Suki takes drastic action in EastEnders that will have devastating consequences

Is Suki about to blow her whole world apart? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin’s (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace) adoption journey has been tumultuous in EastEnders, and that doesn’t change next week.

‘The process has brought plenty of challenges and, as this is Walford, nothing is ever straightforward,’ Balvinder said.

Suki and Eve have been looking after Ria Virdi (Aaria Sharma), and next week sees the day of the final meeting to confirm the adoption, though an obstacle appeared last week in the form of Harleen (Taniya Jamil), Ria’s birth mum, who, after witnessing a skirmish between Suki and her recently returned daughter Ash (Sakira Vel), determined that she wanted Ria back.

‘Suki was already sceptical about meeting Harleen and, unfortunately, her concerns proved justified,’ Balvinder admitted.

‘Suki feels guilty about what happened, and that guilt drives her actions this week, we see flashes of the old Suki emerge, but things don’t necessarily go the way she expects.’

When Harleen re-emerges next week and contests the adoption, Suki goes into her old bag of tricks, and offers her a load of cash to back off and allow the adoption to go through – something Harleen agrees to, if she can see her daughter one last time.

Suki makes a dangerous deal with Ria’s mum, Harleen (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

‘Suki is torn between protecting what she wants and doing what she believes is right,’ Balvinder says of Suki’s decision.

‘The old Suki would have focused solely on the outcome she wanted, but she’s changed, her maternal instincts take over, and she recognises that Harleen deserves the chance to say goodbye.

‘Suki knows she’s playing with fire by allowing Harleen one final meeting with Ria.

‘Part of her believes she can handle whatever comes next, but she’s also hoping it will draw a line under the situation and allow her and Eve to move forward.’

Will their adoption dreams come true? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

After the meeting, Suki heads to the adoption hearing at the court, where she takes the stand and makes an impassioned plea, while later, Ash is forced to cover for Suki having accessed Harleen’s medical records to get her address.

Later on, Ash discovers the deal Suki made with Harleen, and the fact that she paid her off, opening a brand new can of worms within an already fraught relationship.

‘There’s a lot of unresolved hurt between Suki and Ash – the difficulty is that both of them feel they’re owed an apology.’

EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday, November 16 at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.

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