SUMMER has arrived in Walford and brought more potential for sparks and explosive storylines.
EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw has revealed what’s ahead and BBC One viewers will need to expect the unexpected.
Drama will rock the Square in upcoming months
Freddie is set for an explosive summer
1. Freddie set for big reveal
Bobby Brazier took on the role of Freddie Slater in September, 2022.
The lad came back to the Square after more than a decade to attend his aunt Kat Slater’s wedding to Phil Mitchell.
However, he was also secretly hoping he could find out more about his father.
At the time of his arrival, Freddie was convinced his father was market trader Billy Mitchell, who was once married with his mother Little Mo.
Stacey Slater (portrayed by Lacey Turner) worked out that Freddie had come to find Billy after finding his mother’s marriage certificate and, by trying to put two and two together, he realised the market trader could be his father.
But while he has since been told that Billy (Perry Fenwick) isn’t his biological father, Freddie has no clue the man he is looking for is Graham Foster, who raped Little Mo.
No secret ever stays fully buried in Albert Square and EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw promised Freddie will find everything out.
“Freddie will finally find out the truth about his dad”, the producer said during a chat with The Celeb Report.
How will he react?
And more will be revealed about Theo Hawthorne
2. Theo exposed
Throughout his stint in Walford, Freddie was able to get closure from his former teacher Theo Hawthorne (William Ellis).
The youngster had opened up about his difficult time in Theo’s classroom as he was being teased and name-called by the teacher.
This led to Freddie finding out he actually has ADHD in a never-before-seen storyline.
But despite Theo helping Freddie, BBC One viewers have been suspicious of the newcomer.
They appeared to be proven right in recent scenes of the London-based soap when Theo was seen getting closer to pregnant Lily Slater and giving her brand new trainers her mother couldn’t affort.
Many fans even theorised he could have been the Secret Cam client who demanded to see Stacey Slater’s face for a price.
Chris Clenshaw has assured fans that more Theo Hawthorne scenes will air during the summer as his true intentions “will be revealed.”
What is Theo looking for?
Alfie Moon’s summer won’t go smoothly
3. Troubled times for Alfie
Recent scenes have shown Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) try to help a cash-strapped Stacey Slater pay her bills by moving out of No.31.
Alfie has since found a home in No.5D alongside Freddie Slater and he has been standing back from all the drama occurring around him.
However, soap boss Chris Clenshaw has announced that Alfie will be snatched from the side-lines and brought back to the spotlight as this summer rolls on.
“There’s going to be a tough road ahead for Alfie”, Chris teased.
But what could happen to Alfie?
Could he embark on a romantic relationship with Linda Carter, as suspected by many EastEnders fans?
Will Kat Slater decide he’s the only man for her after all?
Kathy and Rocky will walk down the aisle – but how will it go?
4. Summer nuptials
Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) also proposed to Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) earlier this year and she accepted… unaware the proposal was actually an accident.
Since then, Rocky’s estranged wife Jo rocked up the Square to cause him trouble but she ultimately signed their divorce papers, giving him the green light to finally move on.
Kathy has been working to the bone and crumbling under pressure as she’s also planned Lola Pearce’s wake.
In recent scenes, she’s made it clear she’ll not compromise for her guest list and Rocky is adamant on getting her the guests she wants for the ceremony.
Chris Clenshaw has confirmed that their wedding will go ahead… but there will (obviously) be a twist.
Could Ian Beale come back for his mother’s wedding?
5. Unexpected arrival
The soap boas announced that an “unexpected guest” will be making their arrival in Walford during Kathy’s wedding.
Chris also added there could even be a link to the upcoming Christmas murder mystery, which was first teased earlier in 2023 with a grisly flashforward.
“There is an unexpected guest who happens to arrive, watch out for the cufflinks around these episodes”, Chris said, referring to the murder victim seen at the foot of a Christmas tree in February’s flash-forward scenes.
Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt has been confirmed to reprise his role in upcoming EastEnders scenes, much like former on-screen wife Michelle Collins.
Could he be the unexpected guest attending Kathy’s wedding?
Will he have a link with the whodunnit ahead?
Only time will tell.
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
