{"id":30840,"date":"2023-03-06T18:19:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T17:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1791909"},"modified":"2023-03-07T12:02:37","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T11:02:37","slug":"eastenders-2023-storylines-lolas-death-to-christmas-flash-forward","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-2023-storylines-lolas-death-to-christmas-flash-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders 2023 storylines: Lola\u2019s death to Christmas flash-forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

All the Albert Square twists we’ll get to see this year. <\/p>

By Stefania Sarrubba\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 06 March 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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EastEnders is lining up a few jaw-dropping twists for 2023 and it\u2019s safe to say fans are in for a treat<\/a>, courtesy of executive producer Chris Clenshaw and his team.<\/p>\n

The BBC soap has already debuted its most ambitious storyline to date, a flash-forward presenting a Christmas whodunnit involving six leading ladies.<\/p>\n

Knives Out meets How to Get Away with Murder, this deadly showdown at the Queen Vic sees all women suspected of having killed a Walford male resident whose identity has yet to be disclosed. Only time will tell whether any \u2013 or all \u2013 of them are truly guilty.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, as Clenshaw reminded viewers, loyalties and relationships are bound to change on Albert Square. As the show gears up to unravel a satisfying end to the year, read on for more details on the flash-forward and other EastEnders<\/a> storylines possibly converging into this big murder mystery.<\/p>

EastEnders 2023 storylines \u2013 from Christmas flash-forward to Lola\u2019s death<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The flash-forward: who dies in EastEnders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The EastEnders Six stand over a dead body at the Queen Vic.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The soap shocked fans with its first-ever flash-forward storyline, which began to mark the show\u2019s 38th anniversary last February.<\/p>\n

A ladies\u2019 lock-in at the Vic turned deadly for Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), Suki Kaur Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). When the action jumps ten months into the future, the Vic has become a murder scene.<\/p>\n

Adorned with festive lights, Linda\u2019s pub is the venue for a party, with a delicious-looking, multi-tiered wedding cake and canap\u00e9s sitting out for guests to arrive.\u00a0Things quickly turn sour when it becomes clear that our six ladies are standing over a dead body.<\/p>\n

Some of the Walford Six seem guiltier than others, as Linda sports a split lip, while Stacy looks down at her bloody hands in disbelief and Diane holds a broken bottle that could well have served as the murder weapon.<\/p>\n

The camera lingers on the characters, one by one, before it pans to reveal Sharon wrapped in a white, lacy wedding dress. Wait, is she currently set to get married? No, not in the present at least.<\/p>\n

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Sharon Watts checks for the victim\u2019s pulse in the EastEnders\u2019 flash-forward.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

After the flashback aired, Clenshaw opened up about this huge storyline<\/a>. He admitted he was looking to incorporate a whodunnit to the story as this narrative device has been enjoying a new surge in popularity over the last few years. But it had to be done in a way that could be unique to EastEnders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe developed the idea and thought it would be even more exciting if we didn\u2019t reveal who the victim is \u2013 becoming so much more than a \u2018whodunnit\u2019\u2026 It\u2019s a \u2018who-is-it\u2019 as well,\u201d Clenshaw said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe then decided to kick the story off at a time when The Six \u2013 Linda, Suki, Kathy, Stacey, Denise and Sharon \u2013 are each involved in stories connected to the men in their lives, which fortunately happened to be around the 38th anniversary of EastEnders.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he was obviously tight-lipped about the victim and the murderer\u2019s identity \u2013 or identities \u2013 he urged viewers to go back and rewatch the flash-forward scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were clues in there. Did you look closely? I urge everyone to re-watch the scene and look at every detail. There\u2019s also a few treats in the scene if you look hard enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which you can be sure we\u2019ll do multiple times between now and December.<\/p>\n

Sharon Watts\u2019s wedding<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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EastEnders\u2019 Sharon Watts in her wedding dress.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

We didn\u2019t see this one coming as Sharon ins\u2019t even engaged at the minute.\u00a0The soap had previously announced wedding bells would indeed ring on the Square this Christmas (more on that later), but we didn\u2019t anticipate two ceremonies.<\/p>\n

Though unexpected, it\u2019s almost certain that Dean\u2019s character is getting hitched. In the flash-forward, she\u2019s surrounded by her friends in their best party attires but there\u2019s no trace of the groom<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unless, of course, he\u2019s the one lying on the floor. Sharon almost immediately goes to check on the victim in the flash-forward, realising there\u2019s no pulse. After the camera give us a good look at the man\u2019s cufflinks, the bride declares \u201che\u2019s dead\u201d \u2013 yet she doesn\u2019t look half as devastated as if the corpse belonged to the love of her life.<\/p>\n

She and her ex-lover and baby daddy Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) decided to give their romance another shot in recent scenes, but his one-night stand with Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) left Sharon furious.<\/p>\n

Could these two make it up and commit to each other before 2023 bows out? Possibly. Meanwhile, eagle-eyed fans spotted Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) picking up the frock Sharon will be wearing at Christmas in the present<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lola Pearce-Brown\u2019s death confirmed<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Danielle Harold as Lola Pearce-Brown in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Amidst the excitement for a thrilling storyline, the flash-forward confirmed a sad event will take place before Christmas.<\/p>\n

Lola Pearce-Brown\u2019s (Danielle Harold) death is already on the cards as she has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. However, future scenes revealed she will have passed away by the time the soap picks up on its Christmas murder.<\/p>\n

Her picture can be seen on the bar<\/a>, a place the Vic has normally reserves to pay tribute to Walford residents who have recently died.<\/p>\n

Will Kat Slater and Phil Mitchell tie the knot?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Will Kat marry Phil?<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

And now to the other Walford wedding, which, to be fair, pales in comparison to Sharon\u2019s presumed nuptials.<\/p>\n

Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) will give their ceremony another go after their first attempt didn\u2019t go quite as planned. Recently, the soap aired a scene hinting at their wedding taking place at Christmas<\/a>, with Kat asking Phil to postpone their big day until the festive season.<\/p>\n

Does this mean we\u2019ll have not one, but two Christmas weddings on the Square? Historically, saying \u201cI do\u201d during the holidays wasn\u2019t always the luckiest option for those involved \u2013 just ask Mick Carter (Danny Dyer).<\/p>\n

And should EastEnders double down on its Christmas wedding tragedy pattern, could Phil be the one kicking the bucket?<\/p>\n

The Queen Vic gets a new owner<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Who was Linda on the phone with?<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Speaking of Mick, his jailed wife Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) intends to sell his shares in the Vic, forcing Linda to find a new buyer or risk losing everything she\u2019s worked for.<\/p>\n

Suki\u2019s husband Nish (Navin Chowdhry) and Sharon are both interested in getting the keys to the castle, but EastEnders has hinted at Linda enlisting the help of a third party<\/a> in a teasing phone call.<\/p>\n

\u201cLinda is in secret talks with someone else,\u201d Clenshaw announced on Loose Women recently, adding:\u00a0\u201cHer knight in shining armour isn\u2019t who you\u2019d expect it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who is this potential buyer and how will they react to their pub becoming a crime scene?<\/p>\n

Rocky Cotton\u2019s ex-wife Jo rocks up on the Square<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Vicki Michelle plays Jo Cotton on EastEnders<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Kathy and Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) are set to tie the knot soon, but a new arrival will no doubt shake things up.<\/p>\n

Rocky\u2019s past is set to be discovered as Vicki Michelle has been cast as his ex-wife Jo Cotton and will soon come face to face with an unaware Kathy.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a hoot \u2013 the scenes with Jo and Rocky and Kathy are brilliant<\/a>,\u201d Clenshaw recently said.<\/p>\n

As for Michelle, the actress said she\u2019s \u201cexcited\u201d to join the soap.<\/p>\n

\u201cJo Cotton is a great character and it is such a great story. I can\u2019t wait for the audience to meet her,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Stacey Slater goes to great lengths to protect her family<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What will Stacey do?<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Finally, it seems that bloody-handed Stacey will have a few secrets of her own in upcoming scenes.<\/p>\n

Clenshaw teased a \u201cbig year\u201d ahead for the Slaters<\/a>, with Stacey resorting to an unexpected move to watch out for her loved ones.<\/p>\n

At the moment, Turner\u2019s character is struggling financially, taking up a night job to make ends meet, as well as still wrapping her head around her 12-year-old daughter Lily\u2019s (Lillia Turner) pregnancy.<\/p>\n

It looks as though tables will turn for Stacey, but the price may be too high.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see her do something that she hasn\u2019t done before and go to quite some extreme lengths to protect her family,\u201d the soap\u2019s boss revealed.<\/p>\n

Could this tie in with the soap\u2019s Christmas whodunit? There\u2019s only one way to find out.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n