04 September 2023 , 23:01
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EastEnders spoilers have revealed that Albert Square icon Emma Harding, played by Patsy Kensit, is coming back to Walford following the tragic death of her daughter Lola Pearce.
The estranged mother to Lola, played by Danielle Harold, first turned up to Walford after Lola decided to track her down but soon changed her mind. After Emma came clean to Lola about her identity, the pair began to bond but Lola's condition – due to her brain cancer diagnosis – worsened. Things soon got too much for Emma, who decided she couldn't watch her daughter deteriorate, and Lola later tragically died in May without her mother by her side.
Emma, filled with regret, was seen paying her respects at Lola's funeral as she showed up with a huge bunch of flowers – but decided not to sit down with the congregation at the funeral service. The heartbreaking sighting in June was the last appearance on the BBC soap from Emma... until now.
In upcoming scenes, Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) discovers Lola and Ben Mitchell's (Max Bowden) daughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) has been texting her grandmother Emma, who makes a comeback. Emma then reveals she's bee communicating with Lexi for weeks and shares her concerns about Lola's grieving daughter with Jay – but Jay refuses to listen and throws Emma out.
Lola's estranged mum Emma was last seen at Lola's funeral (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)Ben's husband Callum Highway (Tony Clay) urges car lot owner Jay to listen to Emma for Lexi's sake and Jay later agrees to have a sit-down with Emma the following day. But, it appears Jay shouldn't be Emma's biggest concern as Ben rages as he discovers Emma is back in Albert Square and sniffing around Lexi. The protective dad soon bans Lola's mum from seeing his daughter. Elsewhere, Ben's mum Kathy Beale gets involved and urges Jay to put Lexis' feelings first.
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Upon another chat with Emma, Jay is left heartbroken when he sees the anguished messages Lexi sent to her grandmother as he discovers she turned to Emma as she didn't want to upset her dads Jay and Ben, who are still grieving for Lola. Jay soon sees the light and promises to speak to Ben about letting Emma see Lexi.
Later in the week, Emma urges Jay to let her see Lexi and Jay is reluctant as he gives her permission. In an emotional chat with her granddaughter, Emma vows never to leave Lexi again – but that promise is soon destroyed by dad Ben. How will Lexi react to her dad's ban? And will Emma continue to fight to see her granddaughter?
Actress Patsy, 55, shared her delight at joining the soap at the end of last year. Patsy said: “I’m so excited to be visiting Walford for this storyline. It has always been a dream to appear in EastEnders.
“The cast, producers, writers and crew have been wonderful, and I’ve had a ball.”