EastEnders’ Lola Pearce (played by Danielle Harold ) hasn’t had the easiest run of it lately, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour late last year.
Yet things looked set to become even more difficult for the Walford resident on Tuesday night, when she came face-to-face with newcomer Emma Harding (played by Patsy Kensit) who soon dropped the bombshell that she was in fact Lola’s estranged mother.
Confronted by Emma in the Square, Lola was quick to lash out at her once her true identity was exposed as the mother that had walked out on her at the age of three; not only for abandoning her, but also for returning to the Square and lying to her face about her identity.
Initially spurning her mother’s advances as she attempted to reconnect and explain herself, Lola was later convinced to hear out her mother, who went on to explain that she had been a victim of abuse and fled the family home to escape violence at the hands of Lola’s dad.
In harrowing detail, Emma bared the scars of her past as she told Lola about the experience she had suffered, leaving both Lola herself – and viewers at home – in floods of tears.
In one particularly heartbreaking memory, Emma recalled the moment her abusive partner threw a kettle containing boiling water over her.
She was rushed to hospital and suffered serious burns, which meant she had to remain in hospital for months as she recovered from her injuries.
Terrified of returning home, Emma left her daughter in her father’s care, only returning when she had plucked up the courage to do so – but it was too late and the pair had already moved and left no trace behind to follow them.
It was then revealed that it was only after Lola’s father’s death that Emma felt safe enough to seek out her daughter, prompting the pair to finally reconcile after years apart in a slew of scenes that captivated audiences at home.
“That episode was phenomenal… wtf @petelawson68. Well done!! Danielle Harold and Patsy Kensit were amazing!” gushed one fan on social media.
Another also agreed as they wrote: “Amazing scenes tonight and great acting!”
“This episode omg Lola and Emma . @patsy_kensit is amazing & her & @DHaroldOfficial in scenes together is just a masterclass in acting. This was the most perfect casting by @bbceastenders," added another.
One fan was even left feeling emotional as they wrote: “That episode broke my heart! Handled beautifully. Actual tears!”
Several others agreed, commenting only with a selection of crying emojis alongside the EastEnders hashtag.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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