Longtime Walford stalwart Ian, as viewers know, was devastated when he was sent to prison earlier in the year and, despite being released in the latest visit to the Square, the ordeal has taken its toll on him.
The businessman struggled to adjust to life back in Walford and, after learning that Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) missed an inspection at the chippy, he saw red and punched him.
When he realised what he’d done, Ian apologised and headed back to No. 45, saying aloud that he cannot go back to prison. Mum Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) offered support as he sobbed in her arms.
Over at the B&B, Linda made it her mission to find out what Lee Carter (Danny Hatchard) is hiding about ex Jess, who he claims abandoned him and their unborn child – who sister Nancy (Maddy Hill) is carrying.
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She made a plot to track Jess down, much to the chagrin of Lee – but will she get the answers she’s looking for? Elsewhere, Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff) was shown the ropes of Harry’s Barn by Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington), though Ned’s (Jamie Bamber) attitude towards the young lad raised her eyebrows.
For a first look at what tomorrow’s edition of the soap entails, here’s everything you need to know.
What happens next in EastEnders? New spoilers for Thursday, October 8
Ian pushes his loved ones away in the wake of what transpired and things go from bad to worse when he discovers that Beales Eels has been vandalised.
Ned, who showed an interest in Ian earlier this week, comes to the Walford legend’s aid, helping him clean off the graffiti and urging him to face the reality of what happened on the night of the accident.
Ian struggles to adjust (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)
Ian subsequently reaches out to Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) and later reconnects with Ned, thanking him for his support.
Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine), meanwhile, is left worried when Rose (Marian McLoughlin) and Jodie (Anna Constable) comment that Ethan doesn’t look like Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota).
Elsewhere, Nicola and Ryder continue to bond. Nicola, however, gets a shock when Ryder brings his date to Harry’s Barn. Afterwards, he asks to speak to Nicola alone. But just what does he want to say?
And as for Linda and Lee, the aftermath of their showdown will no doubt take centre stage.
Will Lee be able to talk Linda out of trying to track down Jess? Or will Linda persist and work out what really happened between her son and his ex?
EastEnders airs these scenes Thursday October 8 at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.
A teenager spent hours setting up a plastic-covered ‘kill room’ like his hero fictional serial killer Dexter, before luring a woman and stabbing her 78 times.
Benjamin Day dressed up like his TV hero and copied his tactics stapling plastic sheeting to a bedroom in order to easily clean up the killing and get away with murder.
The forensic student, who changed university course to be more like Dexter, also planned to keep slides of his victim’s blood as a trophy.
Day, who cut open his hand dismembering the body of Maria Saceanu, was caught on camera lying to officers claiming to have been bitten by a wild dog or a fox.
Day, 20, changed his plea at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday to admit murdering 24-year-old Romanian Ms Saceanu.
A trial heard Ms Saceanu was lured to a plastic-lined room at an Airbnb in Tividale, West Midlands, where she suffered 78 knife wounds, many of them inflicted after death.
Maria Saceanu, 24, was lured to the plastic-lined room in Tividale (Picture: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
Day had placed his victim’s possessions into a black bin bag, ready for disposal after taking knives, scissors, a mask, an apron, disposable gloves, plastic sheeting, duct tape, a staple gun and cleaning chemicals to the scene.
Footage released by police on Wednesday shows Day bleeding onto the ground from a hand wound and falsely claiming to be unable to remember where he had parked his car, which was outside the house containing his victim’s body.
An officer can also be heard questioning Day’s account in the footage, filmed near the junction of Highview Street and Brewery Street in Dudley.
In a further clip released by police, Day is seen wearing a Dexter-style khaki top as he nods towards the officer arresting him at 3.42am on December 21 last year, while lying on a bed at Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital.
He is also heard saying: ‘I have got four fingers thankfully.’
Benjamin Day pleads guilty to murdering woman in copycat ‘kill room’ he created in Airbnb (Picture: West Midlands Police)
Benjamin Day was arrested in hospital after Maria’s body was discovered (Picture: West Midlands Police)
Opening the Crown’s case on Monday, prosecutor Rachel Brand KC said the defendant spent several hours preparing the so-called kill room.
Day had been expected to claim self-defence, asserting that he set up the room to film a ‘tribute’ to Dexter which he could post on TikTok.
But after an hour-long delay to proceedings on Tuesday, Day returned from the cells to the dock and appeared to smirk as he nodded towards the court clerk and entered a guilty plea.
Dexter killed other serial killers in the TV show (Picture: Showtime/Everett/Shutterstock)
The change of plea came around three hours after jurors were shown footage of Day claiming to have been attacked by a dog or fox ‘near a bush’.
The court heard Day left the Airbnb at about 12.30am on December 21, walked some distance away and then called 999 at 12.50am asking for medical help.
During his conversations with police, Day said he had driven over to the Dudley area to look for a ‘random girl’ in a bar.
Asked by an officer if he had been set up and attacked, Day said he had been injured by an animal that ‘might have been a fox’.
Ms Saceanu died as a result of wounds to her neck causing damage to her carotid arteries or jugular veins, with a number of wounds to her hands ‘consistent with efforts to protect herself’.
Explaining the Crown’s case at the start of what was expected to be a two-week trial, Ms Brand said of Day: ‘He lured Maria Saceanu to a room that he had rented via Airbnb.
‘He had prepared himself to kill her.
‘He had planned to dispose of her body without leaving signs of what had happened and he planned to get away with it.
‘But it all went wrong and he was caught.’
Day passed his first university year studying journalism, the court heard, but then transferred to another course in applied biology and forensics.
Ms Brand told the jury: ‘We don’t pretend, ladies and gentlemen, to be able to give you the deep-seated psychological reasons why he decided to kill another person – that’s not our remit.
‘But what we can tell you is that he had become fascinated with a particular television drama series – an American series – and his actions were those of a copycat, imitating the things he had seen in that programme.’
Teen killer Benjamin William Day calmly told cops he had been attacked by a wild dog or fox
Listing what she said were ‘similarities’ between the death and the Dexter TV series, Ms Brand told jurors: ‘Dexter Morgan works as a forensic scientist in a police department – and the broad premise of the programme is that he is a serial killer who knows how to cover his tracks.
‘The defendant changed his university course … to study applied biology and forensics.
‘Dexter wears a khaki T-shirt. The defendant had purchased just such a T-shirt and was wearing it when he was arrested.
‘He had changed into “Dexter” clothing before Maria Saceanu arrived at the house.
‘In the TV series Dexter prepares a “kill room” when carrying out his attacks, lined with plastic sheeting which he fixes using a staple gun or duct/gaffer tape.
‘And this is exactly how the defendant had prepared the room.
‘Dexter wears an apron, a plastic visor and gloves when killing his victims – all such items were found in the bedroom (at the Airbnb).’
Other similarities with the TV series included a canvas roll containing knives found in the bedroom, the dismemberment attempts and microscope slides containing blood thought to be a ‘trophy’ from the killing, Ms Brand said.
Detective Inspector Matt Marston, of the West Midlands Police Major Crime Team, who led the investigation, said: ‘Day had an obsessive personality and had become obsessed with the character Dexter.
‘He planned this murder in meticulous detail.
‘It was a pre-planned brutal attack on a defenceless woman lured to the room he had rented.
‘Day had flagged down officers where he offered them a fabricated story about the reason why he had received an injury to his hand. Officers were suspicious and he was quickly detained.
‘The details of this case shocked experienced officers and our thoughts continue to go out to the heartbroken family of Maria at this time.’
Day, of Yeadon Close, Redditch, Worcestershire, has been remanded in custody and faces a mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on December 4.
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is firmly on the radar of both Arsenal and Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal and Chelsea are closely monitoring Jules Kounde’s situation and have emerged as the ‘strongest contenders’ to sign the Barcelona defender, according to reports in Spain.
Kounde joined Barcelona with weighty expectations on his shoulders back in 2022 after catching the eye across an outstanding three-year spell with Spanish rivals Sevilla.
The 27-year-old would go on to win the league title in his debut season at the Camp Nou and has since lifted a total of seven pieces of silverware with the Catalan giants, including two further La Liga crowns.
However, speculation has been mounting over Kounde’s future in recent weeks and months, with the France international having plummeted down the pecking order under Hansi Flick.
Kounde now finds himself behind both Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart at right-back, and three of his four appearances in the Spanish top flight this term have come from the substitutes bench.
Kounde is said to be ‘highly valued’ within the Premier League due to his vast experience both at club and international level, as well as his versatility, given he is comfortable playing at both full-back and centre-half.
Kounde finds himself on the fringes of Flick’s squad (Picture: NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
The Frenchman has made just one league start this season (Picture: DeFodi Images/Shutterstock)
Of those teams mentioned, Arsenal and Chelsea are named as the ‘strongest contenders’ to land Kounde. The Gunners are said to have first considered a move for the out-of-favour defender last summer.
It’s claimed City, United and Liverpool are ‘keeping a close eye’ for the time being, though their interest could become ‘more significant’ if Kounde remains on the periphery of Flick’s squad over the coming months.
At the time of writing, however, there have been no open negotiations or formal offers for Kounde and it’s understood Barca are in no hurry to cash in on the ex-Sevilla and Bordeaux man.
There are four years remaining on Kounde’s current deal at the Camp Nou (Picture: Getty)
The report adds that ‘only a very high offer’ would tempt the La Liga champions into agreeing a deal for Kounde in the January transfer window.
Kounde ‘wants to feel important’ while remaining a ‘relevant part of the project’ at Barca – and if it becomes clear this is not the case, he will be prepared to explore avenues elsewhere.
Should Kounde and his camp seek a move, Barca are believed to identified Sporting’s Ivan Fresneda and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro as possible replacements at right-back.
Kounde’s current contract with Barca runs through to June 2030.
Cancelo and Espart are above Kounde in the pecking order at Barca (Picture: SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
‘It’s the coach’s decision,’ Kounde told the French media earlier his week when asked about his current situation at Barca.
‘I feel very good physically, I have no injury.
‘If I have less playing time, it’s due to last season, which was far below my standards. It’s a consequence and a challenge that I gladly accept.
‘I’ll have to work, which is what I normally do. It’s up to me to rediscover my best form.
‘I know that when I’m at my best, I’ll get playing time.’
Dr Hannah Terry, also known as Hannah Cain, who has been named locally as the woman found dead in a £800,000 house in Fern Hill (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Tributes have been paid to a ‘lovely’ GP found dead in her home as she hosted a children’s sleepover in a quiet village on the outskirts of the Sandringham Estate.
The mother-of-three, named locally as Hannah Cain, was also known as Dr Hannah Terry at her practice.
Detectives have been granted extra time to question a man arrested following her death in Dersingham.
Police were called to the detached £800,000 house in Fern Hill shortly after 2.20am yesterday (Sunday 4 October 2026) by the ambulance service.
The doctor in her 40s was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Locals in Dersingham, which is around a mile from Sandringham House, say that Dr Terry had young children and their friends over to stay.
Police took the other children were taken by officers to their families.
Police have sealed off the house that borders the Sandringham estate (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre. He remains in custody.
Officers applied to Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court for a warrant of further detention. The warrant will allow them an additional 32 hours to interrogate the suspect.
A cordon is still in place at the large property while detectives scour the scene.
Forensics scour the £800,000 home in Dersingham. (Picture: East Anglia News Service)
Dr Terry’s practice was closed on Monday. They posted a message: ‘We are sorry to let patients know that Grimston Medical Centre, including the dispensary, is temporarily closed due to extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team.
‘We apologise for the disruption and appreciate your patience and understanding at what is a very difficult time for our colleagues.’
Dr Terry, a qualified doctor of 15 years, also had a business called Norfolk Sky Aesthetics, where she carried out beauty procedures.
She said in her profile: ‘I am proud to be a caring and professional doctor with a keen interest in aesthetics.’
Neighbours told the Fakenham Times of their shock at the death.
She said: ‘She was just a lovely human being with three gorgeous young children.
‘Something’s obviously gone very badly wrong. I’m just out of words, we all are.’
A neighbour in his 90s, who lives next door, said: ‘I didn’t know anything until the police came.
‘I very rarely saw them, the children were lovely, two boys and a younger girl.
‘They used to kick their football into my garden and I’d throw it back to them, or they’d come and ask me if they could come in and look for it.’
Robert Kelker-Kelly starred in nearly 600 episodes of Days of Our Lives (Picture: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
TV soap star Robert Kelker-Kelly has died aged 62, more than 30 years after landing his breakout role on the hit show Days of Our Lives.
The actor played Bo Brady on nearly 600 episodes before leaving the role in 1995.
Robert died in Missouri on October 3, according to TMZ. His cause of death has not been revealed.
He also had long-running roles on Another World and General Hospital.
Earlier this year, Robert made headlines after his former Days co-star Lisa Rinna accused him of making her life ‘a living hell’ on set in her memoir.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star claimed they ‘hated each other’ behind the scenes and described him as ‘passive-aggressive, manipulative’ and ‘verbally abusive’.
Robert starred as Bo Brady, the husband of Lisa Rinna’s character Billie Reed (Picture: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Robert did not publicly respond to the allegations.
Outside of soaps, Robert appeared in more than 400 episodes of the TV series Another Worldbetween 1987 and 1998.
In this, he played characters including Sam Fowler, Bobby Reno and Shane Roberts.
Robert also took home two Soap Opera Digest Awards in his career.
This included one in 1994 for Outstanding Lead Actor and the other in 1995 for Hottest Soap Couple, which he shared with Rinna.
Saturday Night Live has been slammed for a sketch about the Cornell University rape allegations (Picture: Saturday Night Live/NBC)
Saturday Night Live has been criticised for a ‘disrespectful’ sketch which viewers accused of being ‘a lead-in to joke about rape’.
The segment featured Michael Che and Colin Jost, comedians who have served as anchors on the satirical news feature Weekend Update, which is SNL’s longest-running recurring sketch.
It mentioned the allegations surrounding Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, following a lawsuit filed by a Jane Doe claiming she was drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024.
The case has garnered widespread media attention and sparked outrage on social media, particularly as it emerged that the accused students were punished with workshops and essay-writing assignments. The alleged victim dropped out.
While fellow female students rally around the anonymous woman and voice their disdain for how the campus responded, the case – dubbed the ‘Cornell Seven’ – made its way to SNL this weekend.
Making Jost, 44, the punchline, Che, 43, portraying a news reporter, showed an image of Cornell University on-screen and said: ‘Obviously, we don’t want to make light of anything that happened, but it is a good time to talk about men holding other men accountable.
here's how SNL covered the Cornell University sexual assault lawsuit during Weekend Update
Michael Che: Obviously we don't want to make light of anything that happened, but it is a good time to talk about men holding other men accountable. And, look, we all have that one friend… pic.twitter.com/huvQj1xJXz
Co-host Colin Jost was used as the punchline in the skit (Picture: Saturday Night Live/NBC)
‘And, look, we all have that one friend that seems like a nice guy, but they’re definitely not…’
The camera then cut to Jost, who looked around in confusion.
‘It could be someone you’re close to or someone you work with,’ Che continued.
‘Maybe you can’t prove anything. You can just look at him and tell those weird, privileged Ivy League types always got some messed-up stuff going on.’
The shot focused on Jost once more, as Che asked him: ‘Did you want to add anything?’
‘What?’, he laughed. ‘No. Stop cutting to me!’
Audiences said SNL was ‘disrespecting’ sexual assault victims (Picture: Saturday Night Live/NBC)
‘Don’t wanna help women? Cool,’ Che then quipped.
The sketch has been viewed well over a million times on X alone since airing, leaving users stunned.
@angoldenera wrote that ‘two men joking about a horrific rape case is just not funny’, feeling especially upset because SNL has ‘handled serious issues in a non-offensive way before’.
@sillyexbf raged: ‘using cornell as a lead in to joke about rape was so disgusting and disrespectful and dismissive to women and SA victims everywhere. Apologising isn’t enough- corrective action needs to be taken’.
@bbrealityjunkie said they ‘didn’t appreciate’ the so-called joke, while @Errikkaa___ described the skit as ‘dark’.
In contrast, some viewers praised the handling of the joke, with @HazzardDylan writing: ‘It’s perfectly possible to make jokes about upsetting, current, topical subject matter without punching down on the victims, and I think this joke did that well’.
A woman, named only as Jane Doe, is taking legal action after accusing seven fraternity members of rape (Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
However, @123pm3 fired back: ‘generally i dont think making jokes about rape is remotely light hearted, even if its not poking the victim its literally humouring the rape itself’.
SNL is no stranger to dividing opinion, of course, as the programme has seen its fair share of scandals since premiering in 1975.
In the past, Donald Trump and Elon Musk hosted episodes, and Kanye West performed in a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat (then was booed for an impromptu ramble about politics).
SNL has also faced backlash for airing expletives and slurs and has been accused of plagiarism.
As for sketches, the show has a history of sparking backlash with skits such as 2000’s Regis Philbin Co-Host Auditions, in which Jimmy Fallon impersonated Chris Rock in blackface (for which Fallon later apologised), and 2009’s Tiger Woods Press Conference, which was criticised for appearing to trivialise domestic violence, to name just two.
Bosses have not responded to the backlash to the Cornell University sketch.
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Originally, prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges in the Jane Doe case, and she’s now seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
The criminal investigation has since reopened, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul saying the accuser was ‘failed at every turn’, appointing the State’s Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor.
Meanwhile, the university itself has vowed to take ‘a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life’.
University president Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message: ‘At their best, these organisations can provide students with friendship, belonging, mentorship and a powerful sense of community.
‘But being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility.’
He added that the university would be seeking the input of students and others on how best to ‘preserve what is valuable about Greek life while strengthening individual accountability, transparency, and a culture in which every member understands their responsibility to protect the safety and wellbeing of others’.
It is understood that all seven accused men deny wrongdoing.
