EastEnders' Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) may be estranged from his son Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple), but he steps up to protect him from violent gangsters next week. An oblivious Grant has no idea just how deep Mark has fallen in with the criminal underworld, and as Mark's deadline to repay his debts to his associates approaches, Grant ends up making things even worse for his long-lost child in forthcoming scenes.
Mark's Debt Crisis
Fans will remember that Mark landed in serious hot water with the gang he had been working for when he failed to hand over someone who had been ratting them out to the police. That someone just happened to be Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), but after learning of the informant's true identity, Mark spared Ravi from retaliation from the gang and was slapped with a debt threat. Next week, Mark frets about how he is going to repay the £100,000, as his aunt Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) tries to convince him to speak to Grant for help.
Lauren's Advice and a Run-In
While Mark is initially resistant to ask anything of his dad, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) is on hand to offer some words of wisdom that make him reconsider. However, he then changes his mind after a run-in with Grant at the caff involving Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). As Mark tries to come up with other ways to raise the funds, a potential lead through his dodgy dealings with Lauren comes to nothing, and he eventually confides in his sister Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) about his debts – albeit missing out some crucial details.
Phil Offers Help
Vicki encourages Mark to speak to his uncle Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who agrees to give him £30,000 to buy some time with the gang. But when Grant then learns about what has been going on from Sam, he is determined to help. Knowing the complicated relationship between Mark and Grant, Phil tries to dissuade his brother from getting involved, but Grant fails to listen and wades in by arranging a meeting with Mark's boss Russell, who he is familiar with. However, things soon go from bad to worse when their past differences resurface.
Russell's Retaliation
Angered by Grant poking around in his business, Russell breaks into No. 43 and tells Vicki the truth about Mark's dealings, leaving her stunned. When she confronts her brother, Mark is more furious to learn of Grant's meddling, and orders his father out of his life for good. But with Grant determined to build bridges with his son, will his attempts at reconciliation actually place Mark in even more deadly danger?
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 11th May at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
