EastEnders finally aired Ross and Joel Marshall’s real reason for leaving Australia and starting afresh in Walford.
Ross and his son Joel arrived on The Square last month with a returning Vicki Fowler, Ross’ partner, for a new life in London. Viewers, and indeed Vicki, were previously led to believe that they had left their life Down Under after Ross got in trouble with some loan sharks, with Sharon paying off his debts.
However, tonight’s episode revealed Ross had actually been covering for son Joel over something much more sinister.
The revelation followed on from the disturbing twist that Joel had secretly recorded himself having sex with Avani Nandra-Hart — without her knowledge or consent — during their night together.
Tonight’s episode opened with Ross confronting Joel about the video after discovering it on his son’s phone in the previous episode.
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“How could you be so stupid again?” he asked Joel, cornering him in the kitchen.
Joel claimed Avani knew about the video and even insisted it was even her idea. But Ross didn’t buy it. Worrying about Avani’s young age, he pointed out his son could be on the sex offenders register if caught.
He asked Joel whether he’d sent the video to anyone. Joel said he hadn’t and would delete the video after Ross’ demand.
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The pair’s conversation was cut short when Vicki called them both to dinner. The mood was tense and Vicki made it clear she wanted answers for their cold behaviour.
Later, Ross opened up to Vicki in the kitchen, revealing his debt was all a lie and they had to leave Australia because of Joel.
A distressed Ross explained Joel had been watching pornography like many other teenage boys do, but then “something happened with a girl”.
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“He took a picture up her skirt and she didn’t want him to and then he sent it to all his mates,” he elaborated.
A disgusted Vicki asked if Ross went to the police about Joel, but Ross revealed he’d paid off the girl’s family with Sharon’s money instead in order to protect his son.
Ross told Vicki it was just Joel being “young” and “stupid” and that he was “learning” still. When Vicki questioned if Joel has misbehaved since, Ross failed to tell her about the Avani video.
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Finding Ross and Joel’s secret a lot to process, Vicki asked for space and immediately walked out the house.
Returning from her walk later, she found the two of them on the sofa and issued some new demands for Joel while living under her family’s roof.
Vicki told Joel she’s moving him to a boy’s school, despite Joel saying he’s happy at Walford High. She hopes the move will help him to “hopefully learn to respect women”.
After Joel stormed out unhappy with the news, Ross thanked Vicki for not telling Sharon about where her money really went. However, Vicki wasn’t ready to forgive just yet, claiming she’s still got to get her head around the whole situation.
