Next week on EastEnders: Tina seen alive, will Max reveal the truth about Ian? (spoilers)

Anguish for Max, Kathy wants answers, plus the Carters get an update on Tina’s whereabouts.

It’s your full guide to all the upcoming drama on EastEnders, 8-12 February, 2021.

Max is struggling

I’ve often wondered why Max Branning chose to stay in Walford as long as he has. When three of your kids have fallen from the roof of the same local pub, you’d perhaps feel compelled to try your luck elsewhere.

But Max has, for some reason, decided to stay put and is now feeling very maudlin about his lot in life. With the loss of daughter Abi on his mind, he’ll be seen seeking out the services of a clairvoyant and then getting plastered on the Square.

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But the big question is: with actor Jake Wood’s departure having already been announced, is Max set to get a tragic exit in the weeks ahead?

Kathy wants Sharon to pay

It’s been 12 months since young Dennis met his maker on that ill-fated Thames boat trip and mum Sharon gave birth to baby Albie. As we’ve recently seen, that trauma has turned Sharon into a carbonara-cooking assassin, with Ian barely escaping with his life before she and her co-conspirator Phil could get their vengeance.

But one person who isn’t about to let the matter lie is Kathy, who is determined to make Sharon pay for her role in forcing Ian to flee. By Thursday, the lethal landlady will wake to find that Kathy has sent removal men round to pack up her stuff. And it isn’t long before Sharon is being quizzed by an angry Kath about what happened to her missing son…

The Carters get news on Tina

Tina Carter is dead…or is she? Fans were convinced that Gray had taken Tina’s life over Christmas, but death is rarely an obstacle to a character making a comeback in soapland.

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What we’ll see next is the Carters being given fresh hope that Tina is safe when DCI Arthurs turns up to tell Mick and Shirley that someone spotted a person matching Tina’s description has been clocked shoplifting.

As the local copper admits, it’s mixed news: the would-be thief gave Tina’s name, only to then make a run for it. Mick, though, is relieved she’s OK, while Shirley is annoyed with herself for having let Tina down. Taking matters into her own hands, Shirl then informs Mick and Gray that she can’t sit around doing nothing and intends to track Tina down. Gray’s reaction will certainly be one to watch.

Keegan craves stability

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Keegan, who always seems to have high levels of adversity heaped onto his shoulders. His latest humiliation sees him buy a bag on Valentine’s Day for Tiffany – only for it not to be the expensive one she really desires. Craving a healthier bank balance, Keegan ends up asking Dotty for a job at Ruby’s. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that his request pays off.

Kush and Whitney get close

It’s felt to me that ever since Shabnam left, the writers haven’t really known what to do with Kush. Relationships with Denise and then later Kat fizzled out, and his gambling addiction proved to be an easy habit to break.

Now, he’s sharing a Valentine’s Day snog with Whitney, which could prove more interesting – if only because it’s bound to earn the ire of manipulate Gray...

Watch: Next week’s EastEnders spoilers revealed