EastEnders spoilers LIVE — Colin Salmon makes his BBC soap debut as new family The Knights move into the Queen Vic

EastEnders spoilers: Tensions rise ahead of heartbreaking goodbye

Viewers and Walford residents are getting ready for a tearful goodbye to Lola Pearce as Danielle Harold will bow out of the show in upcoming weeks.

However, Ben Mitchell struggles to cope with the thought of her having little time left.

Failing to do so, the mechanic portrayed by Max Bowden is taking his sadness and frustration out on those closest to him.

This week, he's unconvinced Lola should be leaving the hospital after another devastating health complication.

The hairstylist is welcomed home by Walford residents who rally around the family for support but Ben fails to make peace with her prognosis.

This leads him to lash out against both Honey and Billy Mitchell (Emma Barton and Perry Fenwick) as he accuses the family of accepting Lola's prognosis far too easily.

Despite his own pain, Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) found a way to make the most out of Lola's short time as his wife and he decides to head to the Arches to confront Ben.

But the conversation soon escalates when Jay makes a shocking confession which leaves Ben furious.

And one fan has speculated that more conflict is ahead of the long-term friend, particularly as Ben agreed to let Jay adopt his daughter Lexi.

The soap fan began their theory with the suspicion that Lola's death scenes will be aired at the end of May.

"Wait, given she dies on the 31st the parental responsibility order won't have gone through yet right?", they questioned.

"Ben says it takes like 6 weeks for all the paperwork etc? So if she dies beforehand legally Jay has no rights with Lexi, could cause tension with Ben later on."

Could they be on to something?

EastEnders spoilers: Shock reunion in Walford this week

Throughout this week's ordeal, Stacey finds support in the former of her ex-partner Martin Fowler (James Bye).

Reeling from the shock of being exposed, Stacey can't bring herself to face her family but Martin Fowler soon gives her the boost she needs to face down judgemental parents.

In recent scenes, Martin has been seen offering Stacey help and their lingering chemistry hasn't gone amiss.

Viewers of the London-based soap are theorising that Martin and Stacey could be set for a reunion in weeks to come.

Could they be right?

How to get your daily fix of soap spoilers

Keep up to date with Britain’s favourite soap dramas right here on .

• Emmerdale
• EastEnders
• Hollyoaks
• Coronation Street

Maisie Smith shows off her toned tum in Barbie pink crop top and matching trousers

Former EastEnders star Maisie Smith showed off her her toned stomach in a series of snaps this month.

The former EastEnders wowed her followers as he posed in the vibrant corduroy two-piece for a team-up with a jewellery brand.

She was covered in gold jewellery from Abbott Lyon, modelling her new range for the brand.

"I'm really excited because we are shooting the launch of my brand new jewellery collection, which I can't say too much about, but all I can say is it's colourful, it's unique and we're bringing personalised pieces that I really hope you love as much as I do," she said in a video to fans.

EastEnders fans rip into ‘painful acting’

A recent episode of EastEnders saw Kathy Beale have a bit too much to drink at Albie’s christening in Albert Square.

Sonia tries to stop her, however, Kathy treats herself to more champagne and when Alfie Moon announced that the pub is closing, she looked a bit worse for wear.

She broke down in tears while speaking to Sonia, Zach, Martin and Sharon about Martin Fowler as a baby.

Viewers at home couldn’t help but comment about how “painful” the drunk scenes were slamming the acting.

One wrote: “Oh great. It’s comedic drunk acting. Only slightly less contemptible than actors, trained in song and dance, doing song and dance routines in-character.”

Another chimed in: “Drunk Kathy is irritating AF. The acting is painful,” while one said: “Haven’t watched EastEnders in years but seriously, drunk Ian’s mum.”

EastEnders fans break down in tears as Lola Pearce celebrates bittersweet birthday amid cancer battle

EastEnders fans were left fighting back tears this week as Lola Pearce celebrated her ‘last ever’ birthday as her grandfather Billy Mitchell turned 64.

The episode saw Billy panic about celebrating the fact he was turning older as he felt he was “rubbing her face in it” amid her cancer battle on the BBC soap.

Unbeknown to Billy, Lola was secretly listening in to his late night conversation with Honey where he expressed his worry.

Lola was determined to not let Billy feel down and with the help of Jay, Alfie, Linda and the other residents of Albert Square, decided to throw him an epic surprise birthday bash at The Vic.

Reacting to the emotional scenes, one said: “That was so sweet. I’m crying already.”

Another penned: “Anyone else crying at Lola and Billy?”

While a third wrote: “That is just adorable.”

Can you visit the EastEnders set?

Due to the soap’s filming schedule - which was four 30-minute episodes prior to coronavirus - there have previously been no tours of the EastEnders sets or of the studio. 

And given that the current home of EastEnders in Elstree isn’t accessible to the general public, it seems unlikely that the new set will be. 

EastEnders have announced that the set, which was originally supposed to be completed by 2018, won't be ready until some point this year, so fans can expect tours to begin soon.

Where is the EastEnders new set?

The new EastEnders set is being built at the BBC's Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, opposite the current one used on screen.

EastEnders showed fans a glimpse of the new Queen Vic in April, which is finally taking shape on the corner of the Square. 

The new updated set will also include additions to the Square including a block of flats as well as a railway tunnel and line for the famous Walford East tube station.

The new set will replace the show's original one, which was built in 1984 from steel frames, plywood and plaster brick panels.

EastEnders fans flock to social media after 'working out' Christmas victim

EastEnders fans have flocked to social media after they "worked out" who will be the Christmas victim after a clue was dropped last night.

Keanu's (Danny Walters) road to recovery did not go smoothly when he was left furious at Sharon (Letitia Dean) for grassing up Ravi to the police and he told her that they now had an even bigger target on their back.

During the engagement party, the pair were visited by Nish who had a few more threats to dish out and he warned Sharon: "It's a bad idea what you did yesterday, don't do it again or things will be very different."

Following the episode, EastEnders fans rushed to social media with one saying: "So Nish threatening Sharon and what with the Vic, connects Suki to everyone in The Six but Kathy… Eve being involved with Jack for business means she and Denise are going to get closer #EastEnders,"

Whilst another said: "Definitely too obvious to be Ravi or Nish at Christmas, as they are already connected now to Sharon, Suki, and Denise at the moment."

Who was this year’s best newcomer?

Every year some of Britain’s most talented young actors star in soaps and the last 12 months were no different.

Now, the British Soap Awards has released the nominations for this year’s best newcomer, so you can have your say.

Here are the nominations:

• Channique Sterling-Brown – Coronation Street
• Kia Pegg – Doctors
• Aaron Thiara – EastEnders
• William Ash – Emmerdale
• Anya Lawrence – Hollyoaks

What was this year’s best soap storyline?

The last 12 months have seen dramatic, heartbreaking and sometimes hilarious soap storylines hit our screens, but which one was the best?

Well, you can have your say as voting for the British Soap Awards is officially open.

Here are the nominees for the Best Storyline Award:

• Daisy’s Stalking Hell – Coronation Street
• Valerie And The Forged Prescription – Doctors
• Loving And Losing Lola – EastEnders
• Paddy’s Suicide Attempt -Emmerdale
• Incel Eric Targets Mason and Maxine – Hollyoaks

Who does Jamie Borthwick play in EastEnders?

Jamie has played Jay Brown in EastEnders since 2006.

He was just 12 years old when Jay arrived in Walford as the son of Jason Dyer.

He was an orphan at the age of 14 before being taken in by the Mitchell clan and becoming an honorary Mitchell.

Jamie was also Abi Branning’s long-term boyfriend and the link between the Mitchells and Branning’s before he and Abi split due to his interest in Billy Mitchell’s granddaughter, Lola Pearce.

Soap stars who came back from the dead

Anything is possible in soap land – even coming back from the dead.

Here we take a look at soaps that brought back some of their favourite characters years after their ‘demise’.

• Dirty Den Watts – EastEnders
• Kathy Beale – EastEnders
• Kat Slater – EastEnders
• Warren Fox – Hollyoaks
• Kim Tate – Emmerdale
• Harold Bishop – Neighbours
• Mercedes McQueen – Hollyoaks
• Pat Phelan – Coronation Street
• Sinead Tinker – Coronation Street

Find out more here.