An unlikely ally steps in to support EastEnders’ Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) next week following her recent ordeal at the hands of violent stepson Joel Marshall (Max Murray).

Horrific scenes that aired on the BBC soap last month saw Joel’s twisted misogyny reach terrifying new levels as he brutally beat Vicki in their kitchen and left her for dead.

In the aftermath, Joel sought help from his friend Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall), who initially hid him in the Slater family garage, before eventually turning him in after learning about the full extent of his actions.

With Joel now in custody, Vicki has split from his dad Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and is trying to piece her life back together, despite still being haunted by her attack.

Meanwhile, Tommy has also been troubled by his involvement with Joel, and upon returning to school, he has been labelled an incel like Joel.

Next week, fellow teens Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) and Nugget Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) further taunt Tommy, but Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) is baffled when Vicki defends him.

It then becomes clear that Vicki had no idea that Tommy kept Joel hidden for hours following her attack, and after Amy fills her in, she hot-foots it to The Vic to confront Tommy.

His mum Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) steps in to try and calm her down, and Vicki is stunned when she offers her support.

As fans of the BBC soap know, Vicki has a somewhat complicated relationship with the Slater-Moon family. She’s had several public spats with Kat’s daughter Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) in recent weeks over Zoe’s role in her father Den Watts’ (Leslie Grantham) death, as well as her lies over the paternity of her long-lost son.

Could this be the start of a truce between Vicki and the Slaters?

Later in the week, the extent of Vicki’s recent trauma becomes apparent following a night out drinking with Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

When she spots a man making a girl feel uncomfortable, she rushes home, where she privately lets her frustration out and breaks down in tears.