An emotional week has come to a close at EastEnders, packed with intense drama and a farewell that left fans reeling: Sonia Fowler – the beloved icon of Walford for decades – has officially departed the legendary square.

Following a bitter fallout with her sister Bianca Jackson over the controversial “Coma K.i.l.l.e.r” podcast, Sonia returned in dramatic fashion to rescue Bianca when obsessive fans began threatening her. But the storm didn’t end there. Sonia’s estranged father, Terry, suddenly reappeared and invited her to start a new life in Bali. Yet when Sonia realized that Terry remained as cruel and cold-hearted as ever, she made a different choice: to leave with Bianca and her nieces. In a strikingly symbolic moment, Sonia sailed away from Walford on a speedboat, clutching her iconic trumpet – a bittersweet nod to the character’s unforgettable legacy.

Meanwhile, chaos brews in the Slater household. Young Lily spirals into trouble, experimenting with drugs and engaging in wild behavior with best friend Avani Nandraart. Tensions explode when a hammer-wielding dealer crashes a party, throwing the teens into panic – only for Jack Branning to arrive just in time to avert disaster.

Stacey continues to battle her grief and inner torment but receives an unexpected source of comfort from Sonia in her final hours in Walford. Their bond, deeply rooted in years of shared hardship, is poignantly revisited one last time before Sonia’s departure.

Elsewhere, Nicola Mitchell is furious to discover Zack Hudson training Barney behind her back. In a bold move, she instructs Tommy Moon and Joel Marshall to sabotage the day – a reminder that Nicola isn’t one to be underestimated.

As for Kojo, following the dark period after the explosion at the Queen Vic and the incident involving Cindy Beale, he begins to rediscover himself. Choosing not to move back in with family, Kojo asserts his independence by landing a job at Harry Mitchell’s garage. On his first day, he impresses everyone and even receives an invite to Nicola Mitchell’s birthday party – hinting at a fresh, brighter start ahead.

Yet it’s not just the storyline shaking things up – the broadcast schedule has changed as well. Due to the Easter holiday, the episode airing on Monday, April 21, will be broadcast earlier at 6:50 PM (instead of the usual 7:30 PM), to make way for Tim Burton’s Dumbo.

This week also marks a turning point in EastEnders history, as Natalie Cassidy (Sonia) exits the soap just weeks after the show’s 40th anniversary – an episode that saw the shocking death of Martin and the explosive return of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). As Ross famously quipped: “I came back, and within less than a minute, I’d fought, cried, made love, and fought again. No one’s ever just sitting quietly with a cup of tea here.”

Sonia Fowler will forever live on in fans’ memories – from her surprise childbirth and the heart-wrenching child abduction, to the fierce confrontations that culminated in that unforgettable Christmas slap to Pauline Fowler.

Audiences will surely miss this strong, quirky woman with a fiery heart – especially every time those not-so-sweet notes ring out from her beloved trumpet. Sonia may have gone, but her legacy will echo through Walford for years to come.