EastEnders confirms turmoil for Suki and Eve in dramatic adoption hearing

EastEnders’ Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin’s marriage faces a major threat next week, as Suki goes behind her wife’s back in a desperate bid to save her family.

With Ria’s final hearing approaching, and Suki and Eve keen to officially become her adoptive parents, Suki makes a big decision that doesn’t involve Eve, one which could lead to serious trouble…

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"The process has brought plenty of challenges," says Balvinder Sopal, who plays Suki, on her character’s important adoption journey, which the soap has followed for well over a year now.

"But nothing is ever straightforward. It's also forced Suki to confront her insecurities about motherhood as she carries guilt for her past mistakes as a parent."

Suki and Eve have got into the rhythm of caring for little Ria together, though they recently got a surprise when the young girl’s birth mum Harleen got in contact and asked to meet them.

In scenes that play out later this week, the couple’s meeting with Harleen begins awkwardly, then takes a very worrying turn when Harleen spies Suki and Ash in the middle of a huge argument.

Suki and Eve are left broken by their disastrous meeting, with Ash helping them to work out their next steps, then in next week’s episodes their lives are suddenly thrown into turmoil...

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"Suki was already sceptical about meeting Harleen and, unfortunately, her concerns proved justified," remarks Balvinder. "Suki feels guilty about what happened, and that guilt drives her actions this week. We see flashes of the old Suki emerge, but things don't necessarily go the way she expects."

While Suki and Eve are gearing up for the final hearing about Ria, Suki takes action herself and secretly arranges for Harleen to see her daughter one final time – a meeting that Eve has no idea about.

"Suki is torn between protecting what she wants and doing what she believes is right," explains Balvinder, speaking about her character’s risky last-minute decision.

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"The old Suki would have focused solely on the outcome she wanted, but she's changed. Her maternal instincts take over, and she recognises that Harleen deserves the chance to say goodbye."

Afterwards, Suki heads to the court where she makes a passionate plea. What happens next at the hearing is being kept under wraps for now, but in the aftermath Eve gives her wife the cold shoulder.

As Eve heads out to take her mind off the situation, can she and Suki come together during this difficult time?

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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