![Character returns after six years and Freddie](/upload/news/2023/08/06/82903.jpg)
EastEnders will air a huge return next week on the BBC soap, while another past character reunites with her son. A character will make a brief exit from the show, while one Walford resident will find his devastating secret exposed.
Freddie Slater reunites with his mother Little Mo, after a shocking discovery about his parentage, with him needing answers. Elsewhere, Ben Mitchell's eating disorder comes to light as he continues to battle with his trauma.
Meanwhile a soap favourite is set to reunite with a past flame, as they head back to Walford after six years away. Here are the biggest moments happening next week on EastEnders...
Freddie Slater will reunite with his mother Little Mo next week, amid hints of a return for the latter character. Following a shocking discovery, Freddie will take some time out of Walford to see his mum.
It's not yet known if Little Mo will be seen on screen, but spoilers suggest Freddie flees Walford to see her, while fans are hoping a return will happen at some point.
Freddie wants to speak with his mum after learning the truth about his father's identity. He wants answers, after scenes this week saw him learning what happened between his mother and father.
EastEnders will air emotional scenes next week, as Ben Mitchell opens up to his loved ones about his secret battle with his mental health. While some residents know that he has been struggling recently, they have no idea Ben is secretly battling an eating disorder.
Viewers learned earlier this year that Ben was suffering from bulimia, while he still dealt with trauma after his rape ordeal last year. Still coming to terms with what happened to him, he experienced more heartache as his close friend Lola Pearce, the mother of his daughter Lexi, died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Before Lola's death, Ben had been hiding his eating disorder and his true grief for Lola, as well as his trauma from his rape ordeal. Ben was attacked by bar worker Lewis last year, but Lewis got away with the crime, only for him to strike again elsewhere.
Lewis was finally arrested and charged for another rape, and Ben was notified. The news sent Ben spiralling, as he was reminded of what happened to him months earlier.
This, his trauma he has kept bottled up and his secret eating disorder have left him struggling to cope in recent scenes, while not many characters have noticed what is really going on. Ben has found himself being called out by loved ones since Lola's death over his behaviour, with them not seeing the full truth of the Mitchell's struggles.
Spoilers for next week now reveal that one resident grows concerned for Ben after noticing how he is around food, and later on a second concerned resident reaches out to him. Honey Mitchell, who two years ago struggled with bulimia, notices Ben's loss of appetite.
She tries to get Ben to open up, fearing for his mental health, as she shares on her own experiences with bulimia. Ben lashes out at her, though, and orders her to leave. Alone, Ben breaks down in tears while the next day, Honey confides her fears in Ben's husband Callum Highway. Ben believes she has told him everything and once again lashes out at her, this time in front of his horrified family.
The pair soon go for coffee though, and Ben admits what's going on as Honey begs him to let Callum in. Ben begins purging again though after a difficult chat with his father Phil Mitchell. Callum arrives home early and catches Ben but when Callum tries to talk to him, he once again lashes out. He storms out and is found by stepmother Kat Slater. Discovering why he's upset, Kat offers her perspective as a fellow survivor of rape and warns him he will destroy himself if he doesn't get help.
Ben agrees to seek help for his trauma and attends a support group with Kat by his side. Later in the week, Ben and Kat go to the assessment, where he finally starts talking about his mental trauma – but will he open up to Callum and his family?
EastEnders airs the return of a fan favourite next week, after six years off screen. A popular star of the BBC soap is reprising her role next week according to new spoilers.
Yolande Trueman heads back to Albert Square with some news for her ex-husband Patrick Trueman, leaving him stunned. Actress Angela Wynter is reprising the role for the first time since 2017, when she made a surprise comeback.
Before this, Yolande had left Walford for good in 2008 and moved to Birmingham, where she has remained for the last 15 years. Yolande will now return, in a surprise visit to Patrick.
She reveals things have ended with her partner and she's been thrown out of the house. She asks Patrick if she can stay with him but he rejects the idea.
Kim Fox urges Patrick to fight for his ex, with him confessing just months ago that he wanted to win her back. Denise then begs Patrick to take the chance to tell Yolande how much he cares before she leaves forever.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.