EastEnders’ Jean Slater is in serious danger next week on the BBC soap, when she heads to the Southend seaside alone.
Jean, played by Gillian Wright, has been battling health woes on the soap for weeks, but is now set to reach a frightening new state of her mental health.
Jean’s daughter Stacey (Lacey Turner), who also has bipolar disorder, has noticed the signs that her mum isn’t well, but others put Jean’s behaviour down to high spirits and her whirlwind romance with fiancé Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).
BBC spoilers have now confirmed that Jean will see heartbreaking scenes aired on the soap, as her manic episode reaches a crisis point, which sees her flee to Southend in her full wedding dress.
As Jean perseveres with her wedding planning, Harvey is furious when he realises how much she has spent and insists that he wants to focus on finding a flat in Southend first.
The drama begins when Harvey confides in Mitch and Rocky that he has put the brakes on their big day, unaware Jean has already received her lavish wedding dress.
Harvey tells Jean to keep the dress, but Stacey has had enough and decides she needs to intervene.
Marching over to the cab office to plead with Harvey not to move away with Jean, Harvey's attention is unfortunately soon diverted when he gets a terrifying phone call – Aaron has been seriously injured and is in hospital.
Seeing the state he is in, Stacey supports Harvey at the hospital and as they talk, Stacey realises that Jean has been a distraction for Harvey and tries to make him see this too, begging him not to marry Jean.
Following his conversation with Stacey, Harvey is stunned by Jean’s nonchalant attitude when he tells her that Aaron's life is hanging in the balance.
He's even more taken aback when he sees her wearing the extravagant wedding dress.
As Harvey starts to realise Jean might be unwell after all, he tells her they need to slow things down, stressing that Aaron is his focus at the moment.
Furious, Jean reluctantly moves back in with the Slaters, but is still determined to get her happily ever after.
As the situation spirals, Stacey is alarmed to hear that Billy spotted Jean in her wedding dress, claiming she's getting married today.
Jean heads off to the coast on her own and once there, she has a marvellous time at first, enjoying the comments on her beautiful wedding dress from strangers as she visits a funfair.
But Stacey and Martin head off to Southend to find her - only to arrive and spot Jean running towards the sea in her fairytale white dress.
Stacey runs after her and carefully tries to encourage Jean away from the water - only to wade into the deep waters after her.
Can Stacey bring her mum of the sea to safety and get her the support she needs?
EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
Got any theories or thoughts on the storyline? Let us know in the comments section below.
