EastEnders viewers were left sobbing on their sofas last night after Jean Slater begged Ruby Allen to drop the charges against her daughter Stacey, who currently faces prison for assaulting Ruby.
The cleaner, told Ruby, “I’m dying. I have cancer again and this time it’s terminal. I don’t want to die I want to see my grandchildren grow up and Stacey safe and secure. But we don’t get to choose when our time’s up, do we? Daniel said that to me. I’ve got so much I still want to do but right now there’s only one thing that I need to do.”
She continued, “Ruby please drop the charges against Stacey. Please don't send her to prison. Stacey doesn't know. I can't bring myself to tell her. There's been so much upset and tears in our house recently. Did you know that Arthur wants to be a fireman when he grows up and Lily is adamant she wants to go to university? She'll be the first Slater to go. I won't get to see any of that.
CHECK OUT child soap stars - where are they now?
Child soap stars - where are they now? SLIDER with cover pic
child soap stars
Molly Conlin (Dotty Cotton)
Molly played Nasty Nick's daughter Dotty Cotton in EastEnders between 2008-10 and caused endless mischief with Tiffany Butcher. But where is she now...
Molly Conlin (Dotty Cotton)
... 16-year-old Molly is now at college concentrating on her studies. After leaving the soap, the actress starred in Annabel's Kitchen, Horrible Histories and Blandings as well as adverts for Ragu Pasta Sauce and Bold 2 In 1.
Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster)
Corrie's bad girl had some meaty storylines including being kidnapped (twice!) and dealing with her mother's breast cancer diagnosis. Helen left the soap in 2011, but what has she been up to since?
Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster)
Six years since leaving the soap, the actress has appeared in I'm a Celeb, Celebrity Super Spa, Celebrity Wedding Planner and Holby City. She has had her first child Matilda with Scott Sinclair. So adorbs!
Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale)
Before Hetti Bywater, The Square's tearaway Lucy Beale was played by Melissa Suffield. But where is Mel now...
Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale)
...since leaving Walford, Melissa has evolved as an actress and has since starred in Casualty and played the role of Norma Jean in a musical about Marilyn Monroe.
Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham)
Ellis Hollins has played Hollyoak's Tom Cunningham since he was just four-years-old and his storylines have gripped us all, from dealing with his mother's shock death to dealings with Sienna Blake... But where is Tom now?
Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham)
Fourteen years later, Ellis is still in Hollyoaks (as lovable as ever) and was even spotted in Ibiza partying! Oh and he won a British Soap Award, no biggie!
Sam Aston (Chesney Brown)
Sam Aston played the adorable Corrie's Chesney Brown since 2003. Speaking about life growing up on a popular soap, he said 'At 16, all my mates were getting fake IDs and going to pubs I always knew I couldn't do that.' But where is Sam Aston now?
Sam Aston (Chesney Brown)
Sam is engaged to his girlfriend of five years Briony Gardner! The star had previously said: 'I do think I'm romantic. I like to treat my girlfriend, buy her flowers and make a fuss of her.'
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle)
Eden Taylor-Draper has played Belle Dingle since 2005, when she fell down a mineshaft on Christmas day. Speaking about being a child actor she said at the time, 'there is no time to go off the rails like Belle, I go home and learn my lines and I am in bed by 9pm!' Where is Eden now?
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle)
Eden is still in Emmerdale and recently was involved in a storyline where Belle pretended to be pregnant to keep her boyfriend. Uh oh.
Charlie Jones (Ben Mitchell)
'Enders troublemaker Ben Mitchell has been played by a handful of actors, but we'll never forget the sweet Charlie Jones who was tormented by the evil Stella. Where is Charlie now?
Charlie Jones (Ben Mitchell)
Charlie is now studying acting at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts – he looks COMPLETELY different to his Walford days.
Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning)
Albert Square's favourite ginge (apart from his onscreen dad Max, obv) Bradley, was a knitted jumper-wearing sweetheart and made us want to pinch his cheeks through the television between 2006 - 2010. We are still getting over his tragic fall, where he saw his grizzly end. Where is Charlie now?
Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning)
We hardly recognise Charlie Clements with a beard! The actor uploaded the snap to Twitter with the caption. "A year ago everyone was up in arms because I looked SO different at 28 to 18.. bet they didn't expect this at 29! #actor 'chameleon', He has since starred as Charlie Brackenreid in Murdoch Mystereries.
Sonny Flood (Josh Ashworth)
Of course you remember Hollyoak's rather swishy-haired Josh Ashworth! His character was best known for dating Amy Barnes and an array of outlandish storylines including attempted murder, underage sex, drugs, drinking and joy riding. Where is Sonny now?
Sonny Flood (Josh Ashworth
Sonny has since completed a law degree at the University of Manchester, working as a paralegal. Miles away from underage drinking a pint at The Dog, eh!
“The chances are that I won't get to see Hope in the nativity this Christmas. But with your help I'll get to see them happy and not scared and crying and behaving badly because their mother is locked away in prison. Daniel said he wanted a good death and I understand that now.
“All I want, all I need, is to have the time I've got left and when I do die, when my time is up, I really need Stacey by my side so Ruby please. I know you've lost your baby but please don't send my baby to prison.”
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Jean, who made the heartfelt plea after breaking into Ruby’s house, is convinced that her cancer has returned but doesn’t know for sure since she fled her appointment months ago.
Fans of the show took to Twitter to share their reactions to the emotional scene.
One fan commented, “Jean literally had me in tears during this episode. Wonderful performance” whilst another tweeted, “I’m sorry, but if Jean dies in EastEnders, I will cry for months.”
A third wrote, "No! Jeans dying? What? NO! #EastEnders.”
One more remarked, "That last scene of Jean begging for Ruby to drop charges just broke me into tears."