EastEnders spoilers follow for Wednesday’s episode (3 December), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.

EastEnders’ Anthony Trueman has made a devastating announcement at Kim Fox and Howie Danes’ engagement party, leaving the whole family completely stunned. As Anthony and Howie’s secrets are exposed in spectacular fashion, the celebrations quickly turn sour…

This week, Howie unexpectedly proposed to Kim using a stolen ring that he intended to sell to generate extra cash. However, Anthony grew suspicious and found out where the ring came from.

Anthony put pressure on Howie to tell Kim the truth, so Howie carried out his own investigation and discovered that Anthony’s ex-wife Sophie had taken out a restraining order against him.

The two men cautiously agreed to keep one another’s secrets, but in today’s episode, Howie was irritated by Anthony making digs at him and splashing out on champagne as Kim prepared for the engagement party.

When Kim sung Anthony’s praises, Howie couldn’t help but suggest that he wasn’t really a good man, and he ended up telling her about the restraining order.

Kim was furious and while she promised Howie that she would keep this between them, anger took over and she confronted Anthony about what she knew at the surgery.

Anthony urged Kim not to say anything to Patrick for now so he could enjoy the party, convincing her that he would come clean to his dad on his own terms.

Later in the café, Oscar’s interest was piqued when Anthony brought up Howie and the engagement. When pressed by Anthony, he admitted that Howie blackmailed him in the aftermath of Patrick’s attack.

At the party, Anthony let slip to Howie that he knew another secret about him and that he planned to make a toast where he would expose everything.

Anthony later felt unable to blow his family apart and made a touching speech – but when Patrick made his own toast and told Howie he is like a son to him, Anthony couldn’t keep his lies a secret any longer.

“He knew who attacked you, dad!” Anthony exclaimed. “He blackmailed Oscar and Lauren and he kept the money for himself! Oh, and Kim, that ring – it’s stolen. This humble delivery man you all so worship is nothing but a blackmailing, two-faced, thieving little weasel!”

How will Kim and the rest of the family react to this bombshell?