EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders star Scott Maslen has revealed that his character Jack Branning’s dangerous new story with Ravi Gulati is only just beginning.
In this week’s unmissable episodes, Ravi set about retrieving the missing gun that Oscar had found, and reported to his uncle Jack.
Ravi broke into Jack's house to snatch the weapon back, but he was spotted by Denise. When Jack found out, he confronted Ravi outside and a brutal fight took place between them.
But during their chaotic showdown, the pair accidentally pulled the trigger and Zoe was caught in the crossfire in hugely dramatic scenes.
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Jack worked quickly to cover up their crime, claiming that the shooting was gang related and leaving the community frightened that the assailant could strike again.
Later, former love rivals Jack and Ravi realised that they had missed their chance to hand in the gun, vowing to keep their heads down and hoping that they hadn't killed Zoe.
Speaking exclusively to us, Scott explained that Jack and Ravi will be forced to navigate this unlikely partnership, otherwise there could be life-changing consequences for them both.
He said: "What you’re seeing now is the beginnings of the undoing for two characters who don’t like each other and are thrust into this situation – and they’ve got to work it out, because they know what the long-term [consequences] are going to be if they don’t. So, everything’s at stake. Very high stakes, lots to come.
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"We all know Jack, he’s old school and he’s very much a family man. I think for him, what happens is that realisation of the cost and what’s at stake. In the early days, he was a bit of a rogue and he didn’t care so much – which is not too dissimilar to Ravi, actually.
"Even though Ravi’s on the villain side, Jack was a little bit naughty himself as a copper, it was poacher turned gamekeeper. That’s where we’re going now with this one, it's the beginnings of, ‘how do we get ourselves out of this? Are we a team, are we going to be taking care of each other properly?'"
In next week's episodes, Jack takes a big risk when he lies to his police colleagues about his movements on the night of the shooting. But when Ravi goes rogue with his own version of events, Jack decides to pin the blame solely on his enemy.
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He gets Ravi to leave Walford while he disposes of the gun for good – but he secretly uses the opportunity to plant the weapon in Ravi's flat. However, when Priya returns home unexpectedly, will Jack's scheme be exposed?
Speaking later at an EastEnders press event, Scott was full of praise for his co-star, and also revealed that there are some big twists and turns ahead in Jack and Ravi's story.
"Aaron Thiara [who plays Ravi] is a blessing to work with," he said. "We’re going on a journey now where we’re not playing the same notes. Because it’s two people who don’t like each other at all – nemeses. The [writers and storyliners] have come up with some really great ways that we can circumnavigate this hatred and don’t play the same notes and find different tones.
"I’m just really excited about everything. The stuff with Jack and Ravi is only just beginning, and it goes everywhere. It goes to some mad places. I’m not going to say anything else, I don’t want to give up too much information!"
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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