Rocky Cotton blows up Kathy’s café as another life hangs in the balance in EastEnders
CASH-STRAPPED and desperate to pay Nish Panesar his dues, Rocky Cotton works out a deadly insurance scam.
Unfortunately, one EastEnders favourite is caught in the blaze and their life hangs by a thread.
A dark cloud is hanging over Kathy Beale and Rocky Cotton's marriage as the former con man has another trick up his sleeve.
After paying off Rocky's former wife Jo Cotton, who was blackmailing him with a prison sentence for bigamy, the couple have encountered hefty financial struggles.
Rocky (played by Brian Conley) developed a gambling addiction when he tried to gather cash for Kathy and his ordeal became more convoluted when he turned to loan shark Nish Panesar.
Cold and calculating in his marriage to his wife Suki, Nish (Navin Chowdhry) is just as unforgiving in business and Rocky is having issues paying what he owes him.
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But in a shocking twist airing next week, Rocky hatches a plan but it could leave Walford residents between life and death.
Coming up, Rocky is desperate to find the funds to pay back his loan but Nish has other ideas about payment– he wants Rocky to steal a car from the car lot.
Rocky agrees, but after a heartfelt chat with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) about life following his near-fatal car accident, he decides against it.
Realising his time is up, Rocky heads to the Vic to come clean to Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) about his debt, but a conversation with Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) sparks one last idea.
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In later scenes, Rocky confides in his pal Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) about his new plan – he’s going to set fire to the café.
According to Rocky, the plan can only work without a hitch as the café is already having electrical faults.
Rocky informs Harvey that he intends to claim money on the insurance in a bid to finally get Nish off his back.
Unfortunately for him, Harvey is appalled and tries to dissuade Rocky, telling him if he goes through with it, he’ll tell Kathy.
Rocky continues to dwell on his idea of setting fire to the café after Kathy receives another electric shock from a faulty plug, but later tells Harvey he can’t go through with it.
He then gets carried away at the bookies after a flurry of wins, but soon loses it all.
Later on, Harvey offers to take out a loan to help Rocky pay his debts, but after learning about his earlier antics in the bookies, he withdraws the offer.
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Out of options, Rocky heads to the café and prepares to see through his plan while Kathy waits for him at Walford East restaurant for a romantic dinner.
While at the café, Rocky tampers with the electrics and manages to start a fire before heading to Walford East for his date with Kathy.
However, he is soon accosted by Harvey who questions him on his whereabouts.
Rocky remains tight-lipped on his actions but Harvey isn’t convinced.
Meanwhile, a panicked Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell) sees the fire blazing inside the café and attempts to extinguish it but it explodes and the unconscious lad ends up trapped inside.
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EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
