EastEnders fans in tears following last night’s episode – and here’s why

Get the tissues

Eastenders Jean Slater

by Daisy Hall |
Updated on

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.”

Eastenders Jean Slater
©BBC Pictures

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?

Gallery

Child soap stars - where are they now? SLIDER with cover pic

child soap stars1 of 19
CREDIT: REX/Shutterstock

child soap stars

Molly Conlin2 of 19
CREDIT: Getty

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 Conlin3 of 19
CREDIT: Molly Conlin Twitter

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)4 of 19
CREDIT: ITV

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 Flanagan5 of 19
CREDIT: Helen Flanagan Instagram

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 Suffield6 of 19
CREDIT: BBC 1 EastEnders

Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale)

Before Hetti Bywater, The Square's tearaway Lucy Beale was played by Melissa Suffield. But where is Mel now...

Melissa Suffield7 of 19
CREDIT: Melissa Suffield Instagram

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.

Tom Cunningham8 of 19
CREDIT: Channel 4 Hollyoaks

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?

Tom Cunningham9 of 19
CREDIT: Getty

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 Aston10 of 19
CREDIT: ITV Coronation Street

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 Thompson11 of 19
CREDIT: Getty

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 Draper12 of 19
CREDIT: ITV Emmerdale

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?

Belle Dingle13 of 19
CREDIT: Getty

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.

Ben Mitchell14 of 19
CREDIT: BBC 1 EastEnders

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 Jones15 of 19
CREDIT: BBC1 EastEnders

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 Clements16 of 19
CREDIT: BBC 1

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?

Bradley Branning17 of 19
CREDIT: Twitter: Charlie Clements

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 Flood18 of 19
CREDIT: Channel 4

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 Flood19 of 19
CREDIT: Instagram

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!

Jean Slater Ruby Allen EastEnders
©BBC Pictures

“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.”

WATCH Celebrity Phone Unlocked with AJ and Curtis Pritchard

READ MORE EastEnders news

EastEnders' Kellie Bright announces third pregnancy in 'open and honest' post about IVF

EastEnders spoilers: Mick Carter faces more agony

EastEnders fans notice 'blunder' with Ruby Allen storyline

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."

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us