EastEnders' Jean Slater gets surprise ally after returning

Jean Slater is set to get a surprising new ally on EastEnders as she returns to Albert Square.

The character exited the show this year following a big mental health relapse, though recent scenes have seen Stacey bump into her mother while on holiday.

After trying to convince her to come home, new scenes airing next week will see Jean finally go back to Walford.

BBC

While her friends and family are welcoming to Jean, things get somewhat awkward when Arthur cowers away from his grandmother.

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Jean insists that she will attend the Walford carnival, though turns back straight away upon seeing Harvey and Dana. Harvey feels bad, and so gives Dana his card to get some university shopping.

Meanwhile, Kheerat starts to rethink his feud with Suki after a chat with Stacey, though is taken aback when he learns that Ravi and Nugget have moved in with Suki.

stacey slater and kheerat panesar in eastenders

Kieron McCarron / Jack Barnes//BBC

Back at the Slaters', Kheerat offers to pay to redecorate Jean's room, though Stacey refuses and asks him to stay with her mum while she pops out. Yet Kheerat perseveres, calling Vinny to bring around some paint for the job.

A paint fight breaks out between Eve, Kheerat, Jean and the kids, and as Suki knocks to see Kheerat, she quickly leaves seeing how awkward the situation is, before Stacey returns home.

Jean then finds a surprising ally in Kheerat as they help each other face their fears – Jean going outside, and Kheerat looking out for Suki.

kheerat panesar, jean slater, eastenders

BBC

Elsewhere, Bobby, Harvey and Rocky plan a surprise leaving do for Dana, leading to discussions on whether to invite Jean. Harvey refuses, though Billy sees the exchange and realises that Jean has overheard everything.

After he tells Eve what happened, she encourages Harvey to be more sympathetic to Jean, making him rethink whether he should ask her.

Will Jean be included?

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One, with some episodes airing on BBC Two during summer sporting events. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.