Killer Gray Atkins' return to EastEnders has been confirmed as a sinister secret emerges. Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) is enduring a nightmare, dealing with the aftermath of her son Jordan's (Izaiah Hagan-Brown) tragic accident. Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) struck Jordan with his car while consumed by guilt, after Chelsea had snapped at him to leave her alone as she pursued Zack Hudson (James Farrar).
As Chelsea grapples with the possibility that Jordan may be paralyzed for life, she also learns that her mother Denise (Diane Parish) has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive blood cancer. This news brings Chelsea's sister Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu) back to Walford. After initial friction, the sisters reconnect, and Chelsea confides that Jordan's great-grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskin), the grandmother of his father Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith), has been sending endless cheques for financial support, none of which Chelsea has cashed.
Desperate to fund Jordan's rehabilitation and private physiotherapy to help him walk again, Libby contacts Sheila directly. Chelsea is furious but later, after advice from Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace), she agrees to meet Sheila. In today's episode, Chelsea is fraught with stress as she heads to Knight Fusion with Libby. When Sheila arrives, Chelsea nervously asks if Sheila is still in contact with Gray. Sheila claims she hasn't seen Gray in person since his arrest and struggles with the fact that her grandson is a serial killer who ended her law career.
Chelsea asks if Sheila has helped Gray's other children, Mackenzie (Isaac Lemonius) and Mia (Mahalia Malcolm), who live with their maternal grandmother Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley). Sheila says Karen isn't interested in her help. When Sheila offers a £3,000 cheque and expresses eagerness to meet Jordan, Chelsea declines the money and refuses access. Sheila leaves, wounded but accepting.
At the hospital, Chelsea learns from aunt Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) that Ian has hired a formidable lawyer. Overwhelmed by Jordan's pleas to come home, Chelsea calls Sheila back. She accepts the cheque and gives Sheila a photo of Jordan. As Chelsea leaves, Sheila slides the picture next to a photo of Gray, staring lovingly at her monstrous grandson.
Clearly, Sheila and Gray are much closer than she lets on. With Gray's return looming, is Sheila the conduit that brings the beast back to Walford?
