Next week in EastEnders, Walford is thrown into absolute chaos as long-buried secrets erupt, alliances shift without warning, and one shocking arrest threatens to rewrite everything viewers thought they knew about Anony’s murder. With Jasmine Fischer finally taken into police custody and Zoe Slater’s fate hanging in the balance, the Square becomes a battleground of guilt, betrayal, and emotional reckoning.

After weeks of watching Zoe rot behind bars for a crime she has repeatedly sworn she didn’t commit, the truth may finally be clawing its way to the surface. But the road to justice is anything but straightforward, especially when deception has been layered upon deception.

At the center of this dramatic unravelling is Kat Slater, who has finally reached the end of her tether. Having endured manipulation, emotional blackmail, and half-truths from her own granddaughter, Kat decides enough is enough. Rather than continuing to play defense, she goes on the attack — and she does it with chilling precision.

According to a Walford insider, Kat secretly aligns herself with none other than the formidable Chrissie Watts, a move that immediately raises eyebrows across the Square. Chrissie’s sudden reappearance alone is enough to send ripples of unease through the community, but when it becomes clear she and Kat are working together, it signals that something big is about to go down.

Kat’s plan is ruthless but calculated. She lures Jasmine back to Walford under a carefully crafted lie, exploiting Jasmine’s belief that Kat would never truly betray her. Convinced she’s still in control, Jasmine walks straight into the trap — unaware that police are already poised to strike.

The dramatic sting unfolds on the very day Anony is laid to rest. Emotions are running high as family and friends gather to say their final goodbyes, unaware that a storm is about to rip through the ceremony. Acting on information from an unexpected source — Chrissie herself — Kat tracks Jasmine down and convinces her to return, insisting that Patrick needs her support during this painful moment.

What Jasmine doesn’t realize is that every step she takes back toward the Square is one step closer to her downfall.

Meanwhile, tensions are building elsewhere. Oscar makes a chilling discovery upstairs at The Vic — something that instantly tells him the situation is far more dangerous than anyone anticipated. As the pieces click into place, it becomes clear that Chrissie and Jake are already lying in wait, watching the plan unfold exactly as intended.

When Jasmine finally walks into the ambush and comes face-to-face with Chrissie, sparks fly. True to form, Jasmine panics and bolts, fleeing the scene in a desperate attempt to regain control. Kat assumes her granddaughter has slipped away once again, but moments later, she’s left stunned when Jasmine suddenly reappears — clutching the murder weapon.

In a frantic bid to save herself, Jasmine insists she has a solution that could protect the Slaters. Her plan? Pin the blame for Anony’s death squarely on Chrissie Watts. But Jasmine’s web of lies begins to unravel almost immediately. Before she can execute her scheme, police officers return to the Square and place her under arrest on suspicion of murder.

As Jasmine is led away in handcuffs, the Square is left reeling. The arrest sends shockwaves through Walford, forcing everyone to confront the uncomfortable truth that they may have been hunting the wrong suspect all along.

Patrick is utterly devastated as the reality sinks in. Having trusted Jasmine and defended her at every turn, he now has to face the possibility that the woman he believed in may have betrayed him in the worst possible way. Oscar, meanwhile, is shaken to his core, questioning how he could have fallen for someone capable of such darkness.

Before being taken away for questioning, Jasmine locks eyes with Oscar and pleads with him to uncover evidence that could clear her name — a final, desperate attempt to cling to hope.

The following day, news of Jasmine’s arrest reaches Zoe Slater, leaving her visibly shaken. While relief flickers beneath the surface, Zoe struggles to process the emotional toll of everything she’s endured. Patrick also grapples with conflicting emotions, torn between loyalty, guilt, and the creeping fear that he’s been manipulated from the very beginning.

Even with Jasmine behind bars, insiders tease that the mystery surrounding Anony’s death is far from resolved. Kat, Patrick, and Oscar are each forced to decide whether they can forgive the layers of deceit that have poisoned their relationships — or whether it’s finally time to walk away for good.

And looming over it all is one burning question: will Zoe finally be exonerated and allowed to return home, or is there one last twist waiting to explode?

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Max Branning Makes a Bold Romantic Move

Elsewhere in Walford, romance takes center stage as Max Branning makes a massive emotional gamble in his ongoing battle for Linda Carter’s heart.

Next week, Max lays his soul bare, confessing that he wants a real, committed future with Linda. No games. No half-measures. Just honesty. But whether Linda is ready to take that leap remains painfully uncertain.

Their history is anything but simple. What began as a fiery affair once rocked the Square to its core, but since Max’s return, their dynamic has evolved. With Max discovering that he is Annie’s biological father — and both of them currently unattached — he feels there’s nothing left holding him back from speaking his truth.

As their chemistry reignites and temptation proves too strong to resist, it seems like they might finally be finding their way back to each other. However, one damaging secret threatens to destroy everything.

Max has been sitting on the knowledge that his grandson, Louie, has been bullying Ollie at school — and he chose not to tell Linda. When the truth comes out, tensions explode at Peacock Palace, with both Linda and Elaine confronting Max in furious scenes.

Desperate to redeem himself, Max throws himself into resolving Ian and Elaine’s long-running feud with the hotel, hoping that making peace might shift public opinion back in his favor. At the same time, he sits down with Lauren to address Louie’s behavior — and during their heartfelt conversation, Max admits that his feelings for Linda are deeper and more genuine than ever before.

Determined to make things right, Max arranges for Louie to personally apologize to Ollie, giving both boys a chance to move forward. Seeing Max finally take responsibility softens Linda’s stance, and she tentatively reaches out, suggesting they go for a drink together.

Linda insists her focus is on stable co-parenting for Annie’s sake — but Max wants far more. He’s completely in love, and the question remains: has Linda’s heart changed too?

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Callum’s World Shatters as Ben Makes His Move 

Meanwhile, Callum Highway’s fragile happiness is thrown into turmoil when devastating news arrives from his estranged husband, Ben Mitchell.

Although Callum has been trying to build a new life with Johnny Carter, the arrival of divorce papers from Ben reopens old wounds. Matters worsen when Johnny’s business associate, Tim Walton, reveals his true colors, pushing Johnny toward a shady deal that Callum, as a police officer, cannot accept.

The tension between Callum and Johnny reaches breaking point when Johnny discovers Callum reading Ben’s divorce documents, sparking a furious argument that ends with Callum ordering Johnny to leave.

Just as they attempt to repair the damage, a final shock arrives when one of Ben’s associates turns up with a demand that leaves them both deeply unsettled — hinting that Ben’s shadow is far from gone.

With secrets exposed, loyalties tested, and lives hanging in the balance, next week’s EastEnders promises heartbreak, confrontation, and twists that will leave fans glued to their screens.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on BBC One, with episodes available from 6:00 a.m. on BBC iPlayer.