EastEnders' Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) makes the ultimate sacrifice for his son Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) next week, as his latest stint in Walford comes to a dramatic end. The father-son relationship has been far from conventional, but Grant's actions may finally bridge the gap.
Grant's Attempts to Bond with Mark
Ross Kemp reprised his role as the beloved character last month as Nigel Bates' (Paul Bradley) dementia storyline reached its emotional conclusion. Since then, Grant has tried repeatedly to bond with his estranged son, but his efforts have backfired. In trying to help Mark with his problems involving gangland boss Russell, Grant's actions inadvertently led to Mark being kidnapped and held for ransom.
Mark's Dodgy Dealings
Meanwhile, Mark has been involved in shady activities with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), selling stolen vehicles at the car lot to raise cash. This week, Mark contemplated robbing the car lot safe to pay off his debts to Russell. Although he stopped short of theft, he dropped his keys to No. 55, which piqued Max Branning's (Jake Wood) suspicions when he found them.
Max's Suspicion and Confrontation
Next week, Max keeps a close eye on Lauren when she takes delivery of another car. He later tries the keys he found in the door of No. 55 and shares his suspicions with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). The Mitchell siblings – Grant, Sam (Kim Medcalf), and Phil (Steve McFadden) – confront Max on the doorstep and dismiss his claims. However, Max goes public with his suspicions about Mark at the unveiling of the new car lot name, believing he has definitive proof of Mark's activities.
Grant's Ultimate Sacrifice
To everyone's surprise, Grant steps forward and claims responsibility to protect Mark. This selfless act may finally help build bridges between father and son. But Grant's time on the Square is running out. Sam suggests they head back to Portugal together, and the plan gains momentum when Lauren tips off the Mitchells that Max has called the police. Will Grant make a clean getaway, or will he face the consequences for Mark's crimes?
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 25th May at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
