5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Linda Carter dealt devastating blow as Janine Butcher returns

The original EastEnders super b***h with more faces than the Walford town hall clock is finally back. After four years away, Charlie Brooks reprises her much-celebrated Janine Butcher role to kickstart co-star Kellie Bright's exit storyline.

Linda Carter is forced to track down her nemesis after answering a cryptic call on son Lee’s (Danny Hatchard) phone. Janine’s revelations are difficult to comprehend, and after another challenging conversation with partner Max Branning (Jake Wood), the couple return to the schemer for further intel.

The predicament they find themselves in forces Max to reach a decision that he may live to regret.

Elsewhere in Albert Square, Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace) face a new challenge when their foster daughter Ria Virdi's (Aaria Sharma) biological mother arrives, and Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) goes into labour.

Plus, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) makes a big decision amid her grief for late daughter Zoe Slater, and Lauren Beale's (Jacqueline Jossa) affair with Mark Fowler (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) comes close to exposure once again.

Here's everything happening in the episodes of EastEnders airing between Monday 9 and Thursday 12 November.

1. Linda Carter tracks down Janine Butcher after 4 years

Linda is left reeling when she discovers that Lee has spent the night sleeping on Sean Slater's (Robert Kazinsky) floor after one too many drinks. However, before she can give her son a piece of her mind, Linda answers a call on his phone and is stunned by what she hears.

Desperate for some support, she turns to mum Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) and best pal Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) before later opening up to Max.

But there's little time for a heart-to-heart when Lee causes a drunken scene in The Vic, forcing her to step in and restore order. Realising that she needs to get to the bottom of what's going on, Linda sets off in search of answers - and finds herself face-to-face with Janine for the first time in four years.

Yet Linda refuses to accept what Janine tells her. Returning to the Square, she turns to Max as the pair attempt to make sense of the bombshell. Determined to confront the situation head-on, they set out to get some answers, but Max makes a decision that could have serious consequences.

With the truth becoming increasingly difficult to keep under wraps, Linda prepares to break the news to Lee, Nancy and Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff). However, before she can properly explain what she's discovered, the trio disappear, leaving Linda and Max fearing the worst.

Later, Linda finds Nancy deep in thought and the two share an emotional heart-to-heart. Then, accompanied by Max, she finds Lee in a drunken state at Harry's Barn.

2. Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin face an uncertain future after meeting Ria Virdi's mum, Harleen

Sharon and Eve meet for a play date with Ria and Albie Watts (Arthur Gentleman) in The Vic. The women enjoy their afternoon, though Eve is distracted when an upset Ash Panesar (Sakira Vel) arrives following news of her divorce.

Sharon takes the kids back to No.43, and Suki later arrives at the pub to find a tipsy Ash and Eve, revealing that Ria’s biological mum wants to meet them. Ash gets upset at her mum's lack of sympathy for the divorce and tells her she won’t be coming to the meet.

Eve convinces Ash to attend the meeting with Harleen (Taniya Jamil) at Knight Fusion. Things get off to an awkward start, but matters are made worse when she argues with Suki in the kitchen. Harleen spies the interaction.

Eve and Suki are broken after their meet with Harleen, but Ash tries to make them see the situation from both sides, Later, Suki confides in Sharon who encourages her to fight for Ria.

Does Harleen want custody of her child?

3. Lauren Beale and Mark Fowler struggle to find some alone time

Lauren and Mark are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with their guilt following Ryder Hawkins's (Felix Uff) attack. Matters become even more complicated as he grows closer to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), leaving the pair desperate to find some time away from everyone else.

Their attempts to enjoy a little privacy take them to The Arches, but their plans are soon interrupted.

And their bad luck doesn't end there. After several failed attempts to spend time together, Lauren and Mark finally manage to get some privacy, only for Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) to order Lauren back to the launderette after she fails to complete an important task.

The result? Mark is left locked inside the community centre!

With Peter Beale (Thomas Law) taking sons Louie (Jake McNally) and Jimmy away for a long weekend, Lauren spots an opportunity to finally have the house to herself. She sets about getting brother Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and mother-in-law Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) out of the way, hoping to enjoy some uninterrupted time with Mark.

The pair eventually spend an evening together at No.25, but what begins as a passionate encounter takes an unexpected emotional turn. As her feelings threaten to overwhelm her, Lauren finds herself struggling to keep everything under control.

Will she end the affair?

4. Nancy Carter goes into labour

Nancy's day takes an unexpected turn when Zack Hudson (James Farrar) arrives to see her, only for her waters to break. With events unfolding rapidly, those around her spring into action.

Meanwhile, Lee remains completely unaware of what's happening and opens up about his fears over becoming a father. Mum Linda does her best to reassure him, insisting that he'll make a wonderful dad.

Back on the Square, Johnny, Elaine and Zack rush Nancy to hospital, desperately trying to get hold of Linda and Lee as the family prepares for a potentially life-changing moment.

Will Lee get there in time?

5. Max Branning remains troubled over Zoe Slater's death as Kat Moon makes a big decision

Kat takes another painful step in coming to terms with her grief as she finally begins clearing out Zoe's bedroom. It's an emotional task, forcing her to confront the reality of her loss.

Meanwhile, downstairs in The Vic, Max drowns his sorrows, increasingly troubled by the consequences of his recent actions. As regret begins to set in, he is left facing the possibility that he's made a terrible mistake.

Will he tell all to Kat?

Read more:

• EastEnders icon Rob Kazinsky teases "never-seen-before" storyline for his character Sean Slater with plot that "treads new ground"
• EastEnders legend Jo Joyner returns to Walford set for Branning 'family reunion' - 8 years after last Tanya appearance
• EastEnders star teases "fire and carnage" when Penny Branning's baby paternity secret is revealed
• EastEnders favourite Balvinder Sopal teases Ash return is "grenade" to the Panesar family unit this autumn

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