Lauren Branning finds herself teetering on the edge this week in EastEnders, as self-doubt and past trauma cast long shadows over her attempts at motherhood. As she struggles to bond with her young son Jimmy, anxiety begins to creep in.

Despite her efforts, she fears she’s not cut out to be a mum, especially with Peter silently watching her every move, still haunted by her previous struggles with addiction. Instead of support, Cindy’s involvement only adds fuel to the fire—manipulating Lauren in hopes of winning Peter back into her life. Cindy’s pushy behaviour causes more tension just when Lauren needs reassurance the most.

Stepping in to provide some much-needed compassion is Linda, who senses Lauren’s spiraling self-worth. With heartfelt advice and emotional support, Linda encourages Lauren to lean into her motherly instincts. Those instincts soon set off alarm bells—Lauren begins to feel that something isn’t right with baby Jimmy, a worry that could foreshadow a deeper problem ahead.

Meanwhile, over at the Slater household, chaos brews behind closed doors. Stacey is consumed by grief and guilt, locking herself in her bedroom and leaving Lily and Freddie to fend for themselves. With no adult support, Lily finds herself juggling school, housework, and caring for her siblings—until Freddie, overwhelmed and concerned, decides to intervene. Realising Lily has been skipping school to keep the household afloat, he alerts Kat, hoping she can restore some order to the fractured family.

Elsewhere, Zack is preparing for a major life shift. After hearing from Whitney, who’s found a safe haven far from Nicola’s reach, Zack contemplates a bold move. He opens up to Vicki, revealing his intention to visit Whitney and possibly take their son Barney with him. The decision is filled with emotional weight—leaving behind everything familiar for a fresh start, all in hopes of protecting his family.

And while some are reaching out for connection, others find themselves at odds. Yolande tries to mend old wounds by encouraging Nigel to reach out to Clare, hoping reconciliation can bring closure. But not all efforts lead to healing—Harvey finds himself in hot water when Kat discovers how he treated Jean and responds by promptly sacking him, adding yet another layer of drama to an already charged week in Walford.

As relationships buckle under pressure, truths rise to the surface, and loyalties are tested, it’s clear that EastEnders is setting the stage for a week of emotional reckoning.