TV TIMES 27
Mel Owen is leaving Walford. Tamzin Outhwaite,
who returned as the businesswoman in early 2018, is
bowing out of the soap to explore new opportunities.
‘When [former producer] John Yorke asked me
to return to EastEnders, I jumped at the chance, but
it was only supposed to be for a year,’ she explains.
Mel’s exit storyline is expected to air in early Autumn.Phil ...............Steve McFadden
Sharon ................. Letitia Dean
Ben .......................Max Bowden
Keanu .............Danny Walters
Stacey ................Lacey Turner
Martin ..................... James Bye
Max ......................... Jake Wood
Ruby .................. Louisa Lytton
Kat .................... Jessie Wallace
Kush ..........Davood GhadamiT
here has long been a connection
between Stuart and Rainie; both
residents with a troubled past,
trying their hardest to turn things around.
As the pair continue to bond this week,
they head out on a dinner date to
Walford East (where else?).
They soon end up moving on to a
different venue – and it isn’t a club up
West. Worried about Rainie’s behaviour
as she takes painkillers following her
recent attack, Stuart whisks her off to a
Narcotics Anonymous meeting. But will
his intervention rule out any passion?Love at last?
A
double date is booked
in at Walford East this
week, and with the two
couples involved being
Ruby and Max and Stacey and
Martin, suffice to say there’s more
on the menu than fusion burgers.
The date is arranged by Ruby,
who is miffed when Max tells
her that Stace isn’t happy about
them seeing one another. Annoyed
that her mate wants to ruin her
new romance, Rubes asks her
and Martin to lunch, hoping to
get to the bottom of things.
As the atmosphere between the
gal pals turns sour, Ruby asks Stace
what her problem is. She’s not
the only one who wants answers.Martin can’t bear being around
Max, and heads home, where he
asks his wife to be honest – does she
still have feelings for her ex?
‘Stacey insists that she doesn’t,’
reveals our Walford spy,‘but Martinisn’t convinced, and tells her she
needs to prove to him that she
wants their marriage to work.’
It’s Martin’s birthday the next
day but he’s in no mood to party,
and dashes off to work. Kush takes
him for a pint, and Martin asks Kat
to join them. Back at chez Slater,
Stacey’s still sulking, but after
talking to Mo, she decides to spend
some time with her other half.
When she finds Martin
drinking with the enemy, she
flips. Tempers flare further when
Ruby and Max arrive. Stacey
refuses to dial it down, prompting
her husband to give her a mouthful
and storm out.
Is the Fowler marriage finished?Bea and Finn sneak out of
Erinsborough for their first
official date, not wanting the
locals to get wind of their
burgeoning romance. Alas, their
strategy fails when Ned catches
them kissing! He agrees to keep
quiet but the controversial
couple decide to come clean to
their families – with explosive
results! Protective Elly orders
her sister to shut it down, but
Bea declares she and Finn
are giving it go, no matter
what anyone else says!
Also this week, Dee rejects
Heather and Andrea and cuts
them out of her life, while
Chloe’s feelings for Elly are
reignited. But is she setting
herself up for heartbreak?Jasmine is nervous at the
prospect of meeting Robbo’s
parents as the couple visit his
family farm – will she measure
up to the memory of his late
wife, Lauren? It appears not
when Robbo’s mum, Wendy,
signals that she doesn’t approve
of their relationship, nor his
baby plan with Tori. Riled
Robbo calls his mum out on her
rudeness, but, after a heart-to-
heart, he realises that she and
his dad just want him to move
back home. Can he convince
them to accept his new life?
Elsewhere, Bella’s online pal
Tommy admits he lied about
his age and is really 25, while
Colby locks lips with Mackenzie
but worries about falling for his
best mate’s sister!THE CAST WALFORD EXTRA
Cool reception:
Robbo’s folks
meet JasmineBusted! Bea
and Finn are
spotted by NedOff his food: Martin’s
suspicious about MaxNEIGHBOURS
HOME & AWAY
WORDS: ALISON SLADE. PHOTOS: BBC/NICKY JOHNSTON, CHANNEL 5, GETTY
Stay away
from my wife!
Martin loses his rag over Stacey and Max’s new closeness
Lola .................. Danielle Harold
Rainie .................. Tanya Franks
Stuart ..................Ricky Champ
Chantelle ...Jessica Plummer
Gray...Toby-Alexander Smith
Karen ............ Lorraine Stanley
Caren .................. Amy Robbins
Keegan .................. Zack Morris
Bailey.. Kara-Leah Fernandes
Bobby ...... Clay Milner RussellStraight talk: Ruby
cuts to the chase