Walford Gazette [Vol. II] #32

All the latest updates and news down Walford way!

EDITORIAL

Tuesday 4th August 2026

This weekend the team at EastEnders unveiled their secret project: a whole new family is about to descend on Albert Square – and they’re already related to the most powerful family in Walford!

Ever since Nicola Mitchell first turned up in E20, she’s had some contact with her sister Gemma. She’s talked about her abusive father often, but also the tempestuous and horrible relationship between Nic and her mum. Now sister Gemma Hawkins is heading for the Square – bringing her entire clan with her!

Played by Patricia Potter (Holby City), Gemma will be joined by husband Ned Roper, played by sci-fi star Jamie Bamber! Their son, Ryder, completes the trio, played by newcomer Felix Uff.

And there’s more! Jodie, Nichola’s little sister, played by Anna Constable and their mother Rose completes the quintet. Rose is played by Doctors and Hollyoaks star Marian McLoughlin. Nicola has been estranged from her family for quite some time, but now it’s time to find out exactly what other secrets the Hawkins have to share…

Left to right: *Patricia Potter* as **Gemma Hawkins**; *Jamie Bamber* as **Ned Roper**;
*Marion McLoughlin* as **Rose Hawkins**; *Laura Doddington* as **Nicola Mitchell**;
*Anna Constable* as **Jodie Hawkins**; *Felix Uff* as **Ryder Roper**

Now then, on to next week! As Ian remains languishing behind bars, evil Gray Atkins has managed to get into his head – and convinces him to help get even on his ex Chelsea Fox. Faced with a nightmare if he doesn’t comply, Ian contacts the distracted mum, who determines to visit Ian in prison. But then an incident in the prison spells disaster! What has Gray done, and what has he planned for Ian and Chelsea..?

Meanwhile, Denise is still in hospital receiving treatment for her cancer. But Sheila‘s moment has come, and she kidnaps little Jordan from the Square! Kim dreads telling her bed-ridden sister any more bad news, but Denise is too good for that and decides to leave the hospital herself to bring her missing grandson home! But in the long run, surely this can only stall her ongoing treatment..?

Elsewhere, Max and Cindy prepare to tie the knot on, in a highly unsurprising move, New Year’s Day 2027. But Priya isn’t done playing her games… Across the Square, Eve and Suki argue over Jean‘s rent arrears, but Nicola proves to be an unlikely referee for the two!

**Max** and **Cindy** are planning ahead…

DI Ingram, meanwhile, is still on the Square, causing palpitations amongst Walford’s teens, one of which seems to be hiding a huge secret: who attacked Joel Marshall? But as the suspects are ticked off his list, he stumbles across a secret meeting of the teens discussing the attack! What truths will be revealed as their parents assemble yet again?

There is so much to come over the summer as we fade into autumn… the Hawkins family are, as always, just the start of the drama to come… as Janine Butcher returns home.

We’re worried already…

Until next time…

The Curator

Week Commencing: 10th – 13th August 2026

Directed by: Marianna Dean

Monday 10th August 2026
Written by: Lawrie Jordan

Gray continues to manipulate Ian at the prison. He offers his old neighbour protection, but only if Ian requests a visit from Chelsea.

Ian refuses to be bullied by Gray, but when a troubling situation escalates in prison, he relents…

Max and Cindy look to the future at they set a 1 January date for their wedding. Later, Max gets a surprise when Priya makes a performance at the car lot – what is she up to?

Craig catches Amy, Avani, Denzel, Barney, Ricky, Will, Lily and Nugget as they meet up to discuss Joel, so they make their excuses before going their separate ways. Craig puts pressure on Amy, but Jack intervenes and his colleague lies that he was just checking on Amy’s welfare.

Denzel also seems to be hiding something as he acts in a shifty manner towards Amy.

Suki questions Jean about her unpaid rent, leading to tensions with Eve.

Tuesday 11th August 2026
Written by: Katie Douglas

Kim and Jack warn Chelsea that it’s not a good idea to visit Ian, but she refuses to listen. Kim offers to look after Jordan and takes him along to Linda’s event alongside Pearl, but Sheila is secretly watching and takes Jordan.

At the prison, Ian worries when he realises that Gray is involving him in a much more sinister plan than he’d thought. Ian asks Chelsea to leave, but it’s too late when an incident breaks out.

Jean overhears a suspicious conversation between Ricky and Lily, who talk about the Joel incident. Jean confides her fears in Kat about Lily’s involvement. Adding to the mystery, Eve reveals that she just spotted Lily going to No.43 to speak to Joel. Jean intervenes by dragging Lily back home.

When Craig turns up to question Lily, she finally reveals what she saw.

Suki and Eve help Ria to celebrate her birthday, but her biological mother is a no-show.

Wednesday 12th August 2026
Written by: Katie Douglas

Kim and the rest of the family panic when they realise that Sheila has taken Jordan. Word gets back to Jack at the hospital and he considers how to tell Denise, but the situation is taken out of his hands when Kim arrives to break the news.

Jack tries to call Sheila and gets a lead, while Denise is adamant that she’s going to get to Sheila. What will happen as Denise and Kim head off on a mission?

Chelsea remains in prison. Gray is unsettled as he hasn’t received a call from Sheila, so he heads to see Ian.

Joel confronts the other teens, but the adults try to break them up. Jean reveals what Lily told Craig, but a new truth soon comes to light.

Eve helps to smooth things over with Ria after encouragement from Nicola.

Thursday 13th August 2026
Written by: Niall Grant-Rowlands

Ian remains in a worrying situation at the prison as the drama continues between him and Gray.

Kathy, Peter and the rest of the Beale family are worried when news reaches them.

The Walford teens continue to clash as a new truth comes to light. Amy argues with Jack back at home, although Kat encourages her to smooth things over.

Craig steps in first and offers Amy a shoulder to cry on, and she responds by revealing a truth.

Nicola and Eve share a surprising bond regarding their fractured relationships with their parents. However, Nicola calls the conversation to an early halt when Harry turns up.

Nicola suggests throwing Kojo a birthday party on the anniversary of her dad’s death, but the family worry that she’s taking on too much.