridges?