EastEnders reveals game-changing Mark and Lauren twist in early iPlayer release

EastEnders spoilers follow for Wednesday’s episode (23 September), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.

EastEnders has aired a huge twist involving Mark Fowler and Lauren Beale, as Mark makes his return to Albert Square. This year, Mark and Lauren have grown close and kissed several times, but Lauren eventually decided to stay faithful to her husband Peter and told Mark to leave Walford.

In today’s episode, however, Lauren got a shock when she spotted Mark in the Square for the first time in almost two months.

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Mark surprised Vicki and Sharon but revealed that he was only back to say a proper goodbye to his family as he was heading back to Florida the next day.

Meanwhile, spooked Lauren faced another issue, as she was confronted by Peter – who just found out that she knew about Max’s affair with Priya but let Cindy go ahead with the wedding.

Lauren and Mark came face to face, and though the reunion was frosty, Lauren couldn’t hide her disappointment when Mark explained he wasn’t sticking around.

As Lauren and Peter got ready for Harvey’s party at The Albert, they spoke properly about the drama involving their parents and made amends – but Lauren’s mind was elsewhere.

When they arrived at the party, Lauren immediately had to deal with Cindy, who is still devastated about Max’s betrayal and had faced a deadly threat from Ravi earlier.

Related: 13 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week (28 September t0 1 October)

Mark then showed up and paid Lauren a secret compliment. The pair continued to catch one another’s eye from across the room, and Mark admitted to Lauren that he’d missed her every day he was away.

But Cindy then found out through Louie that Lauren knew about Max’s affair. When she brought out the cake for Harvey, she shoved it in Lauren’s face, and Lauren fought back by slapping her mother-in-law.

Lauren was furious that Peter stuck up for Cindy over her and she stormed out. Mark followed her out, and as they grew closer, they decided to go to the closed Boxing Den for more privacy.

Once alone, Lauren and Mark finally gave into passion, with Lauren giving herself permission to sleep with Mark because he is leaving the next day. But will things be as simple as that?

EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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