12 September 2023 , 19:00
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EastEnders fans were left stunned on Tuesday night as Emma Harding and Phil Mitchell embarked on a shocking affair.
Earlier this week, Emma, played by Patsy Kensit, arrived back in 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.
EastEnders fans were left stunned on Tuesday night as Emma Harding and Phil Mitchell embarked on a shocking affair (BBC)However, Jay Brown and Ben Mitchell have been left furious over Emma's return, with the latter even banning her from seeing his and Lola's daughter Lexi, who is Emma's grandchild.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Later, a deflated Emma sought solace at Peggy's, where she bumped into Phil, who had headed over to the venue to be alone. Despite being closed, Emma demanded a gin and tonic. The two then got chatting, where Emma told Phil about his son Ben stopping her from seeing Lexi.
Phil decided to deliver some home truths, saying Emma should leave Lexi alone to which she thought was hypocritical of him, pointing out his past mistakes, as well as his failed relationships. She said: "Some people aren't built to think of other people, Phil. People like us... we break things. It's how we're designed, it's what we do..."
Later, Emma and Phil, who is engaged to Kat Slater, were seen in a passionate clinch as they started kissing before stumbling onto the office sofa. Soap watchers were quick to react to the scenes with many thinking Emma has targeted Phil in a bid to blackmail him into letting her see Lexi.
Taking to social media, one person said: "Lola's mum is probably using that as a way to blackmail phil into letting her see lexi", a different account put: "Now she's going to blackmail phil for contact with lexi!" with another fan adding: "Oh no, trouble coming..."
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