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There’s absolutely no chance in hell you can have an affair in soap and not get caught, something Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) are about to learn in EastEnders.
Lauren tried, bless her, she really did, and after their initial kiss after uniting in a dodgy stolen car racket, she told Mark that she really needed him to leave, determined to remain faithful to her husband, Peter Beale (Thomas Law), and leave he did.
Well, for a bit, anyway.
When he returned to Walford to say goodbye to his family before he heading to Florida for a sunny new life, Lauren had found herself in a sticky situation regarding her dad Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) treatment of Peter’s mum Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
On the outs with Peter and reminded of just how damn attractive she finds Mark, she finally grabbed hold of that apple and sank her teeth into the forbidden fruit.
Navigating the difficulties of maintaining an affair ever since, Lauren and Mark struggled finding a location to spend time together, although, proving that she’s every bit her father’s daughter, she remained dedicated to the cause and they’ve – thus far – managed to keep their fling under the radar.
That was never going to last long though, was it?
Taking advantage of what they think is an empty house, Mark and Lauren head to No.31 for a discreet bunk up, but unfortunately for them, the house is absolutely not empty.
Later, at Harry’s Barn, Lauren tries her hardest to soothe a rattled Mark – surely it was just a handyman, and besides him telling his work mates a funny story about working in a house that two unknowing residents were sharing smooches in, what’s the worst that could happen?
Well, despite Lauren’s admirable optimism, it wasn’t a handyman at all.
No, it was actually Ned Hawkins (Jamie Bamber), who’s quickly proving himself to be pretty damn sinister.
He makes it clear to Mark that he was in the house and heard everything, and his silence isn’t going to come cheap; in fact, he has a favour he wants Mark to do for him, and if he doesn’t agree, exposure is on the horizon.
Mark listens intently to what Ned wants him to do and is absolutely horrified, but in the face of his disgust, Mark reminds him exactly what he’s got to lose should he not comply.
Turning to Lauren with his predicament, she’s resolute: he needs to do whatever Ned wants, as the destruction that exposure would wreak on her life would be catastrophic, and, reluctantly, Mark resigns himself to following Ned’s orders…
But just what has Ned asked him to do?
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 12th October at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
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