EastEnders' Peter Beale (Thomas Law) gets a nasty surprise next week when he walks in on his wife Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) with Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple). After months of sexual tension, passion finally ignited between Lauren and Mark last week when they shared a kiss.
Lauren's Betrayal Unfolds
Despite the damage her father's affairs had on her own life, Lauren was then ready to put her marriage on the line and sleep with Mark – but just as they were ripping each other's clothes off, Mark admitted just how he'd manipulated her into agreeing to sell off stolen cars with him. Disgusted, Lauren immediately cooled things off with Mark, who then sought comfort in the arms of one of Jack Branning's (Scott Maslen) police colleagues in a bid to make Lauren jealous.
She's been doing her best to act disinterested, but it's been clear to see that Lauren is still lusting after Mark, and she's further rattled next week when he continues to flirt with copper Rita (Amy Matthews) in front of her.
Mark's Manipulation Exposed
Mark's games are cut short, however, when she takes an interest in one of the stolen cars. Meanwhile, Peter starts to get suspicious, and while Lauren tries her best to dismiss his concerns, he later makes a discovery on her phone that changes everything. As Mark and Lauren have a moment alone together, he finally admits his feelings for her, leaving him feeling 'very vulnerable', according to actor Stephen Aaron-Sipple, who plays Mark.
'Mark likes to be in control, but in that moment he's completely exposed. Not only has he admitted how he feels, but he's also left without an answer from Lauren, which is something he's really not used to,' he says.
Peter Demands Answers
But Mark has no time to dwell, as no sooner has he said his piece than Peter walks in demanding answers. Lauren eventually admits that she and Mark have been dealing stolen cars, and when Max Branning (Jake Wood) then arrives, she's also forced to tell her dad everything too. With her life spiralling out of control, Lauren's cousin Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) pushes her to be honest about her feelings for Mark, but she remains torn.
She later meets Mark and asks him to prove how much she means to him. But as hopeful as he is that she will reciprocate his feelings, his guilt is stirred by her son Louie Beale (Jake McNally), who is upset by the state of his parents' relationship.
A Surprising Revelation
Later, Lauren is surprised when Peter asks to meet her and is then stunned when he reveals Mark told him the truth… Whichever way things play out next week, it very much looks like Lauren and Mark will be having an affair by the time Max's wedding rolls around in January. During the New Year's Day flashforward episode that teased what's to come in 2027, it was heavily hinted that she was cheating on Peter.
In Stephen's view, Mark and Lauren could be quite the couple. He says: 'Beyond the physical attraction, Mark sees Lauren as his equal. She challenges him, stands up to him, and isn't intimidated by him. He's always been surrounded by strong females, so there's something about Lauren's strength and honesty that really draws him in.'
'They already make a great team. There's a lot of mutual respect between them, and neither of them judges the other. They could make a great couple and, in another world, maybe they already would be. The problem is there are quite a few obstacles standing in their way right now!'
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 3rd August at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
