Eastenders Spoilers Weekly Update: Nigel’s Dementia Worsens, Nicola’s Busted, Jean And Ruby Clash!

EastEnders spoilers and updates for the week of March 17 tease worsening dementia, a standalone episode, someone’s busted, and two grieving ladies clash!

Nigel Bates’ (Paul Bradley) dementia worsens, a standalone Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) episode explores his hospital stay, Nicola Mitchell’s (Laura Doddington) busted, and Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) and Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) clash!

Nigel’s Dementia Worsens And Causes An Upsetting Mix-Up

Nigel’s condition creates a distressing scenario concerning Phil, as he grapples with memory issues stemming from young onset dementia.

After a particularly tough day, Nigel confides in Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who has come to understand his diagnosis after witnessing him disclose it to Phil last month.

Unfortunately, the week takes a troubling turn when Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) encourages Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) to be truthful with Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown) about Phil’s situation.

Billy, however, refuses and becomes furious when Nigel almost reveals too much in front of Lexi. Later, Nigel discovers Lexi reading one of Phil’s letters from the night he attempted suicide, mistakenly thinking she is his adoptive daughter, Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix).

Lexi Mistakenly Thinks Phil Has Died

Alarmed, Lexi rushes to find Billy, now convinced that Phil has passed away, based on what Nigel tells her about the letter, thinking she’s Clare.

Meanwhile, Linda offers comfort to Nigel after yet another confrontation with Billy, but will the wider Mitchell family come to recognize Nigel’s struggles?

Linda should probably step in to the confusion and explain Nigel’s issues, before even worse misunderstandings take place. After all, Nigel has been a friend of the Mitchell brothers for years, and like part of the family.

Standalone Episode Explores Phil’s Time In The Mental Health Unit

Next week, a special standalone episode on Thursday, March 20 of the BBC soap will focus on Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) experiences in the mental health facility.

Lexi inquires with Billy and Honey about Phil’s status, leading to an emotional breakdown from the young girl.

Meanwhile, Honey and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) find Billy and inform him that Callum Highway (Tony Clay) plans to reveal the truth about Lexi’s grandfather.

Billy expresses his apologies to both Callum and Lexi, and together they set off to visit Phil at the mental health unit, accompanied by Linda and Nigel.

The episode will then delve into Phil’s path to recovery from depression and suicidal thoughts, starting with his initial week in the facility.

Phil Struggles To Settle In

Phil finds it challenging to adjust at first, hesitating to share his feelings during therapy sessions and group activities. However, as time progresses, he encounters another patient named Gaz (Keith Allen), and they connect over their similar life experiences.

Phil develops a friendship with Gaz, but his heart sinks when he discovers that Gaz will soon be leaving the facility. As the weeks pass, Phil confronts his deep-seated trauma, and with the help of support worker Yasmin (uncredited), he realizes he is ready to leave the unit.

Before his departure, Phil listens to voicemails from Sharon and Nigel. Could this mark the beginning of a hopeful new chapter for Phil?

Nicola’s Busted

Nicola Mitchell’s (Laura Doddington) questionable actions come under scrutiny; as the four-year mark of Harry Mitchell’s (Elijah Holloway) girlfriend Shireen Bashar’s (uncredited) disappearance approaches, tension escalates.

Harry receives an unexpected visit from Shireen’s brother, Asad (uncredited), who has shifted his stance and no longer suspects Harry of being involved in her fate.

In an effort to honor Shireen’s memory, Nicola organizes a vigil at Harry’s Barn, but the atmosphere turns tense when Asad arrives and boldly accuses Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) of murdering Shireen.

Harry quickly intervenes to defend his father, who vehemently denies the allegations; however, later on, Harry finds himself pleading with Teddy for the truth.

Meanwhile, Nicola seeks out a mysterious figure named Benji (uncredited) to inquire about Shireen’s whereabouts.

Nicola’s Snubbed By Harry

As the week unfolds, Nicola faces rejection from a disheveled Harry, while Teddy meets with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) to strategize their business ventures. Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) warns Nicola about a perilous drug supply circulating in their area.

Soon, Nicola finds herself exposed when Teddy catches her on a call with a drug supplier, compelling her to admit her involvement in the dealings. Meanwhile, Harry, fueled by alcohol, instigates a confrontation with Felix Baker (Matthew Morrison).

Teddy and Nicola manage to bring a troubled Harry back home, after which Nicola attempts to persuade Teddy to pull his support for Junior’s business plans.

Jean And Ruby Clash Over Martin’s Funeral Arrangements

There are different views on Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) farewell, causing Jean and Ruby to have a hard time agreeing on the funeral arrangements. In the café, Jean offers her assistance to Ruby for planning Martin’s funeral, but Ruby brushes her off.

Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) gives Jean some tips on dealing with Ruby, which leads to an agreement for them to collaborate on the funeral.

Jean visits Kathy to express her gratitude, and although Kathy hesitantly agrees to help with the plans, she finds herself caught in the middle as Jean and Ruby clash over their differing opinions.

Meanwhile, while Martin’s family members argue, Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) and Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) try to support his adoptive daughter, Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), in coping with her loss.

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