EastEnders reveals Mark's turmoil in aftermath of brutal Ryder attack

EastEnders has seen Mark Fowler being consumed by guilt after Ned Hawkins blackmailed him into attacking his son Ryder.

Homophobic Ned spotted Ryder kissing a man in the Square and attempted to stop his son from coming out to the family. Ryder has only shared his sexuality with his aunt Nicola, but his plans to tell the truth to his parents were halted when Ned instructed Mark to frighten him.

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In new scenes, Ned berated Mark for having gone a little too strong on Ryder, saying he wasn't expecting a "full hospital job".

Mark told Ned that the planned attack had gone "messy" as Ryder had fought back, and Ned seemed surprised to hear that. Mark, who'd only gone along with Ned's request in order to keep his affair with Lauren Beale a secret, called Ned a sick man for wanting to hurt his own son.

Later on at the café, Mark spotted a crying Gemma being consoled by Nicola and offered support, with both women unaware that he was the man who'd badly injured Ryder.

At the gym, Mark spotted Ned training. As Ned tainted him with yet another nod to his affair with Lauren, Mark shoved him against the wall and demanded that the blackmail be over.

"I did your dirty work and it disgusts me," Mark hissed. "You disgust me. So we are done now."

Ned seemed unfazed as he thanked Mark for having helped him.

"It really made a difference," he said before Mark stormed off.

Will Ned continue having Mark under his thumb?

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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