A Painful Reunion Shakes Eve’s Future

Emotions run high in EastEnders next week as Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace) faces a devastating decision about her future with wife Suki (Balvinder Sopal). The couple’s dream of adopting a child takes a heartbreaking turn when Eve’s estranged mother, Norma, arrives in Walford — reopening old wounds and forcing Eve to confront a past she’s tried to leave behind.

After being told she needs a personal reference from her mother to move forward with the adoption, Eve finds herself torn between her desire to become a parent and the painful memories tied to Norma. “Eve believes the entire adoption process relies on this reference,” Heather Peace explained. “She can get others, but they specifically requested one from before she had a criminal record.”

Norma’s Arrival Brings Tension and Pain

Next week, Eve and Suki nervously welcome Norma to Albert Square, hoping to explain their hopes for adoption. But their reunion quickly turns uncomfortable.

Norma, played with chilling precision, is described by Heather as “uptight and a bit of a narcissist.” She dominates every room she enters and wastes no time making her disapproval known. “It’s very obvious she doesn’t really approve of Suki and Eve’s relationship,” Heather said. “Norma has her nose in the air a lot of the time, and she toys with them too.”

Fans will recall that Eve’s relationship with her mother has long been fraught. Years earlier, Norma rejected Eve after she came out as a lesbian — and the tragic death of Eve’s twin sister only deepened their rift. Although the two briefly reunited off-screen last year, their relationship remains fragile, marred by Nish Panesar’s cruel manipulation and violence.

A Cruel Question and a Crushing Decision

When the women finally sit down to talk, things quickly unravel. As old resentments bubble to the surface, Norma cruelly questions Eve’s ability to be a good mother. The harsh words cut deep, and later, alone with Suki, Eve makes a heartbreaking decision — she tells her wife she no longer wants to continue with the adoption.

It’s a moment that leaves the couple reeling and fans heartbroken. After surviving Nish’s cruelty and rebuilding their lives together, this new setback threatens to tear them apart once again.

Hope Amid the Heartbreak

Despite the devastation, Heather Peace believes Eve’s painful encounter with Norma will ultimately make her stronger — and even more ready for motherhood. “I think Eve’s experience with Norma will make her a gentler, more unjudgmental parent,” she said. “She’s had great parenting experience with Stacey’s kids, and she’s been supportive with Avani and Nugget. I think she’d make an absolutely fantastic mum.”

As Suki turns to Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) for help in the aftermath, the question remains — is this truly the end of their adoption journey, or just another painful step toward a future they both still dream of?