Since making his comeback to EastEnders last month, Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) has encountered some pretty chilly reception, but he’s about to discover just how unwanted he really is.
As viewers are aware, the twisted villain turned out to be none other than the silent partner in Ian and Cindy Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt and Michelle Collins) new company.
Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who was sexually assaulted by Dean nine years prior, was shocked to learn of his return to the Square. To make the announcement, Dean confronted her in the kitchen of the Vic—the exact location of their attack.
Heartbroken by the turn of events, the Queen Vic landlady quickly went up to Ian and Cindy and urged them to back out of the agreement.
While Ian continued to be his usual shady self, Cindy, overcome with guilt, set out to literally tear up the contract. Dean quickly reminded her that their agreement is legally binding, so they have no choice but to carry out their original plan.
Because Cindy has allied herself with a rapist, Anna and Gina Knight (Molly Rainford and Francesca Henry) have made it abundantly evident to Cindy that they want no involvement from her; George (Colin Salmon) has also vowed to stand by Linda.
The entire Square is actually in support of Linda; everyone who visits the Vic makes it apparent that Dean is not welcome, and Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), who formerly thought of Dean as a brother, also declares her loyalty to Linda.
But Dean isn’t going anywhere. He’s determined to make the pie and mash shop successful, and the new business is launching next week.
But when he gets there and sees “rapist” written in graffiti along the wall, he quickly realizes how unwanted he is. The rapist engages Linda in a highly visible confrontation, believing she is at fault and threatening to sue for defamation.
Witnessing the heated exchange, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) and George become concerned that they might lose the pub. Linda then talks to Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and decides to try to negotiate a truce with Dean.
Her attempts to diffuse the situation, however, are unsuccessful because Dean is still furious. Ian and Cindy are forced to step in and tell the rapist to back down or else their business will fail.
At the top of the stairs at the Vic, there’s a heated confrontation. George can’t control his rage and lashes out at Dean, sending him tumbling down the steps and lying motionless at the bottom.
Terrified by the events that have happened, Linda, George, and Cindy hurry to see if Dean is okay.
Ian becomes enraged at Cindy because he thinks she’s just covering for George when she calls for an ambulance, saying she didn’t witness what happened.
Ian is adamant about getting Cindy to retract her story and warns her that doing so could result in her being sent back inside. Cindy considers her options and decides to tell the truth to the police.
When Linda learns that George is serving a suspended sentence—meaning he could go to jail—she finds herself in a difficult situation of her own.
Linda takes matters into her own hands, determined to make sure this doesn’t happen, but what exactly is she planning to do? And will her strategy succeed?
That will have to wait, but Elaine makes it very apparent that she wants her to say whatever it takes to clear George’s name, so she’s in for another surprise!
Monday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. on BBC One and BBC iPlayer is the one to watch.