5 EastEnders spoilers for next week: Libby Fox returns as Denise finally reveals her illness to her family

One of the biggest mysteries to emerge from January’s flash-forward episode was the surprise return of Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu) after 9 years away.

EastEnders is finally beginning to solve some of those puzzles, and we now know the circumstances surrounding her comeback – mum Denise (Diane Parish) has an aggressive form of leukaemia.

Libby heads back to Albert Square next week to reunite with sister Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams), and to convince Denise to undergo treatment.

She also dives into a new story involving Gray Atkins’s (Toby Alexander-Smith) grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskin).

Elsewhere, there’s drama for Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) when he drops his legal representation, Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona) is up to mischief again and Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) tries to cement his future with Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine).

Here’s everything happening in EastEnders between Monday, 15 and Thursday, 18 June.

1. Libby Fox returns as mum Denise discloses her blood cancer diagnosis

 

Denise continues to dodge calls from Walford General, insisting she’ll deal with her diagnosis in her own time. Concerned for her wellbeing, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) opens up to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), and the pair begin discussing how they can attempt a breakthrough.

As the Fox-Truemans pull together to support Chelsea and Jordan Fox (Jahsaiah Williams), Denise is momentarily distracted by sister Kim Fox’s (Tameka Empson) engagement ring. The revelation of Kim and Howie Danes’s (Delroy Atkinson) happy news gives the family a reason to celebrate, with plans made for a gathering at The Vic.

But while everyone else is in good spirits, Chelsea can’t help noticing that Denise has zoned out.

 

She’s later blindsided when Phil arrives and makes it clear that he knows about her leukaemia diagnosis. Furious that the secret has spread, she orders him out despite his attempts to help.

That evening’s celebrations take an emotional turn when Jack and Phil arrive at The Vic. Terrified they might expose the truth, Denise struggles to keep her composure.

Kim’s heartfelt speech proves too much, and she flees to the toilets with Chelsea following close behind. Though she initially refuses to confide in her daughter, Denise eventually returns to the pub and finally shares her devastating news to everyone.

 

Having finally spoken out, Denise heads home and attempts to steady herself before making the call she has been avoiding from the hospital. As the shockwaves spread through the family, Kim is stunned to discover that Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) already knew what was going on, while Chelsea reaches out to Libby.

With Denise facing spending the next month on a hospital ward, the family vow to keep things together while she focuses on getting better. Meanwhile, Jack seeks support from brother Max Branning (Jake Wood).

The next day, after nine years away, Libby returns to Walford to stand by her mum’s side. While old tensions resurface with Chelsea, the sisters ultimately share a touching moment of unity.

 

At the hospital, Denise begins treatment with one goal in mind – securing her future with her family.

Before things get underway, Denise asks both Libby and Chelsea to promise they’ll look after one another. The sisters agree, and also decide to be tested as potential bone marrow donors.

2. Chelsea Fox meets up with Gray Atkins’s grandmother Sheila

 

Chelsea reveals that Gray’s grandmother, Sheila, has been sending cheques to help out with Jordan’s care, though she has never cashed them.

Determined to find another way forward, Libby secretly attempts to contact Sheila herself.

Later, at The Vic, Libby receives a text from Sheila and tries to keep it under wraps, though discovers what’s going on and tensions quickly flare.

 

Chelsea later confides in Eve about her worries for Jordan’s future following his spinal surgery. After some soul-searching, she and Libby manage to put their differences aside, and Chelsea finally agrees to contact Sheila directly.

The sisters nervously arrange to meet her at Knight Fusion, and keen to understand exactly where she stands, Chelsea questions her about Gray. She’s relieved to learn that Sheila no longer has any relationship with him.