EastEnders airs shock blackmail twist in eventful BBC iPlayer release

**Warning: Contains major spoilers for the Wednesday 6th August 2025 BBC iPlayer episode of EastEnders.*

A shocking blackmail threat has been made after some harrowing events in EastEnders.

When Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier) knocked over Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) during a robbery gone wrong, it wasn't long before Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) realised what her brother had done.

Confronting Oscar, Lauren urged him to face the consequences, as the police would soon be making door-to-door enquiries about Patrick's attack.

But when Oscar described what it was like growing up with their mum Tanya (Jo Joyner), who had become broken after the death of daughter Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald), Lauren softened.

Having moved on with her own life, Lauren was busy and dad Max (Jake Wood) was absent, so Oscar sought solace with a gang and got into trouble.

By the time the police arrived, Oscar accepted that it was time to face the music - only for Lauren to end up lying for him, claiming that Oscar had been at home all night.

Lauren then ordered Oscar to give Patrick's cash back without getting caught.

At the hospital, it was revealed that Patrick would make a full recovery, and an emotional Yolande (Angela Wynter) asked him to marry her, putting their earlier row over gambling to rest.

But after police took a witness statement from Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson), in which he couldn't offer anything of note, Howie mulled over what he had seen and realised who was responsible for the evening's events.

Howie had been struggling with money problems, and the money Oscar had taken had been racing winnings earned by Howie, not just Patrick.

So Howie headed over to pay Oscar a visit, waking Lauren, who joined the conversation.

Explaining that he knew what Oscar had done, Howie demanded the money back that very minute.

But when Lauren realised that Howie was planning on keeping the cash for himself, that he had no proof that Oscar was involved and that this was an attempt at blackmail, she laughed in his face.

As Lauren insisted they had no idea what Howie was talking about, he left - but is this the last the Brannings will hear on the subject?

Somehow, we doubt it!

Read more:

• EastEnders' Oscar Branning caught out over Patrick attack in BBC iPlayer release
• EastEnders' Jessie Wallace wants a Mitchell-style flashback to Kat’s childhood
• 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Eve goes behind Suki's back with Avani's secret termination as pregnancy plan exposed
• EastEnders airs surprise passion for unexpected pairing in early BBC iPlayer release
• EastEnders resolves Alfie Moon cliffhanger in BBC iPlayer release – but key character is still missing
• EastEnders fan favourite reveals hoped-for return had to be dropped due to scheduling issue
• EastEnders airs game-changing offer for pregnant Avani Nandra-Hart in BBC iPlayer release
• EastEnders confirms the return of Anthony Trueman for Patrick and Yolande's wedding
• Zoe Slater's biggest and best EastEnders moments – from Kat bombshell to Den Watts murder
• EastEnders finally confirms Jake Wood return as Max Branning – with "plenty of chaos" revealed
• EastEnders' Anthony Trueman has love triangle history with returnee - will it be reignited?

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