Joel Marshall (Max Murray) is on a mission for answers in EastEnders next week, as he confronts all the teenagers suspected of being involved in his attack. The character, who has made numerous enemies in Walford due to his misogynistic views and disrespectful treatment of women, was jailed in January after a brutal assault on his stepmother Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) and for recording Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) during sex without her consent.
After serving a short prison sentence, Joel returned to the Square when his mother Cleo (Mazz Murray) refused to let him live with her. His presence quickly angered the local teens, particularly Avani and Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd), who were horrified to learn of his comeback.
Teens' plot backfires
In an attempt to scare Joel into leaving, the teens invited him to a party, where they tied him up and threw beer on him, filming the incident on their phones. In the aftermath, Joel was attacked by an unknown assailant. Speculation has been rife, with fingers pointed in many directions, but each of the teens has repeatedly denied involvement.
DC Craig Ingram (Matthew James Bailey) is leading the investigation into Joel's attack and becomes intrigued when he discovers a covert meeting of all the suspects. Meanwhile, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) fears for her granddaughter Lily's involvement and confides her worries to Kat (Jessie Wallace). Her concerns escalate when she learns Lily has gone to No. 43 to speak with Joel, and she quickly drags her granddaughter back home.
Lily's confession
Craig soon arrives at the scene and questions Lily. Urged by Jean, Lily reveals what she saw. Joel, meanwhile, heads to Gaming Grounds, where many of the teens have gathered, and confronts them all. Will he finally get the answers he seeks about who is responsible for his attack?
As the week progresses, Jean learns that Lily is with her friends and panics, rushing to Dray Yard to separate them, with help from Priya (Sophie Khan Levy). Upon arrival, Jean tells everyone what Lily told Craig, leading to another revelation that leaves the teens at odds.
Amy's bombshell
To complicate matters further, this isn't the last big reveal of the week, as Amy drops her own bombshell in subsequent scenes. The identity of Joel's attacker remains shrouded in mystery, but the truth is slowly emerging.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or streams from 6am on BBC iPlayer. For more soap news, visit our homepage.
