Three jaw-dropping BBC EastEnders theories: shocking alliance and surprise legend comes back to Walford
WALFORD is rocked by the shocking disappearance of another child this week but who is responsible?
Meanwhile, one EastEnders legend returns to the Square to haunt Linda Carter. But it could be someone viewers never suspected.
1. Kidnapping horror staged
Sharon Watts gets a major fright for Halloween next week as the once kind and charming Dorian Gates (portrayed by Luke J I Smith) becomes a threat.
The newcomer had BBC One viewers convinced he could be a new love interest for the businesswoman.
As she was growing close to Dorian, Sharon even made plans to move to Abu Dhabi once he offered her a new job opportunity.
But things have turned sour between both characters and they’re due to go further downhill.
Dorian demands his dues next week, after it was revealed he fixed the boxing match, but when Sharon resists, he decides to take matters to a horrific level.
Coming up, Dorian arrives and threatens Sharon when she refuses to pay him his finder’s fee for the Pub, Pint and Fight event.
Sharon’s handling the situation until an impulsive Keanu steps in and throws his weight around.
Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) was once engaged to Sharon but the pair ended their relationship when it was revealed she had helped his daughter Peggy Mitchell flee the Square behind his back.
The former lovebirds try to co-parent their son Albie, but tension is at an all-time high.
Keanu’s meddling sends Sharon into a rage and she makes it known that she is not happy with him.
In later scenes, Sharon waits for Dorian to return and is surprised to discover Keanu is there to back her up.
Dorian arrives flanked by heavies to collect his cash and warns Sharon that if she goes to the police, he knows where she and Albie live.
In later scenes, while matters with Dorian seem to have been forgotten and settled down, Keanu goes to Sharon’s to pick up Albie to take him to a birthday party.
Later on, Sharon is angry to hear from one of the other mums that Keanu made an excuse about the party to take Albie off elsewhere.
Unfortunately, her frustration turns into panic when Keanu arrives back in the Square and tells Sharon that something terrible has happened.
He quickly explains that he took Albie to the park, turned his back for a second, and the toddler was gone in a flash.
While Dorian appears to be responsible for Albie’s disappearance, viewers are firmly convinced Keanu will be unveiled as the kidnapper.
Many of them have taken to social media, more particularly X, to share their thoughts and point a finger to the hunk as they remembered a recent scene between Keanu and his mother Karen (Lorraine Stanley).
In this scene, Karen dropped the idea of a kidnapping in Keanu’s mind – but will he really go through with it?
One viewer penned: “THIS is what makes me think Keanu/Karen will be behind Albie’s abduction & set up Dorian.”
“Karen’s put the idea in his head. I think she’ll take the ransom for Christmas presents/take the rap for Keanu who’ll be rid of Dorian/he’ll change his mind.”
2. Desperate residents team up
Karen and Keanu aren’t the only ones with an agenda in the Square.
Money has been running low for Brian Conley‘s Rocky Cotton and his wife Kathy Beale.
To make matters worse, and as his pal Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) found out, Rocky has also developed a gambling problem as he tried to get extra funds to solve his money woes.
This week, Rocky reveals he went a step further and confides in Harvey that he owes Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) for a loan and has no way of paying it back.
Harvey suggests he asks for lower repayments, but Nish explains to downcast Rocky that there are hefty financial penalties for changing the terms of their contract.
In later scenes, Rocky is in turmoil as he contemplates how to cope with his mounting debts, while Kathy remains completely oblivious.
Aware of how much pressure his friend is under, Harvey tries to provide a shoulder to cry on but Rocky is in too deep with Nish.
Things go from bad to worse when Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) struggles when the fuse box blows in the café and Kathy can’t afford to pay a professional to sort it out.
Nish realises that Rocky’s fobbing him off about repayments and has a gambling problem.
He warns Rocky that if he doesn’t get his money today, he’ll tell Kathy everything.
Later on, Harvey quizzes Rocky about what he intends to do to pay off Nish.
And when he spots Rocky heading into the bookies, Harvey takes drastic action.
One theory recently emerged about Rocky possibly teaming up with Karen in her and Keanu’s potential plan to kidnap Albie.
“Got my dark, wild theory that Rocky will team up with Karen to kidnap Albie and demand a ransom”, they wrote.
“Totally out of character in my opinion, but that would be good, solid reason enough to make them both leave the square without having to worry about why they won’t tag someone along with them.”
And while this may be possible, Rocky still remains at the core of a big theory according to which he’ll likely set fire to Kathy’s café as part of an insurance claim scam.
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3. Unexpected icon returns
Amidst all the chaos, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) gets a huge shock this week and soap fans are convinced she gets a visit from a familiar but unwelcome face on Halloween.
The yearly event has always been a cherished tradition for both Linda and her former husband Mick but, months after his apparent death at sea, she has to make the best out of a bittersweet situation.
To help her celebrate Halloween, she can also count on the support of her mother Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) and her partner George Knight (Colin Salmon).
Coming up, Linda is going big on the party plans at The Vic despite Elaine’s fears that nobody is in the mood to celebrate due to Jay Brown’s accident.
The atmosphere goes from bad to acrimonious when Linda realises that George is hiding something from Elaine.
Unfortunately, these tensions don’t remain a secret as Linda’s mother overhears them bickering and demands answers immediately.
George is forced to admit he’s paid out 50% of the bar sale to his ex-wife Cindy Beale aka Rose Knight, and Elaine is furious and hurt.
After a heart-to-heart with Linda, Elaine agrees to hear George out, and he explains his reasons.
Later on, Elaine decides to chivvy The Vic punters up and gets the party going, knowing it was one of Mick and Linda’s big traditions.
But after putting her son Ollie to sleep, Linda goes into the kitchen and gets a surprise.
Soap boss Chris Clenshaw teased hard times ahead for The Vic landlady which has prompted fans to believe Linda will be coming face to face with her rapist Dean Wicks.
However, in a new theory that has recently emerged online, another handful of viewers are theorising that Max Branning will be the one to come back to haunt Linda, particularly as his daughter Lauren is set for her own comeback in upcoming weeks.
“All these people think Dean might return on Monday when actually it could be Max”, one viewer wrote on X.
“Remember Linda had an affair with him and Annie is his child. Also Max’s return with Lauren’s return also imminent makes sense Don’t rule out a potential return for Mick either.”
Max becoming Linda’s Halloween nightmare could make sense not only due to baby Annie‘s parentage but also because he may be Cindy Beale’s secret bidder and get back into business with Ian Beale.
In recent scenes of the London-based show, Cindy received a potential business offer from a mysterious person.
And while the bidder is known to be a former Walford resident, they decided to keep their identity completely hidden – which could support the theory that Dean is making his way back to the Square.
But could Max be the one to shock everybody with a surprise return?
EastEnders from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.