EastEnders is set to unleash a dramatic and emotionally charged chapter as a blast from the past storms back into Walford, leaving Phil Mitchell reeling and long-buried tensions exploding into the open. A familiar name, long absent from Albert Square, returns with unfinished business, hidden motives, and a trail of chaos that threatens to derail multiple lives. As secrets unravel and loyalties are questioned, Walford braces itself for confrontations that could change everything.

Next week’s episodes deliver a jaw-dropping twist with the sudden reappearance of Mark Fowler Jr., a comeback that instantly sends shockwaves through the Square. His arrival is anything but low-key. From the moment he steps back onto familiar streets, there’s an unmistakable sense that his return isn’t simply about family loyalty or nostalgia. Mark claims he’s come back to support his sister Vicki Fowler as she faces the emotional strain of Joel Marshall’s looming court case. On the surface, it sounds noble. But in true EastEnders fashion, the truth is far murkier.

Longtime viewers will immediately notice that Mark looks very different from the young man they remember. The role has been recast, with Steven Aaron Sipple stepping into the shoes previously worn by Ned Portas. The change is more than cosmetic—it signals a darker, more complex version of Mark Fowler Jr. Speaking about joining the show, Sipple described the experience as surreal, revealing that EastEnders had been part of his life since childhood. He hinted that Mark’s return is rooted in secrets that will soon come to light, teasing serious trouble ahead for both the character and those around him.

Initially, Vicki is genuinely relieved to have her brother back by her side. With Joel’s legal troubles hanging over her, she leans on Mark for comfort, believing family has finally shown up when she needs it most. For a brief moment, it feels like a heartfelt Fowler reunion. But behind Vicki’s back, Mark is already setting other plans in motion—plans that have very little to do with supporting his sister.

It doesn’t take long before Mark seeks out Phil Mitchell, a move that instantly raises red flags. Their meeting is tense from the outset, heavy with unspoken history and mutual distrust. Dropping his carefully constructed façade, Mark admits that Vicki isn’t the real reason he’s back in Walford. Instead, he needs Phil’s help. What he needs help with, however, remains frustratingly vague. The lack of clarity only deepens Phil’s suspicion, especially given Mark’s desperation.

Phil, already stretched thin by his own personal turmoil, has no interest in being dragged into another crisis. At this point in his life, he’s focused on one thing: leaving Walford behind. He reveals that he’s planning to move to Portugal that very evening with Nigel Bates, hoping to leave the chaos of the Square behind and offer Nigel a quieter, more peaceful life by the sea. For Phil, this escape represents a rare chance at calm after years of conflict.

But Mark isn’t prepared to let Phil disappear. Time is against him, and desperation pushes him into making a reckless decision that could permanently destroy any trust between them. When Julie Bates unexpectedly returns home earlier than planned, Mark seizes the opportunity. In a shocking move, he blurts out Phil’s secret plan to leave for Portugal with Nigel, exposing everything in one devastating moment.

The fallout is immediate and explosive. Julie is blindsided by the revelation, struggling to process the idea that Phil was preparing to uproot Nigel’s life without her knowledge. Phil, meanwhile, watches in fury as his carefully laid plans collapse in front of him. Mark’s betrayal not only jeopardizes Phil’s escape but also raises serious questions about how far Mark is willing to go to get what he wants.

As tensions ripple outward, Vicki, Phil, and Sam Mitchell begin comparing stories, and the cracks in Mark’s narrative become impossible to ignore. Each conversation tightens the net around him, with inconsistencies piling up and suspicion growing by the minute. Sam, never one to mince words, openly challenges Mark, demanding answers and making it clear she doesn’t trust him. To her, chaos seems to follow Mark wherever he goes—and Walford has had enough of it.

With pressure mounting from all sides, Mark edges closer to being forced into the truth. Why is Phil so crucial to whatever mess he’s entangled in? What danger is he running from that compelled him to return after all these years? And how does Joel Marshall factor into the equation? The situation escalates further when tensions between Mark and Joel finally boil over, culminating in a shocking physical confrontation that leaves everyone stunned. The fight is raw, brutal, and fueled by secrets neither man is willing to fully admit—yet.

Behind the scenes, EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey has praised Steven Aaron Sipple’s arrival, expressing excitement about reintroducing Mark Fowler Jr. to Albert Square. He reminded viewers that Mark had briefly appeared in the New Year’s Day flashforward episode, teasing that his role in the wider storyline—particularly involving the Branning and Mitchell circles—will deepen significantly over the coming year. Clearly, Mark’s return is only the beginning of a much larger storm.

While Mark’s storyline wreaks havoc in one corner of Walford, another explosive plot continues to build momentum: the aftermath of Anthony Truman’s murder. The soap has been quietly laying the groundwork for what could be a major departure, with Jasmine Fischer at the center of the unfolding drama.

Over the past year, Jasmine has become a key figure in EastEnders, driving some of its most intense storylines. From her violent clash with Cindy Beale to the bombshell revelation that she is Zoe Slater’s long-lost daughter during a tense Christmas showdown, Jasmine has rarely been out of the spotlight. Now, as the truth about Anthony’s death inches closer, her future on the Square hangs in the balance.

Christmas Day delivered a tragic turning point when Anthony Truman was found dead, having been struck on the head by an unknown attacker. Earlier that day, Zoe Slater had hit Anthony while trying to defend herself, leading her to believe she had killed him. Crushed by guilt, Zoe handed herself in to the police. However, it was later revealed that Anthony died from a second blow, prompting Kat Slater to suspect that Zoe had been framed.

Convinced that Chrissie Watts was behind the cover-up, Kat set out to expose her. In a tense episode on January 19, Kat pressured Jasmine to go to the police and reveal how Chrissie had manipulated her into stalking Zoe and starting a fire—hoping this would prove Chrissie was capable of framing Zoe for murder. What Kat didn’t know was that she was unknowingly confronting the real killer.

Viewers are already aware of the devastating truth: Jasmine was the one who delivered the fatal blow. After witnessing Anthony attack Zoe, Jasmine confronted him and struck him, killing him in the process. She secretly recorded the incident and has been carrying the incriminating footage on her phone ever since. The weight of the secret has been slowly crushing her.

Haunted by guilt, terrified of exposure, and convinced she’s becoming a burden to her newly discovered family, Jasmine finally reaches breaking point. In an emotional moment, she asks her boyfriend Oscar whether he would run away from Walford with her, hinting at a desperate plan to escape both the Square and her conscience.

However, clues suggest her escape may not go as planned. Oscar appears in the New Year’s Day flashforward, confirming he remains in Walford until at least 2027. Notably, Jasmine is absent from that future scene, fueling speculation that she may leave alone—or that her story will take a darker turn before any exit occurs.

Adding to the intrigue, Jasmine’s grandfather Patrick Truman also appears in the flashforward, sharing a touching moment with Oscar in which he welcomes him as a Truman. This has led fans to question whether Jasmine’s departure is truly imminent or whether the show is setting up an even more devastating reveal.

Fan reaction online has been deeply divided. Some viewers are convinced Jasmine won’t leave, arguing that the truth about Anthony’s murder still needs to come out. Others believe the storyline is building toward a dramatic mental collapse rather than a quiet exit. Many have also questioned the logic of Jasmine running away, pointing out that it would only make her appear more suspicious.

With Mark Fowler Jr.’s shocking return, Phil Mitchell’s escape plans in ruins, a violent confrontation involving Joel Marshall, and the Anthony Truman murder mystery spiraling toward the truth, EastEnders is heading into one of its most explosive periods yet. Secrets are unraveling, emotions are running high, and Walford is once again on the brink of devastation. Whether characters flee, fall, or finally confess, the consequences will be impossible to escape.