EastEnders Mark Fowler’s return brings a painful surprise for Lauren
Mark returns to EastEnders with plans to leave for Florida, disappointing Vicki and leaving Lauren shaken when she discovers he has come to say goodbye.
Mark’s return to Walford gives Lauren reason to believe he has come back for her in upcoming EastEnders scenes. However, his arrival is followed by news that leaves both her and Vicki facing another goodbye.
Lauren first notices Mark crossing the Square towards No.43, and his appearance immediately catches her off guard. Inside, Vicki is excited to see him, but that happiness fades when he explains the purpose of his visit.
Mark is planning to leave for Florida and has returned to say farewell. What initially looks like a homecoming is therefore a brief stop before another departure, giving Vicki little opportunity to enjoy having him back.
Lauren does not initially understand his intentions, and her belief that he has returned for her draws her towards him. She seeks him out, only to discover that his plans involve leaving Walford rather than staying.
The encounter comes while she and Peter are dealing with a separate breach of trust. They argue over Lauren having known about Max’s affair, putting her relationship under pressure at the same time that Mark’s presence unsettles her.
These are two different problems arriving together, with Lauren caught between explaining what she concealed from Peter and processing Mark’s news. His return offers no straightforward escape from the argument, particularly once she learns he is preparing to go.
Lauren later apologises to Peter for keeping the truth about Max’s affair from him. That conversation gives her an opportunity to address her own part in the secrecy, although Mark remains nearby as the day’s events continue.
Harvey’s birthday party at The Albert brings them into the same social setting again. Mark’s arrival unsettles Lauren during the celebrations, keeping their encounter in focus even after she has tried to make amends with Peter.
The party then brings another complication when Louie tells Cindy that Lauren knew about the affair. Cindy exposes Lauren, moving information that has already caused a private argument into the middle of Harvey’s celebration.
For Lauren, the gathering becomes an uncomfortable meeting point between her father’s affair and Mark’s unexpected visit. She has already apologised to Peter, but Cindy’s discovery means other people are now being drawn into what Lauren knew.
Where to watch: Watch EastEnders on BBC One. Episodes are also available on BBC iPlayer.
