All EastEnders spoilers for next week as Linda gets the shock of her life

There’s multiple families descending into chaos, the return of a legendary villain and an affair going awry next week in EastEnders.

Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) continues to struggle with her son Lee’s (Danny Hatchard) alcohol issues, and after an Earth-shattering discovery, she’s forced to confront an old foe – ‘Enders supervillain, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) – but what will she learn from her former nemesis?

When Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin’s (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace) adoption journey faces another obstacle this week as Ria Virdi’s (Aaria Sharma) mum re-enters the picture and things worsen between Suki and Ash Panesar (Sakira Vel), can they pull together or will the friction destroy everything?

Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Mark Fowler Jr’s (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) affair reaches new levels and with Lauren struggling with her growing feelings for her ‘casual’ fling, will she cut and run?

Elsewhere, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) takes the next step in her grief journey, Max Branning (Jake Wood) makes more terrible decisions and Nancy Carter’s (Maddy Hill) waters break.

You ready for the main event? Ding ding, let’s go!

Monday, November 9

After finding out a drunken Lee spent the night on Sean Slater’s (Rob Kazinsky) floor, she answers his phone and is horrified by what she heard, turning to Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and later Max for support, though after she’s forced to step in when Lee makes a drunken scene in the Vic, she decides she needs to confront Janine.

Lauren and Mark are wracked with guilt over the part they played in Ryder Hawkins’ (Felix Uff) attack after he grows close to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), and their plans for alone time in the Arches are scuppered.

Meanwhile, Sharon and Eve meet up for a play date with Ria and Albie Watts (Arthur Gentleman).

Tuesday, November 10

Eva and Sharon’s playdate is interrupted by Ash, who’s received news of her divorce and she and Eve get tipsy while Sharon takes Ria and Albie back to hers, though Suki soon arrives with news of her own: Ria’s mum wants to meet them, but Ash declares she won’t attend due to Suki’s indifference to her divorce.

Linda is in disbelief over what she hears from Janine and heads back to the Square for support from Max, before they both decide to face the situation head on, but as they return to confront Janine, Max makes a decision he may live to regret.

Elsewhere, Lauren and Mark’s attempt to score some alone time faces a number of obstacles and ultimately sees Mark left alone in the Community Centre.

Wednesday, November 11

Linda prepares to tell Lee, Nancy and Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) what she’s learned, leading them all to scatter; though Linda later finds Nancy and the two share a heart-to-heart, as she and Max find a drunken Lee in Harry’s Barn, Zack Hudson (James Farrar) finds Nancy alone, just as her waters break.

As Peter takes the kids away for a long weekend, Lauren works to get rid of Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) so she can spend some alone time with Mark.

Also, Eve convinces Ash to attend the meeting with Ria’s mum, Harleen (Taniya Jamil), but she hears Ash and Suki fighting in the kitchen at Knight Fusion, and Kat faces her grief as she cleans out Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) room.

Thursday, November 12

Eve and Suki are miserable after the meeting with Harleen, leading Ash to try and see the situation from both sides, while Suki turns to Sharon for support, who encourages her to fight for Ria.

As Linda reassures Lee that he’ll make a great dad, Johnny, Elaine and Zack desperately try to get in touch with them after rushing Nancy to hospital.

Concurrently, Lauren becomes overwhelmed after her passionate evening with Mark turns emotional, while Max knocks back the booze in the Vic, regretting his actions.