Tensions run high between Lauren and Peter ahead of Jimmy’s diagnosis in EastEnders

Will this bring them closer or push them further apart?

 17-23 MAY

Peter tries to support Lauren, who’s having a difficult time as she struggles with Jimmy, but privately, he’s worried about her past struggles with addiction.

After a run-in with Cindy, who wants Lauren to convince Peter to let her back into their lives, Lauren gets upset, fearing she’s a bad mum.

Arriving with a gift, Linda sends Peter out so she and Lauren can talk. After a frank conversation about their experiences with addiction, Linda helps Lauren get some confidence back. She advises her to listen to her maternal instinct that something isn’t right with Jimmy.

Ahead of their appointment with the health visitor, Belinda, tensions run high between Lauren and Peter.

During their conversation, Lauren is frustrated by Belinda’s reaction to her concerns about Jimmy, but Peter is more worried when Belinda privately suggests to him that Lauren may be experiencing symptoms of postnatal depression.

Meanwhile, Cindy tries to convince Ian to unite with her to support Peter at such a difficult time, but he’s not keen.

Later, Lauren notices something concerning when looking at Jimmy’s eyes and after failing to get a doctor’s appointment, heads to the paediatric ward at the hospital, demanding an emergency appointment as she’s worried that Jimmy is blind.

At the hospital, Lauren demands that somebody examine Jimmy, and Peter panics when he and Louie arrive home, but Lauren isn’t there. He’s even more worried when Louie innocently says he’s seen Lauren taking pills.

As Lauren gets increasingly agitated at the hospital, her midwife, Hannan, spots her and intervenes. Hannan rings Peter, who shares his fears that Lauren is using again. When Peter arrives at the hospital with Ian and Linda in tow, Lauren is incredulous that he thinks she’s relapsed.

However, Hannan takes Lauren’s concerns seriously and suggests a consultant should examine Jimmy. After looking at Jimmy’s eyes, consultant Miss Ayub tells Lauren and Peter that he is severely sight-impaired, and Lauren and Peter are left reeling as they try to process Jimmy’s diagnosis.

Returning home to the Square with Jimmy, Lauren has meaningful conversations with Stacey and later Lily. And she and Peter share an emotional moment as Lauren tries to convince him that things will be alright.

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