Next week on EastEnders: Mick faces arrest trauma, plus prison bombshell for Stacey (spoilers)

Is Stacey destined for prison? Plus, a new crisis for the Carters as they take back ownership of the Queen Vic. And Gray vents his fury at Kush and Whitney.

Read on for a spoiler-filled look at next week’s drama on EastEnders for 22-26 March, 2021.

Justice for Mick?

Huge sighs of relief all round – the Carters are back in charge at the Queen Vic! After Sharon’s macabre stint in charge that saw her pursue an I Know What You Did Last Summer-style vendetta against Ian, sanity has prevailed.

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But no sooner has Mick pulled his first pint than he discovers abuser Katy has been arrested and that the police are now appealing for more survivors to come forward. Pretty soon, an angry Frankie has turned up at the Vic, fretting that everyone is now going to find out about her mum.

Overhearing all this, a suspicious Stuart starts to piece things together and soon gets the idea in his head that he needs to get revenge for Mick. Let’s not forget that Stu – when he debuted in May 2018 – was revealed to be a paedophile hunter, so it is true to character for him to now turn vigilante.

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But his wrong-headed decision to target and threaten Frankie looks set to leave Mick with unwanted aggro to sort out.

Prison for Stacey?

With actress Lacey Turner having already announced that she’ll be on maternity leave until August, speculation is mounting as to how her Walford alter-ego Stacey will exit. The most likely outcome at the moment appears to be a prison sentence, with a solicitor warning her that she could get six months inside.

Jean, though, will be seen begging Ruby to drop the charges, all of which leads to the club owner getting in contact with DS Barnes. So, will Stacey be spared another spell in the slammer? Or is she still destined to be put behind bars?

Gray undermines Kush

Fans fearing what Gray might do to Kush will have further cause for concern next week.

The loathsome lawyer will be taking every opportunity to plant seeds of doubt about Kush into the mind of Whitney. And just when the new lovers have made plans for a romantic evening together, in comes Gray with a request that Whit stay late to look after the kids.

Not wanting the night to be scuppered, Kush ends up bringing the date to Gray’s house. But as things get romantic, the man himself arrives home and flies into a fury about what Whitney and Kush are getting up to. Let’s hope that dishwasher door is firmly shut…

Panesar history revealed

Those who thought Suki was just an out-and-out villain may have to reconsider their opinion. That hard carapace is about to be cracked and we’re set to glimpse some of the vulnerabilities that lie beneath the surface.

The catalyst will be the discovery of some racist graffiti that the Panesars find daubed on the walls of the Minute Mart. In a state of obvious upset, Suki opens up to son Kheerat about the pain this has dredged up from their past. In response, Kheerat says that he’d like to see his father in jail, but Suki replies that his wish would be for him to build the business. But what was the crime that led to the Panesar patriarch being incarcerated?

Watch: What to watch on NOW TV in March 2021