WARNING: This article is full of spoilers for today’s episode of EastEnders, which is streaming on BBC iPlayer now, but has not yet aired on BBC One, and sees Lola make a shock appearance. 

EastEnders is heading into emotional territory this week as Phil and Julie prepare to move Nigel into a care home.

But the prospect of losing another loved one is taking its toll on teenage Lexi after losing her mum, Lola, almost three years ago.

Clare returns to Walford

Today’s EastEnders sees Julie and Phil getting ready to take Nigel to his care home. But while they are packing, Clare returns after getting Julie’s call the night before.

There is no love lost between Clare and Julie. And while Phil is glad Clare has come to see Nigel, he warns her there can’t be any drama.

Lexi has also taken the day off school to help Nigel. When they all arrive to see him, he is thrilled when Julie announces Clare is here.

However, there is heartache for Clare when he doesn’t recognise her, and with his mind now stuck in the past, he thinks Lexi is Clare instead.

Clare’s dark past revealed

Clare goes outside for some air and ends up having a frank conversation with Julie.

It is revealed that the reason they don’t get on is that Julie believes Clare hasn’t been a good stepdaughter.

She points out that the last time Clare saw Nigel, she stole her mum Debbie’s wedding ring and pawned it. Julie says Nigel was heartbroken as it was the only thing he had left of his late wife, and he spent a fortune buying it back from the pawnbroker.

Annoyed at Julie’s accusations, Clare points out the reason Julie must hate her is that she is a reminder of the woman Nigel really loved… and the pair fight again.

Lexi opens up about Lola in EastEnders

It is only later, when they have calmed down, that Lexi gets through to Clare. She tells her about losing her mum when she was only 10 – the same age Clare was when Debbie died.

The pair bond over their grief, and Lexi shows Clare the video of Lola that she filmed before she died.

Lexi tells Clare that she would do anything to have even one more day with her mum, and that she should try to put things right with Nigel before it is too late.

Fans are surprised to see Lola again in EastEnders

EastEnders fans took to social media to share their shock at seeing Lola again after all this time…

“Not Lola making an appearance in 2026!” said one fan on Reddit.

Over on X, viewers were saying the same thing: “I seriously thought we were done with these Lola videos and now they’ve come back to haunt us again!” joked one fan. 

Another agreed: “Oh my Christ, the Lola videos are back. Repeat the Lola videos are back!”

Will Clare make up with Nigel in EastEnders?

Now that Lexi has got through to Clare, it looks like she might do the right thing and make peace with Nigel. However, when Phil and Julie arrive to take Nigel to his care home, he is nowhere to be seen.

Having already been discharged, Nigel has now gone missing. In spoilers for tomorrow, it is revealed that Clare and Lexi have taken Nigel back to the Square for a party.

Is this all too much for poorly Nigel? Or will his final goodbye to Albert Square be a success?