WITH a baby on the way and a wedding to plan with Chelsea Fox, Gray Atkins is struggling to make ends meet.
But a new and surprising business partner is reaching out this week on EastEnders, giving him the opportunity to get his ducks in a row.
Since losing his job at the law firm, Gray (portrayed by Toby-Alexander Smith) has had ongoing money issues with paying his bills becoming a hassle for the lawyer.
He has since managed to land a job at a burger restaurant but is still scraping by.
This has led him to suggest delaying his impending nuptials with Chelsea, whom he spontaneously proposed to after finding out she was pregnant with his third child.
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Pushed by Whitney to come clean about his finances, Gray eventually asks Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) for clients in return of a cut.
After refusing a first time, Ben reconsiders the offer when Kheerat Panesar (Jaz Deol) interjects.
The deal is unfortunately called off when Chelsea, returning home after finding out she is expecting a boy, violently confronts one of Gray’s prospective clients.
With trouble looming in his relationship, Gray tells Ben about the ordeal.
This leads to Ben refusing to give any more clients to Gray, meaning that the lawyer’s financial struggles are far from over.
Luckily for him, a curious Eve (Heather Peace), overheard their conversation.
The former solicitor – Eve lost her license after being sentenced to three years behind bars for assaulting a man in 2018 – offers her services but is surprised when Gray refuses.
However, Eve makes a second attempt at a business partnership with Gray.
She approaches him with a potential client in need of representation and, more importantly, a healthy amount of cash.
Gray eventually accepts the business opportunity. Could his struggles finally come to an end?
Adding to the stress of his money woes, however, Gray is keeping a terrible secret.
The serial killer is still haunted by the memory of his late first wife, Chantelle, who died during a domestic accident in September, 2020.
One year after his wife’s death, Gray paid a visit to his father in hospice.
The latter reminded him – as well as EastEnders aficionados – that he also struggles to control his violent urges.
His troubled past has only made viewers perpetually worry about Chelsea’s well-being throughout their relationship, although some fans are convinced that Gray has finally met his match.
