PATRICK Trueman will be coming face to face with a former flame this week as his ex-wife Yolande returns.
But with the EastEnders legend’s return may come more conflict. Here’s what we could be expecting on the BBC One drama this week.
Angela Wynter reprises her role this week
Could Yolande and Patrick get back together?
How will she behave around Suki?
1. Furious Minute Mart battle
Viewers were shocked when Patrick Trueman (portrayed by Rudolph Walker) made the decision to leave the Square and go on the search for his ex-wife Yolande.
The couple have been officially divorced since 2009, after Yolande chose to start afresh in Birmingham and Patrick was initially meant to join her – but he never did.
Yolande still made sporadic comebacks to the Square but she was no longer a series regular.
Actress Angela Wynter makes a long-awaited return to the London-based program next week, six years after her last appearance – is she here to stay?
It all begins when Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) recruits Patrick to dish out love advice in her latest ‘Kimfluencer’ video.
A reluctant Patrick starts dispensing relationship wisdom on camera until he’s interrupted by the arrival of a special visitor who is none other than Yolande.
She quickly reveals that her boyfriend Anton has thrown her out and she wants to stay with him, but a nervous Patrick isn’t sure that’s a good idea.
Bruised following the rejection, Yolande leaves in a huff.
Kim wants to know why Patrick isn’t fighting to win Yolande back.
Meanwhile, Denise Fox (Diane Parish) is trying to convince her to stay.
After a heart-to-heart with Yolande, Denise begs Patrick to take the chance to tell Yolande how much he cares before she leaves forever.
While Patrick will have a decision to make, could Yolande’s comeback to the Square spell trouble for local businesswoman Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal)?
In recent years, Suki has taken over the Minute Mart and turned it into a family business.
But this was after the local shop belonged to Yolande.
Viewers of the London-based drama are wondering if, by settling down in Walford again, Yolande may look into snatching the Minute Mart away from Suki.
“Up and coming scenes for Suki look quite good but with Yolande turning up will she lose the shop? She looks so sad”, one viewer Tweeted.
Another added: “I worry who she has to turn to without Eve. It really saddens me that Suki has no support or close friends.”
Will Suki have a new rival in Walford?
Some viewers are expecting Whitney to take Lily’s baby
2. Huge Whitney baby twist
Meanwhile, Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson meet a huge hurdle this week.
Fearful she may be pregnant with Reiss Colwell’s child, Sonia Fowler is stuck in a whirlwind of emotions.
Thankfully for her, the nurse played by Natalie Cassidy finds support in the form of Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) who is determined to support her.
However, Sonia has no clue Reiss is convinced she has cheated on him.
The couple are at loggerheads over children in upcoming scenes of the London-based drama with Whitney standing on the side-lines, supporting Sonia.
But with her friend facing potential baby drama and her daughter Peach’s due date fast approaching, Whitney and her partner Zack Hudson (portrayed by James Farrar) soon bring up the topic of building a family together back on the table.
It all begins when Zack gets good news – his viral load is undetectable.
As he and Whitney spend time at their daughter’s tree, planted in Martin Fowler’s allotment to remember her by, Zack is prompted to suggest they could try for another baby.
Sadly, Whitney breaks his heart when she later reveals she can never put her body through that again and doesn’t want to try for another baby.
Whitney and Zack have a difficult conversation about their future and children – could it leave them going their separate ways?
Soon enough, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) gets involves and advises her devastated pal Whitney to keep talking to Zack to save their relationship.
But when she speaks to him, it’s clear Zack thinks they are too far apart on this issue.
Fans have started to speculate that Whitney’s niece Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) may become more involved in her baby drama than expected.
The twelve-year-old is pregnant with her first child while her mother Stacey (Lacey Turner) is having to face a shocking stalker ordeal as Theo Hawthorne grows more obsessed with her.
Some viewers believe Stacey’s problems may escalate and lead to Lily being separated from her child.
As a result, Whitney has been tipped to take Lily’s baby and fans are hoping for a happy ending for her as actress Shona McGarty is due to leave the long-running program early next year.
Viewers have also thrown Sam Mitchell’s name into the mix as she’s due to return to Walford to help her son Ricky cope with fatherhood.
“I was thinking this could lead Lily into early labour and when it comes out about Theo, the social gets involved and Sam comes back and offers to take the baby or Whitney takes the baby”, one fan penned.
Another added an even darker twist for Lily: “I think this could all lead to Lily losing the baby, which is why Sam comes home to a mess. Lily blames Stacey’s only fans for the baby’s death, which sets up Stacey’s new story involving a custody battle with Ryan. Just my predictions.”
Freddie gives an update on Little Mo this week
3. Surprise return for one icon
Life in Walford has been unforgiving for Little Mo as she struggled in her personal life.
After getting stuck in an abusive relationship, she found love again in the form of Billy Mitchell.
The pair tied the knot but their happiness was short-lived as, prior to their first wedding anniversary, Little Mo was attacked and raped by Graham Foster.
This resulted in the birth of her son Freddie Slater as well as the breakdown of her marriage with Billy.
In 2006, the divorcée decided it was time for her to turn a new leaf away from Albert Square.
Little Mo parted ways with her family that same year with her son in tow and left to travel to Barnstaple.
More than fifteen years later, her son Freddie, all grown-up and played by Bobby Brazier, showed up in Walford ahead of Kat Slater’s wedding to Phil Mitchell.
Freddie was seeking answers about his real father and after much searching and scheming, he finally got to the bottom of things.
But to his horror, he found out that he was the result of a horrific crime and, out of love for Little Mo, he decides against bonding with Graham Foster.
But this week, Kat (Jessie Wallace) is frantic when she hears that Freddie is off to pay his mother a visit.
Before he leaves the Square, she tells him to remember how hard Little Mo has fought to protect him.
Could Freddie and Little Mo return to Walford together?
Fans have been keen to see Kacey Ainsworth reprise her role, particularly as she recently spoke out amid her on-screen son’s new storyline on Twitter.
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
