EastEnders teases exit for beloved character as she launches twisted blackmail plot
CONFLICT builds up for one iconic Walford family as a mischievous resident decides to cause more trouble for Phil Mitchell.
But enough is enough and the EastEnders tough man is tempted to retaliate. Could she escape the Square to avoid consequences?
The Mitchell clan has been struck by tragedy in recent scenes of the BBC One soap as Phil Mitchell (played by Steve McFadden) learned about the death of his maternal aunt, Sal Martin.
Members of the family gather from far and wide next week to pay their respects to the legend as her funeral takes place in Walford.
Unfortunately, Phil’s family is far from united and an issue regarding money pushes him further away from his own sister Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf).
Coming up, on the day of Sal’s funeral, Sam gives her nephew Ben (Max Bowden) and Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) their marching orders to attend.
However, Phil is far too familiar with her penchant for elaborate schemes and is not convinced by her sudden interest in family.
Aunt Sal’s widowed husband, Harold, makes a rare appearance in the Square and moves the congregation, including Phil, to tears with his eulogy.
The solemn mood is immediately broken at the wake, as Sam is shocked to find out from Harold that Aunt Sal left her and her two brothers, Phil and Grant, £100k.
Sam demands the money from Phil, knowing it could solve her own issues, but he categorically refuses.
Later on, however, Sam finds a way to get under his skin as she finds out from Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) that Phil slept with Emma Harding behind his wife Kat Slater’s back.
Infuriated and hellbent on getting her way, Sam heads to Peggy’s and blackmails Phil for the inheritance money.
Despite the pressure added on to him, Phil refuses to budge – a decision he will come to regret in later scenes.
Eventually, in The Vic, Phil caves to Sam’s demands before he and Kat (Jessie Wallace) have a heart-to-heart on recent events.
Sadly, the warm moment is short-lived when Sam takes the mic and reveals that Phil slept with Emma.
The troublemaker is met with contempt for her actions before heading to No.27 for moral support from her son Ricky Branning (Frankie Day), but how will he react?
Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) then orders Sam to leave but Ricky rushes after her and intercepts her argument with Phil outside No.55.
Will Sam have to leave the Square once again?
Viewers of the London-based program will remember Sam left Walford in early 2023 for a job opportunity abroad.
Once she came back, she revealed she was in serious trouble with a drug boss and Phil had to get involved.
Sam has been trying for years to earn her brother Phil’s respect and prove she can honour the Mitchell name but has she had enough of watching her attempts being rejected by the man she admires?
Is their sibling relationship too broken to repair?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.