Next week on EastEnders promises to be one of the most emotionally intense and suspenseful in recent memory, as a wave of returning characters, legal trouble, and secret confessions sends shockwaves through Albert Square. Among the most talked-about spoilers is the return of two complex and long-absent figures: Ben Mitchell and Stuart Highway. Their surprising reappearances are timed around a major funeral that will bring both closure and new conflict to Walford. But while their returns stir up past drama and unresolved emotions, other current residents are grappling with secrets that are about to explode—especially as one character is reported to the police, setting off a chain reaction that could change everything.

The funeral in question is expected to be one of the most dramatic events of the week. Though the identity of the deceased has not been officially revealed by the show’s producers, leaked photos from the set show a gathering of mourners outside the church, including some surprising faces. Ben Mitchell, who left the Square under difficult circumstances, arrives visibly tense. Dressed in all black, he’s seen standing apart from the crowd, clearly grappling with personal demons as well as the loss that brought him back. His return sparks immediate tension with multiple characters, including Callum, whose own emotions are still raw. It’s clear that Ben’s presence will unearth wounds that haven’t fully healed—and perhaps raise questions about his true motives for coming back.

Meanwhile, Stuart Highway’s return is equally complicated. Once known for his erratic and sometimes violent behavior, Stuart had disappeared after his own dramatic storylines, including struggles with addiction, fatherhood, and mental health. Now, he walks back into Albert Square with a noticeably more subdued demeanor, but that doesn’t mean the trouble is behind him. According to spoilers, Stuart has unfinished business with several residents—most notably Linda Carter and Rainie, whose lives were both deeply affected by Stuart’s actions in the past. There’s also talk of a confession Stuart might make at the funeral, one that could shift how the deceased is remembered and even implicate others in long-buried secrets.

But while the return of familiar faces brings emotional weight, the core of next week’s drama lies in a brewing legal storm. Sources close to the show confirm that one major character is about to be reported to the police—though details are being kept tightly under wraps. Viewers can expect intense scenes as accusations begin to surface and suspicions rise. Some fan theories suggest that the character involved could be Suki Panesar or Ravi Gulati, both of whom have been skating on thin legal and moral ice for some time. Others point to Zack Hudson or even Keanu Taylor, especially after recent plots involving deception and violence. Whoever it is, the ramificatio