❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

EastEnders airs horrific Joel Marshall twist following controversial return in early BBC iPlayer release

Spoiler warning for Wednesday 22nd July 2026.

Joel stares through some railings in a scene from EastEnders

BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

Published: Wednesday, 22 July 2026 at 12:48 pm

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

Joel Marshall's fate has been left in peril in EastEnders on Wednesday.

Ad

The BBC One soap aired a shocking twist in the storyline of the controversial character, played by Max Murray, as Joel continued to face a backlash following his return to Walford last week.

Despite the concerns of stepmother and victim Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) and his beleagured father Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw), Joel had been set up in Peacock Palace after being left on the Square by his mum Cleo (Mazz Murray).

Frustrated that no one was keeping the radicalised youth away from Walford, the teens, led by his victim Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) and Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd), decided to take matters into their own hands.

Amy and friend Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) invited Joel to their end-of-term celebrations in the park, under the guise of putting the past behind them.

Despite his misgivings, Ross agreed to let Joel attend with the pair, who insisted there was no ulterior motive.

Joel stands over Avani, Denzel and Barney in a scene from EastEnders

(L-R) Aaliyah James as Avani Nandra-Hart, Jaden Ladega as Denzel Danes, Lewis Bridgeman as Barney Mitchell and Max Murray as Joel Marshall. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

In the park, Joel apologised to Avani for his past actions, having filmed them having sex and putting it online.

Ultimately, the teens banded together, despite some guilty consciences, in the form of Lily and Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman), and bound and locked Joel to a fence and soaked him in beer to humiliate him - filming the whole situation too.

The group mocked Joel and abandoned him locked to the fence.

Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google.

Radio Times logo compressed to an RT icon in white, sitting within a dark green circle

Later, however, it was clear they felt they had made a mistake after some words from Will Mitchell (Freddie Phillips) and decided to return and free him.

However, at the close of the episode, when the group returned, they found Joel had already been unchained but was wounded and unconscious on the floor.

Will Joel survive what just occurred? And ultimately, who is responsible for the attack?

Read more:

Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.

Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Ad

Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Lewis Knight, smiling against a lime green background.

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis is the news and trends editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...