Controversial EastEnders couple TORN APART thanks to THIS forbidden kiss next week?

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Gray and Chantelle Atkins find their relationship on the rocks next week...

Next week's EastEnders will see Chantelle and Gary Atkins' marriage in trouble when a shocking kiss and affair accusations come between them.

EastEnders fans will know that Gray and Chantelle's marriage is far from perfect, with Gray subjecting his wife to horrendous physical abuse behind closed doors.

Gray Atkins finds Whitney in the Square in EastEnders.

Gray offers Whitney support in the run up to her appearance in court (Picture: BBC)

But to the outside world the Atkins couple have got the most perfect life, living in the biggest house on the Square with their two beautiful children.

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But next week their already rocky marriage is thrown into jeopardy once again when Gray starts to get suspicious of Chantelle thanks to a tracking device he has had fitted to the car.

However, that's not all that gets between the husband and wife, because next week also sees a confused Whitney Dean also act on her growing feelings for Gray as the pair put together her case for her murder trial.

Gray Atkins talks to Whitney Dean in EastEnders

Whitney has been harbouring secret feelings for her lawyer, Gray (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

As Whitney continues to be haunted by the night that Leo died, Gray finds her wandering around the Square, lost and disorientated, and takes her back to his place to go through her case.

But, little does Gray realise, Whitney's feelings for him are growing and she is struggling to get him off her mind.

As the pair work through her defence, Gray encourages Whitney to use her flashbacks to piece together what really happened in the lead up to Leo's death, and despite reliving the fateful night leaving her distressed, Whitney is able to give a detailed account of what happened.

Whitney and Gray EastEnders

The pair share a secret kiss next week - but what does this mean for Gray's marriage? (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

However, when she breaks down after the harrowing ordeal, Gray comforts Whitney, leading to her misreading the signals and going in for a kiss.

How will Gray react? Could Whitney's feelings be reciprocated?

But the kiss from Whitney isn't the only trouble heading for Gray and Chantelle's marriage.

Gray has secretly fitted a tracking device to his car, and starts to keep an eye on the different places she is visiting.

Dotty Cotton with Gray Atkins and Chantelle Atkins

Chantelle has no idea that Gray has attached a tracking device to the car so he can keep tabs on her (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

But when he sees that his car was taken to Stratford, he instantly accuses her of having an affair.

Gray confronts Chantelle about using the car, and when she denies it he is adamant that she must be lying.

Little does he know it was actually Ben Mitchell who used his car for the warehouse heist job with Phil, and not Chantelle playing away at all.

Gray looks at his car's journey tracker in EastEnders

Gray accuses Chantelle of cheating when he sees his car has been to Stratford (Picture: BBC)

But with Whitney closing in on Gray and affair accusations flying around, can Gray and Chantelle's marriage take the pressure?

EastEnders will temporarily air a reduced schedule of two episodes a week. Watch on Mondays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 7:30pm on BBC One. 

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.