DANIELLE Harold waves goodbye to Albert Square as her on-screen alter ego Lola Pearce takes her last breath.
But a new chapter also begins this week in EastEnders with the arrival of the mysterious Knight family.
The Knight family arrive in the Square in the wake of Lola’s death
How will they settle in?
1. Secret Beale connection
Lola Pearce succumbs to her terminal brain tumour this week on BBC One in tear-jerking scenes – but who will be by her side for a last goodbye?
Viewers of the London-based drama will have to wait and see but the Knight family are due to rock up Walford in the aftermath of the hairstylist’s death.
Linda (portrayed by Kellie Bright) caused commotion when her mother Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) came back to Albert Square with the news that she was the new Vic owner.
But things get even more chaotic when Elaine’s partner George Knight (Colin Salmon) makes his arrival in Walford with his daughters Anna and Gina (respectively portrayed by Molly Rainford and Francesca Henry) in tow.
The three of them arrive at The Vic and Linda is stunned when George introduces himself as Elaine’s new man.
George informs her they’ve all arrived from Marbella to help run The Vic – which Linda hadn’t been made aware of by Elaine.
Incandescent with rage to realise Elaine had planned to invite her fiancé and his family to join them all along, could Linda exact her revenge?
Viewers have been sharing all sorts of theories about George ahead of his EastEnders debut.
And when The Celeb Report exclusively revealed how Cindy would be coming back from the dead alongside her ex-husband Ian, played by Adam Woodyatt, they believed they rumbled one of the newcomer’s biggest secrets.
Fans of the London-based drama believe a huge twist is in the works due to Cindy’s return coinciding with the arrival of the Knight clan.
Many of them are convinced that Cindy is the mother of George’s adult daughters, Anna and Gina.
Regular viewers of the program will remember that Cindy allegedly died behind bars off-screen.
But could it all have been a lie?
A handful of soap watchers are speculating Cindy may have been embroiled in a witness protection scheme and will be making her return to get in touch with her long-lost daughters.
What will Linda do about George’s arrival?
2. Whodunnit victim revealed
With George’s arrival in Walford, fans are officially convinced they’ve sussed out who will be murdered in a hard-hitting Christmas whodunnit storyline, teased earlier this year.
Viewers initially believed that Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) and Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) were most likely to be getting the chop at the end of the year but some new clues seem to point to George Knight.
In a flashforward scenes that sent fans into a frenzy, six of the Square’s most beloved ladies are in The Vic, including Linda who was shown with a cut lip.
It became a clear a struggle had taken place – as what seemed to be a knight stood behind Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
Due to George’s surname being Knight, viewers believe this was implying he could either be the victim or be somewhat involved in the upcoming murder mystery.
But what could he do between his arrival and Christmas that would result in him being killed?
Could George and Nish embark on an explosive and deadly feud?
3. George hides huge secret
This brings us to another explosive theory that could involve Nish Panesar himself.
Upon his arrival, it becomes clear George’s pre-Walford life has been eventful when he’s instantly recognised by Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Winston (Ulric Browne) as a championship boxer.
Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), on the other hand, learns that George isn’t to be messed with.
But both men soon butt heads – could it turn deadly?
Could George be recognised by Phil and Jack due to another activity in the criminal world?
Will this convince Nish to go head to head with him?
Stacey Slater star Lacey Turner shared a game-changing theory about the upcoming Christmas whodunnit, implying the supposed murder could be a “group effort.”
But could it the be the result of a horrific murder planned by Nish or George and left to the Walford women to explain?
Anna and Gina make a lasting impression on one resident
4. Anna and Gina find love
Bobby (portrayed by Clay Milner Russell) had a rocky relationship with Dana Monroe but was ultimately crushed when she cut off their connection by sleeping with his brother Peter.
Despite this, the pair remained on good terms when Dana decided to leave Albert Square to go to university in Glasgow.
Dana packed up her things and moved away from Walford in early September, 2022, leaving Bobby to start afresh in his own way in the Square.
Since then, Bobby has found a friend in the form of Freddie Slater and he left his love life on the backburner.
But that could change this week.
Bobby is instantly smitten with both Knight girls but his grandmother Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) is less of a fan.
The café owner bites their heads off when they bring their chihuahua Tyson in her establishment.
But to make matters worse, they also misjudge the mood in The Vic as they try to get the party started that same evening… unaware that beloved Walford resident Lola Pearce has just died.
Could Bobby help them settle in the Square?
If Bobby became close with both Anna and Gina, could it have an impact on his friendship with Freddie Slater?
What is wrong with Kim Fox?
5. Life-changing health torment
Like many other Albert Square residents, Kim Fox (played by Tameka Empson) is trying to make peace with Lola Pearce’s tragic fate.
But in recent weeks, the fan favourite has had struggles of her own, particularly after crashing her car and endangering Denzel Danes.
Kim faced trial but prior to her court date, Denzel (Jaden Ladega) caught her in a panic attack and implored her to say something to his father, Howie.
Although she promised she’d take action, Kim kept her torment a secret from those closest to her.
This week, she tries to mask her anxiety symptoms with great difficulty just as she and her sister Denise (Diane Parish) visit Lola (Danielle Harold).
The pair of sisters manage to lift Lola’s spirits, despite her condition and weakness.
Lola is thrilled as her friends and neighbours let her know they are thinking of her by staging a unique greeting in the Square.
Sadly, things go from bad to worse for the Kimfluencer as she’s soon accosted by an online fan in the salon.
Kim tries to paint on a brave face but is clearly struggling.
But when Adele asks her to record a birthday video for her daughter, an overwhelmed Kim tries her best before rushing out of Fox & Hair.
Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) then approaches her, seeing Kim collapse in the street.
The nurse calls an ambulance but Kim quickly stops her.
Yet when Sonia gets her to describe her symptoms, Kim’s condition convinces her to insist she goes to A&E to get checked out.
Could Kim be diagnosed with a terrifying and life-changing illness?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
