EastEnders spoilers: Chantelle Atkins prepares to escape!

Chantelle Atkins and the Taylors in EastEnders

Chantelle Atkins packs her bags, Frankie Lewis gets close to the Carter family and Max Branning wants his cash back from Ian Beale!

Chantelle Atkins is just a step away from leaving her abusive situation in Monday’s episode of EastEnders (8 pm, see our TV Guide for full listings).

Chantelle Atkins in EastEnders

Chantelle Atkins is terrified that her escape may not go to plan (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

After seizing the chance to go on the family holiday with her mum and dad, Chantelle Atkins hurriedly packs bags for her and the kids. When they call round to collect her, Chantelle’s unsuspecting husband Gray Atkins opens the door.

Confused to see them in their holiday gear, Gray demands to know what’s going on. Knowing it’s her only chance to take the kids and flee Walford, Chantelle insists it’s a last minute trip and asks Gray if she can go.

Chantelle then visits boss Kheerat Panesar and tells him she’s leaving the Square for good. Meanwhile, Gray is starting to get more and more suspicious. After getting back from seeing Kheerat, Chantelle tries to hide her horror when Gray tells her that he’s keeping the kids home with him…

Frankie takes a shine to Ollie in EastEnders

Frankie Lewis makes friends with Ollie Carter

Tina Carter isn’t sure if new employee at The Albert Frankie Lewis is flirting with her, after Frankie suggests they go for a drink after work.

Things don’t go quite to plan when Tina puts her foot in it after talking about Frankie’s deafness. In a bid to connect with Frankie, Tina looks through photos with her. Frankie explains that a picture of a young boy is her brother, who died ten years ago.

Later, Tina takes Frankie to the Vic and she soon takes a shine to little Ollie Carter. But does Frankie have an ulterior motive in getting to know the family?

Max thanks Ian for helping him out in EastEnders

Max Branning has some disturbing news for Ian Beale!

Max Branning is relieved when his divorce from ex Rainie Branning finally comes through. He thanks Ian Beale for helping him hide his assets in the businesses, telling him that he’ll give him £2000 as a thank you but he needs the rest of his money back now…

Also, Ben Mitchell goes to dad Phil Mitchell for advice about the situation with gangster Danny Hardcastle.

EastEnders continues on BBC1 on Tuesday at 7.30 pm

Rachel Lucas
Forward Planning Deputy Manager

Rachel is a soaps and TV writer for WhatToWatch.com, soaps podcaster and resident soap expert for UK TV listings magazines What's On TV and TV Times. After graduating with an art and design degree from Birmingham City University, she found her true calling in all things soap and has been writing about them for magazines and websites for over 20 years. A self-confessed soap addict, she's always had a great love of all the UK and Aussie soaps and owns everything from a Neighbours 1990 Annual to a DVD box set of classic Corrie episodes to prove it.