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It's a night of revelations in Albert Square as shocking truths come to light for Shirley, Dean and Buster. Can they remain united? Roxy and Ronnie come to blows.

Buster questions Shirley over why she really assaulted Carol – it’s not like her to get so jealous. Buster clocks that Shirley’s had a sudden shift in attitude; last week she was keen to tell Dean about Jade, now she’s berating Buster for doing so. Shirley blurts out the truth – she went to see Jade at her foster home and she’s not okay; she’s got Cystic Fibrosis. Buster wipes Shirley’s tears and tells her that she can’t blame herself for Jade’s illness. Shirley admits that she tried to drown Mick as a baby, and now it seems her children’s and grandchildren’s bodies are looking for a way to drown them.

Buster does his best to reassure Shirley, she was only a child herself when she had Mick and couldn’t cope; she’s not to blame. Buster asks Shirley to marry him but Shirley outright refuses and firmly tells Buster to keep his mouth shut about her discovery when he sees Dean. Buster maintains that Dean deserves to know the truth about Jade – he’s old enough to make his own choices. Dean walks in on the pair’s conversation and overhears enough to know he’s being discussed – Dean asks outright for the truth. Shirley fills Dean in – she went to see Jade – she’s not adopted. Dean is furious that he wasn’t told, but also clocks that there’s something the pair aren’t telling him. Shirley comes clean; Jade has got Cystic Fibrosis.

Dean fails to believe that Shirley was trying to protect him and reels at the thought that Shirley would have believed that Dean would walk out on Jade, the same way she walked out on Jimbo. As Dean storms out, Buster follows and begs him not to do anything stupid, suggesting Dean goes to Blades, whilst he gets them some food. In Blades, a tormented Dean loses it and punches a mirror, shattering it. Buster arrives to find Dean smashing up the place; Buster restrains him and holds Dean whilst he sobs. Denise walks in on Shirley watching old home videos of Kevin, Jimbo, Carly and Dean. Shirley reminisces about how, despite her not being able to see past Jimbo’s illness, Dean always could. As Buster bandages up Dean’s hand, Buster suggests that maybe Dean is exactly what Jade needs. Dean isn’t so sure, claiming he’s a bad person who needs to be punished.

Shirley gives herself food for thought when she admits that she’s only been dwelling on what could go wrong if Dean sought out Jade, rather than what could go right. Shirley withdraws a wad of cash, before finding Dean and telling him that if he wants to find Jade, she’ll be right by his side. Shirley and Dean turn up at Jade’s foster home, claiming that they need a strand of Dean’s hair to prove he’s Jade’s dad. When the man at the door initially scoffs, Shirley presents two hundred pounds and she and Dean are let in...

As Ronnie and Charlie begin to get intimate, Charlie is distracted by the sound of Roxy having fun with a mystery man in the next room, but Ronnie tries her best to keep him focused on the task in hand. As Roxy and Dean lie in bed, Dean is woken by Amy shouting for Roxy. Dean goes to find out what’s wrong, but Roxy stirs and demands he doesn’t – Amy doesn’t know who he is. When Roxy returns from comforting Amy, she suggests that Dean leaves. Dean’s back is immediately up and he questions whether Roxy even likes him. Roxy maintains that she’s just trying to protect Amy and is shocked when Dean admits he has a daughter of his own. Roxy meets Ronnie in the kitchen, who tells her that she and Charlie managed to sleep together. As the sister’s reminisce about their care-free times in Ibiza, Ronnie declares that she misses their closeness.

Ronnie’s adamant that she wants to know who Roxy brought home that night, but Roxy remains guarded. Roxy cattily blames Ronnie for her drunken state – she only went out so that she and Charlie could have the place to themselves for their ‘wedding night’. When Ronnie brings up Roxy and Charlie sleeping together, it’s the last straw for Roxy. Roxy finds Dean at Blades and apologises for throwing him out. Roxy admits that she was lying when she said it had nothing to do with Linda’s accusations, but she does like him – more than she should. The pair share a kiss. Roxy arrives home to find Charlie still awake, who berates her for upsetting Ronnie.

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30 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Shirley Carter Linda Henry
Dean Wicks Matt Di Angelo
Andrew 'Buster' Briggs Karl Howman
Denise Fox Diane Parish
Roxy Mitchell Rita Simons
Ronnie Mitchell Samantha Womack
Charlie Cotton Declan Bennett
Jonathan Malnet James Barriscale
Writer Richard Davidson
Director John Greening
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts