s Joel’s story winds down, focus turns to those he’s left behind. Tommy Moon, who once helped Joel cover up his crimes, is haunted by guilt and desperate to change. Viewers can expect to see him wrestling with his conscience, trying to make amends while proving he’s not destined to repeat Joel’s mistakes.

Vicky Fowler, still reeling from her trauma, finds her relationship with Ross Marshall in tatters. Though Ross wants to stand by her, their connection seems too fractured to repair. Yet with Joel gone, there may be a small glimmer of hope for healing — or perhaps a new romance waiting in the wings.

And for Avani, Joel’s exit signals a long-awaited chance at peace. After months of manipulation and pain, she may finally be able to move forward, free from his shadow.

But the emotional rollercoaster doesn’t stop there. Nigel Bates faces his own heartbreaking reckoning as the consequences of his dementia-fueled car accident catch up with him. Wracked with guilt over injuring Jasmine Fischer and Gina Knight, Nigel confesses everything to the police, leaving his wife Julie torn between love and despair. As he struggles to accept the progression of his illness, Nigel makes a devastating decision — to cancel their long-planned trip to India, admitting he can no longer trust himself to travel safely.

Julie’s attempts to hold on to their dream may prove futile as Nigel comes to terms with his decline, delivering one of the most emotional moments EastEnders has seen all year.