EastEnders spoilers for next week on the BBC soap tease a return to Walford, a new mystery surrounding one teenager and a big secret set to be exposed

It’s an interesting week ahead on EastEnders next week, as characters clash, and some are forced to cover things up.

There’s twists and turns aplenty, with one resident taking desperate action, as one family try to figure out a truth. There’s cryptic scenes, a shocking kiss between one taken man and another character and we also see a funeral take place.

Let’s kick things off with Nicola Mitchell following the bombshell her son Barney’s biological father is none other than Zack Hudson, not Teddy Mitchell. Zack is keen for the truth to come out it seems, and Nicola will go to any lengths necessary to cover up her lies.

Nicola will attempt to flee Walford with her family next week, but when Teddy refuses to go with them she’s left panicked. Something then happens with Zack, leading to his sister Sharon Watts seeking out love rival Nicola and the pair go head to head.

But will this lead to Nicola being outed and will Barney learn the truth? It could also see Sharon’s new flame Teddy finding out about her sleeping with her ex Grant Mitchell given Nicola is onto her.

There’s twists and turns aplenty (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Elsewhere, Harvey Monroe is still struggling to get through to partner Jean Slater and her family as they reel over Martin Fowler’s recent death. Harvey feels out of place and anything he does is called out, with him getting the cold shoulder.

As Jean continues to reject her partner he seeks comfort in Kathy Beale, and soon one things leads to another. Kathy and Harvey grow closer after recent events, and when Kathy returns from seeing her husband Rocky in prison she’s in need of a shoulder to cry on.

By the end of the week the pair end up sharing a surprise kiss, but is this the end for Harvey and Jean? Meanwhile Kat Slater is struggling to be around her teen son Tommy Moon after his recent outburst.

Alfie Moon convinces Kat to open up to their son, but she makes it clear she doesn’t trust him when she finds out he’s been left alone with the twins and races home. As an apology Kat gives her son a new games console which he eagerly boots up so he can chat to his new friend.

But this mystery friend he keeps talking about concerns Kat further, and she attempts to read their messages. Alfie asks her to ask Tommy about it so she does, and soon Tommy does reveal all.

Bianca and Sonia are in turmoil (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

The mystery deepens when later in the week Tommy comforts a grieving Lily, before telling her he knows a way he can help her. Kat’s left struggling to get to grips with Tommy’s admission meanwhile, while Alfie is prepared to listen.

Soon some of the other teens find out and taunt Tommy, but what is it they have discovered and who is Tommy’s friend? Finally next week there’s a welcomed return for a character, as Reiss Colwell’s funeral arrives.

The killer died in the recent explosion, and next week, Bianca Jackson and her sister Sonia Fowler, Reiss’ fiancée, are still trying to come to terms with his actions. Kathy and Bianca contemplate whether Sonia should attend Reiss’ funeral and it seems she doesn’t want to know.

But when Reiss’ ex Debbie’s mother Brenda arrives, there’s a touching moment as she and Sonia share a much-needed heart-to-heart. Later in the week Sonia is stunned when Bianca arranges a surprise baby shower for her but things soon turn sour after Nicola makes an ill-judged remark.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.*