It’s war between EastEnders’ Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) next week, as they both scramble to cover up shocking secrets.

The pair didn’t get off on the best foot when Nicola rocked up in Walford last year – determined to get back with ex-husband Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian), Nicola was bitter to find him getting close to Sharon.

After the pair became official, Nicola tried to enlist Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to help split them up, but so far she has been unsuccessful in her efforts.

However, Nicola has bigger problems to worry about next week when Sharon seemingly gets wind of a bombshell she’s desperate to stop from exploding.

The week begins with Sharon keeping a huge secret of her own. And while viewers will have to wait to find out what she is sitting on, a conversation she has about it with half-brother Zack Hudson (James Farrar) is overheard by Nicola and Teddy’s son Barney (Lewis Bridgeman).

Zack promises Sharon he’ll find a way to stop Barney from speaking out and confronts him at the club, but their conversation is cut short when Barney collapses in agony, bleeding from the wound he sustained when the Queen Vic exploded.

After a dash to hospital, a conversation about blood types raises suspicions and Zack – who it was revealed had enjoyed a fling with Nicola years before they lived on Albert Square – asks her outright if Barney is his son.

He is then shocked when Nicola confirms that is indeed the case!

While a reeling Zack tries to get his head around the news, Nicola is determined to protect Barney and Teddy from the truth.

Realising Sharon has the power to reveal all, Nicola plays her trump card to keep her rival quiet – and after a tense conversation, she is pleased to have the situation seemingly under control.

Later, Nicola and Teddy invite Sharon and Zack to join them for a family meal at Walford East, which has disaster written all over it if you ask us…