EastEnders confirms funeral scenes as fresh heartbreak hits Walford

Debbie Colwell is set to be laid to rest in EastEnders next week – but there’s a fresh setback for her killer husband Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman). 

Viewers will know what Reiss smothered his comatose wife to death in her care home bed earlier this year, in a bid to ease his money woes. 

He was later arrested on suspicion of murder along with fiancée Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), but has since been released after mobile phone data gave him a false alibi. 

With Reiss sitting on his secret, Sonia is still behind bars and the residents of Walford have bandied together to try and campaign for her release. 

However, next week sees the day of Debbie’s funeral arrive, and with Sonia not around to support him, Martin Fowler (James Bye) drops by No. 25 to check in on Sonia’s instructions. 

As they prepare to set off, Debbie’s parents Brenda and Hugh Collins (Nichola McAuliffe and Michael Bertenshaw) make it clear he is not welcome at the ceremony. 

A heartbroken Reiss tries to plead his case, but Brenda and Hugh are having none of it, so Martin arranges a wake in The Vic to support him.

But just as he starts to read his eulogy to his late wife, Hurricane Bianca blows in, as Sonia’s sister demands some answers…

Next week’s episodes see Patsy Palmer reprise her role as Bianca Jackson for another guest stint following her comeback earlier this year. 

With Bianca previously voicing her distrust of Reiss prior to Debbie’s murder, we can only imagine the fury that is about to be unleashed…

EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 23 September at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.

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