EastEnders fans were left in tears after Lexi’s adorable gesture to her dying mother Lola on Wednesday’s episode.
Lola (played by Danielle Harold) has six months left to live as she continues to battle a brain tumour that has spread – and told some of her friends and family including Jay, Ben, Lexi, Emma and Callum in the latest instalment.
After Lexi found out the devastating news at the cancer fundraising event she rummaged around in her pocket before handing over her secret savings to Lola in a sweet and tear-jerking gesture.
Amid the tender moment her other family members began to break down in tears.
Lola said to the group that she had ‘tried her best’ to fight the brain tumour but that it ‘didn’t go her way this time’.
Lola explained: ‘I’m sorry, sorry for what I’m about to say, I don’t want to. I wasn’t going to tell you guys as I thought I’d be protecting you but I can’t do it, Jay can’t do it.
She added: ‘This brain tumour of mine has got bigger,’ as Ben asked what sort of timeline they were talking.
It was then that Jay revealed they had six months at best, as a horrified Ben called Lexi over to him.
As Lola rushed over too, Ben told her off and said she didn’t need to hear it – before Lola said she ‘couldn’t protect’ her from it anymore, as Callum and mum Emma reacted to the news too.
It was then that Lexi offered to give her mum the money from her pocket.
Fans reacted to the moment on Twitter as one wrote: ‘That scene was utterly heartbreaking!
‘Lola trying to hold it together, Ben’s reaction when Lexi pulls out the pocket money she’s saved, Callum crying…’.
Another said: My heart is hurting for Lexi. She’s grown up with Lola her whole life. Lola spent 6 years of her life bringing up Lexi single handedly.
‘It’ll be so heartbreaking for Lexi when her mum passes away. They have such a close bond.’
A third wrote: ‘My heart is breaking, not only for Lola but for everyone she is leaving behind. Poor Lexi, Poor Jay, Poor Ben. It’s just so unfair.’
EastEnders viewers were also emotional after Monday night’s episode when Lola was given the devastating health prognosis amid her brain tumour battle.
Lola was called in a week early by doctors for a surprise appointment alongside partner Jay Mitchell (Jamie Borthwick).
There the doctors told her that her tumour was advancing again and that she had just six months to live.
Viewers have seen Lola’s loved ones struggle with the prospect of her terminal diagnosis, with her health growing progressively worse in recent weeks.
She broke down in tears after getting the news and being told that the only thing they can do for her now is palliative chemotherapy.
A recent flash-forward also hinted that Lola would pass away before 2023 is over, with a photograph of her seen on the bar in the Queen Vic pub.
Lola arrived at the hospital full of hope, as she explained to the doctor that she and her husband Jay had been working on their fundraising day.
However, the doctor stopped her and told her she had some bad news for them.
‘I’m afraid it’s not good news. The MRI has detected the tumour rate is advancing again,’ she said, as a hopeful Lola suggested more chemotherapy.
The doctor replied: ‘We can talk about starting you on some chemotherapy, but I have to stress, this is purely palliative.’
Fans of the show watching at home were in tears, as one said: ‘Lola’s news. The end has begun #EastEnders’.
A second added: ‘Lola being told she has only 6 months to live.’
Whilst a third shared: ‘I know it’s only a soap but it breaks my heart #EastEnders.’
After a hugely successful fundraising event, Lola asks Emma to join her and Lexi’s girly night in.
Emma awkwardly declines the offer, which raises alarm bells with Jay who fears that Emma is unable to cope with Lola’s declining health.
Jay confronts Emma before she drowns her sorrows in The Vic and opens up about her mum-guilt with Sam.
Will Emma be honest with Lola about her struggles?
It comes after EastEnders fans were left convinced that Lola’s mum Emma is hiding some dark secrets after her odd behaviour sparked yet more theories on Monday’s episode.
In a recent instalment of the soap, Emma was keen to spend time with Lola for Mother’s Day.
As they spend time together as talk turned to Emma’s own mum – and it became apparent very quickly that she was hiding something.
Emma told Lola that her ‘glamorous’ mother had died in a care home during lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.
Later on in the episode Lola and her young daughter Lexi tried to find out more about their late relative and when they asked Emma looked panicked.
When pressed on the issue Emma changed the topic and fled the house – saying she had to check in on an elderly neighbour.
After her sudden departure it was clear that Lola and her partner Jay Brown didn’t believe her and that something fishy was going on.
Those watching weren’t convinced either and took to social media to vent their theories that she was lying about her mum.
Taking to Twitter, viewers guessed she might not even be Lola’s mother or could have even killed her own mum.
EastEnders airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
