EastEnders has revealed the aftermath of Joel Marshall’s (Max Murray) vile attack on step-mum figure Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig).

We’ve seen the youngster’s behaviour rapidly worsen ever since his arrival in Walford earlier in the year. Very sadly, dad Ross (Alex Walkinshaw) has enabled his sickening attitudes.

‘Ross has been really naïve, but in the last few weeks, he’s finally started to realise the severity of the situation with Joel,’ Alex told us.

‘He was too slow to catch on but that’s because he’s been giving Joel the benefit of the doubt and taking him at his word.

‘But now it’s reached a point where Ross is worried sick, and he doesn’t know what to do.’

Joel’s been prevented from returning to his home in Australia after upskirting a pupil in his class, with it later transpiring that Ross paid her family $50,000 in exchange for their silence.

Within weeks of joining Walford High he’d filmed himself having sex with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) and impregnated her, and introduced Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) to pornography.

He also sexually assaulted a passenger on the London Underground in an utterly vile move, with Vicki paying off the victim.

More recently he’s shared Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) SecretCam content online, and attempted to slap Avani for having an abortion. He’s also become dependant on a misogynistic influencer, who spouts vile ideologies about women.

Vicki knew she had to put a stop to it, but in retaliation, he asserted that if she pushed him further, she’d find out that a ‘proper slapping would do [her] the world of good.’

Later this week, as Vicki and Ross try and navigate their future, Joel lashes out and leaves Vicki fearing for her life.

Alex added: ‘Ross has brought Joel up on his own and he’s been a mate and a dad to him, but I think sometimes he hasn’t got those roles in the right order.

‘As a parent, you always remember your child at their cutest and sweetest when they were little. It’s a huge leap to go from that to thinking that there is something fundamentally wrong with your son or daughter.

‘Ross does get there, but he’s just too late, which is tragic.’

In upcoming scenes, Ross makes amends with his son following their earlier bust-up, desperate to try and mend what’s left of their relationship.

He’s still blissfully unaware of what’s really gone on, while over at The Vic, a shaken Vicki has rushed in to seek help. She’s in a very bad way.

Meanwhile, Tommy slips away to meet Joel, who is keen to play down the severity of his attack on Vicki. He needs an escape plan – and quick.

After more manipulating, Tommy agrees to hide him away in the Slaters’ garage, though Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) soon clocks that something is afoot.

She sits her little brother down for a heart to heart and urges him to come clean, though he still keeps shtum on where Joel is hiding.

When Ross gets wind of Vicki’s assault, he’s mortified by what has happened and is quick to try and shut down any whispers that the teen could be responsible.

‘He wants to speak to Vicki and find out what’s what. But he is absolutely heartbroken and totally sickened,’ Alex continued.

‘The woman he loves is in hospital and the person he loves the most in the world could be responsible.

‘It’s a nightmare scenario and will have a massive impact on all of them.’

Luckily, when she reaches the hospital, Vicki is told that she will make a full recovery and Ross is relieved by the news.

However, as the two talk, theres an evident frosty atmosphere and you can cut the tension with a knife. How do they move forward from here?

They’re already in a bad place following an earlier argument.

‘Ross is not there when Vicki is attacked because he’s gone to clear his head after an argument with Joel where he grabbed hold of him,’ Alex explains.