Walford rocked to the core by upsetting event at Lola’s fundraiser in EastEnders

A fundraiser created in memory of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) ends in disaster in EastEnders next week when the Walford residents make an alarming discovery.

Viewers will remember that Lola sadly died from a brain tumour just over a year ago, leaving the community torn apart.

The storyline looked at how Lola’s illness impacted her family and friends, as well as shining a light on Lola making the most of her final moments.

As part of this, Lola told husband Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) that she wanted one last trip to the seaside.

The residents remember Lola once more

They had lunch on the pier, visited shops and enjoyed the fresh sea air too, but the scenes were tinged with sadness as Lola and Jay also discussed how she wanted Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) to help end her life when the time came.

Lola actually passed away peacefully in her bed with Jay and daughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) next to her. In the aftermath, the Mitchell family are often seen watching videos of Lola, with one during Christmas last year revealing she had signed Jay and Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) up for the London Marathon.

In upcoming episodes of the BBC One soap, Lola’s fundraiser talent show is in full swing at the pub.

However, Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford) isn’t in the mood to celebrate, as he feels guilty for letting Will Mitchell (Freddie Phillips) down.

Despite their argument, Mo Harris (Laila Morse) buoys up Stevie and the pair manage to put on a magic act which is a huge success.

Later though, as the residents reflect on the day, they are horrified to realise the fundraiser money has been stolen.

But who was responsible?

Though been a full year since Lola’s death, the storyline still has a huge impact, as actor Jamie Borthwick revealed recently.

‘I’m still getting asked about it. People still talk about it a lot, which is a great thing. It shows the impact that story had.

‘I had to watch a little synopsis of it from beginning to end the other day – and forget that I’m in it, because I can look at it from a punter point of view, because first and foremost I am and always have been an EastEnders fan – I just think it’s so real.

‘It’s easy now, a year on, to forget. But we went to a screening and when we were all sat watching it for the first time, we were like, “Wow, this really does touch.”

‘It’s so real that you don’t feel like you’re watching a soap at all. You feel like you’re watching a short film.’