EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has said that his character Jay has deep suspicions about the true motives of Emma (Patsy Kensit).
Emma arrived in the Square earlier this year to connect with her dying daughter Lola (Danielle Harold), whom she hadn't seen since she walked out on Lola when she was just three years old.
While initially hesitant, Lola forgave Emma after she confessed that she had no choice but to leave her after Lola's father viciously attacked her with a boiling kettle, putting her in hospital for several months.
In scenes to be shown next week, Emma is brought back to Walford when young Lexi calls her with concerns for her mum's health - but Jay is wary.
"Jay encouraged the relationship from the start because he can see that Lola isn't in good health and once she's decided she wants a relationship with her mum, Jay is never going to stay in the way of that," said Borthwick.
"But once she's on the scene, he can sense that there's something not quite right about her and he's got his eye on her. Jay isn't totally bought by her whole demeanour, he can sense that something isn't quite right."
He continued: "[With Jay] there's that element of 'well I'm here every day, I've been here the whole time and you haven't'.
"So whilst Jay understands Emma's point of view, she doesn't know their set-up and she doesn't know how they've been managing.
"Emma's arrived and she's got opinions on the situation but she doesn't actually know what's really going on. That gets Jay quite frustrated actually.
"He can also see that she's not who she says she is, he can sense some cracks, and he can sense there's something not quite right with her. He isn't totally bought by the whole 'I'm really sorry' performance."
Emma and Jay clash in next week's episodes when she convinces him to go out with Ben (Max Bowden) and Callum (Tony Clay) while she accompanies Lola to the hospital. Later, Emma sees Jay closely interacting with a girl and - getting the wrong idea of the stick - she returns to Lola to share what she saw.
"Jay and the boys are on a night out and he goes to the bar and there's a group of girls that are on a hen-do," Borthwick explained.
"He bumps into one of the hen party who comments that he looks miserable, and he explains that he's married, and she admits that she is too, so Jay immediately feels comfortable talking to her as they're both married.
"Jay is really innocently telling her about Lola and how she isn't well at the moment. As she's talking to him, Jay can't hear so he leans forward and to onlookers, it looks like they're getting close but they're not. At this point Emma comes in, spots Jay and thinks 'Ah, I can use that.'
"I don't think she genuinely believes that Jay is trying to pursue other women, but she sees an opportunity to get Jay out of the picture a little bit. She is very manipulative in that way."
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
> Picture Spoilers: Next week on EastEnders (March 13-16)
Neil Wilkes
Follow us on Bluesky or on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
Media Mole's Lowest Ever Sky Offer: Get Sky Essential, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £15 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends March 19, 2025
