r/eastenders

Write your thoughts, theories, and questions about Wednesday's episode below!

Write your thoughts, theories, and questions about Tuesday's episode below!

Did the show just introduce Jasmine and Josh purely for this Oscar love triangle storyline, and anthony’s non dramatic death at Christmas? Because the never ending scenes of Zoe finding her son/daughter seem to be pointless now considering they barely have any scenes together, especially her and josh.

Martine mc cutcheon. I'm certain if she wasn't killed off, she'd return.

Gillian taylforth. I'd say within several years of leaving, she regretted it. I recall her making statements to the press after they killed her off. She got lucky, though. But I'd say by 05/06 era she wanted to go back.

I'd safely say Anita dobson would have returned, but she married Brian May, so she didn't need the pay pack, so it was easy for her to say no.

Johnny would’ve killed Phil and Grant a long time ago before get Johnny week, let’s be honest

Destroyed - Max Bowden’s Ben. Harry Reid was in my opinion the PERFECT Ben Mitchell, right blend of damaged psycho still trying to live up to his father’s expectations. Harry Reid portrayed that brilliantly, but with Max Bowden they tried so hard make him a tough mini Phil and that just wasn’t Ben’s essence at all

Improved - Jac Jossa’s Lauren. She brought life and personality to the character as the other actress was rather plain and quite a drip. She wasn’t even convincing enough to have people believe she ran over Max but I could definitely see Jac’s Lauren doing so

For me, it’s Lola. Sorry, I know she’s a beloved character and I loved her too when she arrived but besides giving birth live and her custody battle over Lexi, she had no huge or impactful storylines during her stint and she was never really treated as a Mitchell either. Giving her the terminal cancer storyline gave her more impact, otherwise she would’ve been another forgotten character if they hadn’t

I'm rewatching it on BBC IPlayer and it's quite bad ngl. The whole baby swap storyline, the complete butchering of Ronnie's character, Kat's affairs, Tyler and Anthony are just pure cringe, Jean was annoying too, the whole Lauren and Joey thing(cousins btw), Tanya and Max, the guy who played Ben. It's just rubbish lol. I feel like it was more of a year for the 'teens' but that's what ruined it imo.

I get a lot of people after divorcing, will keep their married name. However, what I find weird is situations like Eve and Ivy. Eve has the surname Unwin-Panesar. She's got the name of the man who tried to kill her...

Ivy is named Knight-Mitchell. Why??? George even said in the NICU, he didn't want Mitchell and I don't blame him! Who wants their kid to have another man's name? If I divorce my husband and have another child with someone else, I sure as hell wouldn't be using his name.

Also, the whole thing with George's exes being there at the naming ceremony was so strange.

Edit: Literally first sentence I said I understand someone not changing THEIR OWN NAME. Yet people are commenting about how it'll be weird to answer to something else after years of having their married name. I'm talking about a NEW SPOUSE talking on YOUR EX HUSBAND'S name or your CHILD WITH A DIFFERENT PERSON.

As much as I love Oscar, as a bisexual, it really grates me they’re perpetuating harmful biphobic stereotypes through him for the sake of “drama” and yet another unnecessary MLM ship that’s just going to cause viewers to hate him and Josh

Write your thoughts, theories, and questions about Monday's episode below!

I'm curious about this. Often, cheating stories are just thrown on characters/couples when the showrunner has run out of ideas.

“EastEnders is preparing to welcome back one of its darkest ever villains as serial killer Gray Atkins is set to make a bombshell return to Albert Square. Walford has already been plunged into chaos in recent weeks following the death of Nigel Bates, while Bea Pollard continues to cause trouble across the Square.

But upcoming episodes may deliver the soap's biggest twist yet, as the BBC soap may revisit one of its most disturbing storylines.

Gray Atkins - played by Toby-Alexander Smith - is expected to return in a surprise cameo almost four years after his character was finally exposed and thrown behind bars for multiple murders and the horrific abuse of his wife, Chantelle Atkins.

Soap bosses are remaining tight-lipped about the comeback, but insiders say Gray will appear from prison for a short stint, and that his return will have major consequences for Walford residents.

A source says: "Gray’s return is set to be explosive. He’s got unfinished business in Walford and fans won’t see it coming." Grey first arrived in EastEnders in 2019 as a successful solicitor and the husband of Chantelle Atkins.

Initially introduced as a charming and dependable man, the character's mask quickly fell with a thud when he became central to one of the soap's most harrowing domestic abuse storylines. Behind closed doors, Gray subjected Chantelle to prolonged physical, emotional and even sexual abuse by controlling her every move and isolating her from family members.

In 2020, Chantelle tragically died after attempting to free herself from Gray's grasp during a violent confrontation. But she wasn't his only victim. As he spiralled even further, Gray went on to murder Tina Carter after she threatened to expose his abuse, and concealed her body under the Argee Bhajee restaurant for months.

Gray's killing spree escalated again in 2021 when Kush Kazemi became another victim in the midst of his obsession with Whitney Dean. In one of EastEnders' most shocking scenes, Gray pushed Kush in front of an incoming train at Walford tube station to stop him from fleeing Albert Square with Whitney.

Gray's crimes were finally all exposed in 2022 following growing suspicions, and after a dramatic showdown, he was finally cuffed and carted off by the police, never to be seen again. Since his exit, the character has rarely been mentioned on screen. Gray left behind his children, Mia, Mackenzie and Jordan, with the latter remaining with his mother, Chelsea Fox. Mia and Mackenzie, on the other hand, have moved to Spain alongside their grandparents, Karen Taylor and Mitch Baker.

Since leaving EastEnders, Toby-Alexander Smith has continued building his acting career, appearing in projects including An American in Austen, Love Across Time, Murder Between Friends and four episodes of Seeking Persephone.

Off-screen, he also shares a high-profile relationship with Amy Walsh, best known for playing Tracy Robinson in rival ITV soap Emmerdale. The couple welcomed their first daughter in 2021 before tying the knot in a private ceremony two years later, during which Toby's former co-star Shona McGarty performed. Earlier this year, the pair also welcomed their second daughter.

In 2025, the couple launched their own performing arts school for children aged 7 to 16, designed to help train aspiring young actors. But despite moving on professionally, it seems Gray may not have said his last word just yet.

EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.”