Next week on EastEnders, Walford becomes a pressure cooker of fear, accusations, and looming tragedy as Sam Mitchell’s chaotic return collides with Teddy’s life-changing verdict. From Sam’s hidden health crisis to Zoe’s spiralling paranoia and Harry’s emotional collapse, the Square is about to be shaken to its core.

Sam Mitchell storms back into Albert Square the only way she ever seems to—messy, panicked, and already knee-deep in disaster. Her first stop is supposed to be familiar territory, but instead it exposes just how fragile she’s become. Caught rummaging through Phil’s cash stash, Sam slips away only because Nigel Bates mistakes her for his daughter. It’s a classic Walford misunderstanding, but the cracks beneath Sam’s confidence start showing almost immediately.

No sooner has she escaped than she finds herself face-to-face with Zoe Slater, who’s already at breaking point thanks to a terrifying stalker. Seeing Sam appear suddenly and suspiciously only fuels her paranoia. Their tense showdown in the middle of the Square turns heads, especially once Phil pieces together that Sam—not Nicola—was the person who stole his money. But before he can confront her, Sam vanishes again.

She ends up at McClunkey’s with Ricky, trying to pretend everything is normal. But when Jack spots them, Sam finally loses her grip on the façade. She confesses quietly, fearfully, that she’s found a lump and doesn’t know how to cope. Instead of reaching out for support, she’s been stealing, lying, hiding—because running is the only way Sam knows how to survive. It’s the most vulnerable she’s been in years, even as Zoe continues to accuse her of stalking, convinced Sam’s secrets and sudden reappearance aren’t a coincidence.

Meanwhile, Phil is torn between anger and worry as he realises Sam is hiding something huge. But every time he gets close, she slips through his fingers. Her illness hangs over her like a shadow, yet she refuses to tell her family the truth. Jack becomes the only person who knows—and he’s left desperately trying to convince her to stop shutting everyone out. The emotional weight of this storyline threatens to shatter the Mitchells in ways even Sam doesn’t see coming.

And as Sam hides a life-altering secret, another Mitchell crisis erupts. Teddy’s court verdict is finally due after weeks of heartbreak. He’s prepared to plead guilty for Oki’s death to protect Harry, whose guilt has been eating away at him since the accident. Harry’s emotional state deteriorates rapidly as the trial approaches. When George accidentally reveals Teddy’s plan, Harry breaks down completely and admits he’s the real killer.

Nicola jumps in immediately, determined to protect her son no matter the cost. But the pressure becomes too much. Harry slips back into drugs, unable to handle the crushing guilt and fear. His disappearance on the same day Teddy faces the judge sends the family into panic. If Harry shows up at court—or worse, loses control—Teddy’s sacrifice may all be for nothing.

Next week promises explosive confrontations, heartbreaking truths, and decisions that will change the Mitchell family forever.