There were sparks aplenty yesterday in EastEnders when Peter Beale (Thomas Law) met newcomer Demi (Lucy Edington-Brown) at young son Jimmy’s sensory class, but is he set to let the sparks become a flame?
Things between Peter and fiancée Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) have been tough, to say the least. When Jimmy’s sight impairment was discovered, their relationship crumbled.
A feud developed between the exes, and though they later reunited, both have hardly been having a joyous time of it, trying to juggle their jobs and childcare and their relationship and all at the same time. Peter’s manipulative mother, Cindy (Michelle Collins) has moved in to lessen the pressure on the couple, though her first act was to insist that Peter, rather than Lauren, take Jimmy to his sensory class.
Enter Demi.
Demi and Peter met at the class and instantly connected, the chemistry between them undeniable. When Jimmy suffered a nappy-related accident and with Peter unprepared with a change of clothes, Demi lent him her daughters sparkly tutu.
When she offered her number to Peter, he initially resisted, though when Demi insisted it was to organise the return of the tutu, he relented, though his eyes widened further when he saw Demi’s phone background: she’s a professional burlesque dancer.
As Peter traded secretive texts with Demi later, he sought his dad, Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) advice.
Ian was unequivocal: he should cut all contact with Demi and resist the temptation to play with fire, though it seemed Peter was a little too tempted to dip his toe into troublesome waters.
As Demi arrived to collect the tutu, she suggested a drink. Though Peter tried to remain strong, he acquiesced and headed to the Vic with his new ‘friend’.
As they talked, things took a slightly physical turn, with a playful hand-grab from Demi and absolutely zero resistance from Peter.
Like a true gentleman, Peter walks Demi back to the tube station, where she lays a sweet hand on his chest and, because soap, is spotted by Lauren’s cousin, Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine).
Returning home, Peter was clearly a ticking bomb of tension as he instantly ordered Lauren to take her dress off, before disrobing himself. As the door slammed, they were clearly enjoying themselves.
What will Penny do with the enormous amount of piping hot tea she’s just received? Is Demi too much for Peter to resist? Are Lauren and Peter heading back to splitsville?
