Phil and Julie clash over Nigel’s care as tensions hit breaking point in EastEnders

Could a missing chicken bring them all closer together?

 16-22 AUGUST

Phil struggles with the new dynamic in his household after Nigel, Julie and their three pet chickens arrive in Walford.

And he gets annoyed that Julie is changing Nigel’s routine when she gets busy organising everything and making decisions, leading to conflict between them.

The following day, after Julie’s chickens kept everyone awake, relations between her and Phil are even more strained and they both accompany Nigel for an assessment where he gets stressed by their sniping.

Things go from bad to worse as Julie and Phil clash over their different approaches to Nigel’s care until things come to a head.

Reeling from Phil’s outburst, Julie demands that he tells her everything and insists they must get on the same page. However, it’s soon clear they have very different ideas of what’s best for Nigel.

When Nigel accidentally leaves the coop open, Julie’s cockerel escapes and he, Phil, Lexi and Julie search high and low for the bird, only for it to make a surprise entrance at Yolande’s hen do!

EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One with first look episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer