EastEnders Shocker: Joel's Vile Crimes Unleashed and Ross's Walford Fallout

Walford is reeling from the full extent of Joel Marshall's horrific actions against Vicki Fowler and Avani Nandra-Hart, and his dad Ross is facing the brutal consequences as new secrets emerge.

TL;DR

• Joel Marshall's violent attack on Vicki Fowler and his illicit recordings of Avani Nandra-Hart have completely rocked Walford.
• Ross Marshall is left homeless and isolated after the community turns on him for covering up Joel's behaviour, with only Harvey Monroe offering unexpected support.
• Meanwhile, Harry Mitchell is being held captive by Okie and Ravi Gulati, leading to dangerous power plays and a shocking attempt to steal Harry's girlfriend, Gina.

Walford Reeled as Joel Marshall's Dark Secrets Came to Light

If you've been keeping up with the drama in Albert Square, you know things have been intense. Joel Marshall (Max Murray) has been spiralling for a while, his misogynistic views becoming more and more extreme, fueled by some dark corners of social media. But nothing could have prepared Walford – or us, the viewers – for the full horror of his actions. Last week, in shocking scenes, Joel brutally attacked his stepmother, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), leaving her unconscious and hospitalised. It was a terrifying moment that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

But the revelations didn't stop there. As Vicki began her recovery, a horrifying truth emerged: Joel wasn't just violent, he was also a predator. His dad, Ross (Alex Walkinshaw), had actually known for months about Joel making illicit recordings of women. He'd kept his son's vile actions under wraps, desperate to protect him.

Avani's Traumatic Discovery and the Community's Outrage

The situation escalated further when a social worker and detective arrived in Walford with devastating news for Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James). A video of her having sex with Joel had been posted online – a video Joel had secretly kept despite Ross demanding he delete it. Avani, understandably, was shattered by this horrific invasion of her privacy, running away in disbelief and pain. Her parents, Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), rallied around her, with Ravi quickly arranging a holiday to help her escape the trauma, at least for a while.

The community's anger over Joel's actions and Ross's complicity quickly boiled over. Vicki, utterly disgusted that Ross had known about Joel's filming and still tried to defend him, ended their relationship for good. And when she returned home from the hospital, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) made it crystal clear: Ross was no longer welcome in her house.

Ross Marshall Hits Rock Bottom and Finds an Unlikely Ally

Suddenly homeless and completely ostracised, Ross was left wandering the Square in a truly sorry state. He even tried to get a message to Joel, who's now in a detention centre. It was a heartbreaking sight, especially for those of us who've watched Ross try (and fail) to steer his son right. He admitted he was sleeping rough, hitting absolute rock bottom.

In a surprising turn of events, it was Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) who stepped in. Having gone through his own nightmare with his extremist son Aaron, Harvey empathised with Ross's plight. He offered Ross a place to stay for a few days, promising Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) would understand. Of course, this didn't go over well with the rest of Walford.

"But he is absolutely heartbroken and totally sickened. The woman he loves is in the hospital, and the person he loves the most in the world could be responsible. It's a nightmare scenario and will have a massive impact on all of them."

– Alex Walkinshaw (Ross Marshall), on his character's reaction to Joel's attack on Vicki.

Walford's Fury and a Divided Square

The news of Harvey taking Ross in spread like wildfire, and the community was furious. Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), ever the dramatic one, even tipped Ross's belongings out onto the road! Ross tried to explain himself to the angry crowd, saying he did everything he could to help and asking them to consider what they'd do in his shoes. But his words did little to sway public opinion.

Harvey, however, remained steadfast in his support. He reminded Ian that he himself had gone to great lengths to hide the truth about his son Bobby's murder, drawing parallels that certainly made Ian pause. Despite this, Ross continued drinking heavily, spiralling out of control. Harvey and Anthony later found him collapsed in an alley in a seriously bad way. They took him back to the house, only to be spotted by Kathy before she left for a last-minute trip to the Lake District with Vicki and Sharon.

Kathy was absolutely raging, but this time, even Ian seemed to be on Harvey's side, reasoning that they all know what it's like to hit rock bottom. Kathy made it clear that Vicki and Sharon couldn't find out about Ross being back in the house, setting the stage for more potential drama upon their return.

Harry Mitchell's Dangerous Game and Captivity Nightmare

Beyond Joel's unfolding horrors, another Walford resident is in deep trouble: Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway). Recently, Harry turned to his dad, Teddy (Roland Manookian), confessing he'd been peddling drugs for Ravi. He admitted that Ravi and Okie (Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu) were still using Kojo's flat for their illegal activities and forcing him to help.

Harry wanted to go to the police, but Teddy, fearing both Harry and Kojo would end up behind bars, refused. Instead, Teddy sneakily placed an obvious camera in Kojo's flat, hoping to gather evidence against Ravi. Of course, Kojo found it, leading Okie and Ravi to wrongly assume Harry was the one who planted it.

This week, Harry went missing. Teddy sought help from George Knight (Colin Salmon), who, unaware of the real danger, simply thought Harry was hanging out with Kojo. Even Harry's girlfriend, Gina Knight (Francesca Henry), was worried. Their fears were temporarily eased when Harry called his dad, acting completely normal. But we, the viewers, know the truth: Harry was being held captive by Okie and Ravi, forced to make that call.

Okie's Treachery and a Shocking Romantic Twist

At the hideout, Harry desperately pleaded for his freedom, but Okie wouldn't budge unless Harry revealed where the hidden camera's footage was going. Harry eventually caved, telling Okie it was streaming to his laptop. Okie then went to Walford to retrieve the computer, and that's when things took another bizarre turn.

He bumped into Gina, who, frustrated by Harry's silence and worried about his whereabouts, ended up flirting with Okie! Okie, seizing the opportunity, gladly handed over his phone number. It seems he's got Harry over a barrel now, not only holding him captive but also trying to steal his girlfriend!

Even with Harry's laptop and the information they needed, Ravi and Okie refused to let Harry go. Later, with Ravi off on holiday with Avani, he left Okie in charge of operations and instructed him to release Harry. But Okie, now in control, decided to defy Ravi. He's not letting Harry go, and he's made it clear he plans to win Gina's affections! This escalating situation is pushing Harry to his limits, as he turns to drugs to escape his terrifying reality.

Elsewhere in Walford: New Ventures and Misadventures

While the Joel and Harry storylines are dominating the Square, other residents are navigating their own dramas:

• Elaine's Grand Hotel Plans: Elaine Knight (Harriet Thorpe) recently bought No. 5 Albert Square and is now planning to turn it into a boutique hotel! She got Teddy to quote for a full refurbishment, but the cost came as quite a shock.
• Johnny's Costly Mistake: Elaine also encouraged her grandson, Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff), to start his own business. In a drunken moment, Johnny sent a business proposal to all his existing clients, trying to poach them from his current firm. The next morning, he realised he'd accidentally sent it to his boss too! Unsurprisingly, Johnny later told Callum Highway (Tony Clay) that he'd been fired.
• Nigel's Surprise Trip: Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) is planning a huge surprise for Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn): a trip to India! Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier) suggested Nigel sell his car to fund it, and even managed to sell it quickly. Though Julie initially scolded them for nearly taking it for one last drive (given Nigel can't drive!), she was delighted by the grand reveal of the trip.
• Oscar's Budding Romance: Oscar is on a mission to win over new arrival Jasmine Donaldson-Holness (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness). He's been persistent, and his efforts paid off when she finally agreed to go on a date with him. Could romance be blossoming in Walford for these two?

What's Next for Walford?

The fallout from Joel's actions will continue to ripple through Walford, particularly for Ross as he struggles to rebuild his life and face the community's judgment. Vicki's recovery and Avani's trauma will undoubtedly be ongoing storylines, highlighting the severe consequences of Joel's vile behaviour. Meanwhile, Harry's desperate situation under Okie's control is escalating into a truly dangerous game. With so much tension, heartbreak, and unexpected twists, Albert Square is far from calm. We'll be watching closely to see how these gripping plots unfold!

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About EastEnders Answered When do new EastEnders episodes air? EastEnders typically airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30 PM on BBC One. Where can I watch EastEnders episodes early? Most EastEnders episodes drop early on BBC iPlayer at 6:00 AM on the day of their TV broadcast. Who plays Ross Marshall in EastEnders? Ross Marshall is played by actor Alex Walkinshaw. What happened to Vicki Fowler? Vicki Fowler was brutally attacked by Joel Marshall and later found out that Joel had recorded Avani Nandra-Hart without her consent. She broke up with Ross Marshall due to his prior knowledge of Joel's actions. Sources

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