EastEnders fans 'broken' after watching sickening twist in Chantelle's death

Chantelle EastEnders
Chantelle EastEnders

Tonight's EastEnders made for tough viewing...

Tonight's EastEnders has left fans heartbroken after watching Chantelle Atkins' devastating death play out on screen.

Despite the fact viewers were given warning that Chantelle's (Jessica Plummer) bid to escape her toxic marriage to Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) would end in tragedy, it didn't make the episode any easier to watch.

Gray EastEnders

Gray was fuming as he confronted Chantelle about her plan to leave him (Picture: BBC)

But to make matters worse, the cold and calculated way that Gray behaved throughout the episode has left fans devastated.

The special EastEnders episode, which focused entirely on Gray and Chantelle, saw Chantelle finally find the courage to tell her abusive husband that she was leaving him.

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But, of course, the news didn't go down well, and Gray's violent side emerged once again.

Chantelle EastEnders

Chantelle fell backwards onto a knife in the open dishwasher (Picture: BBC)

However, instead of hitting his wife like he has done countless times before, Gray shoved her backwards, causing her to fall onto the open dishwasher and onto a sharp knife.

But instead of calling for an ambulance and saving Chantelle's life, fans were left sickened as Gray realised that the situation left him looking guilty and he instead started to plan a cover story.

Gray EastEnders

A cold and calculating Gray went out into the Square to make sure he had an alibi (Picture: BBC)

Before Chantelle was even dead Gray was covering his tracks, leaving her to die in the house while he went out into the Square to make sure people saw him and give himself an alibi.

Not only did he then get rid of the money and phone that Chantelle had hidden, he even went to the pub to play a round of darts.

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Cold and calculating, Gray also went to buy a pint of milk at the Minute Mart.

Chantelle

Poor Chantelle met a tragic end this evening (Picture: BBC)

But his choice of a glass bottle wasn't even an accident, using it as a prop when he got home to play out his fake shocked husband role as he set up Chantelle's 'accident' scene.

Fans have been left totally speechless over Chantelle's tragic demise, but it is Gray's chilling behaviour that has left them traumatised...

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As Gray returned to the house he started to cover up his actions before finally calling an ambulance, but only after he had made sure his wife was finally dead.

With Gray set to play the grieving husband card next week just how long will he manage to keep up his act and cover the truth of what happened behind the closed doors of number one Albert Square?

EastEnders airs Mondays at 8.05pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.35pm and Fridays at 8.30pm on BBC One - see our TV Guide for full listings.

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.