EastEnders Nicola Mitchell’s real plan ‘sealed’ as unexpected ‘killer’ roams free

After an explosive arrival in Walford, Nicola Mitchell’s plan was rumbled by a handful of viewers who are convinced her youngest son Barney is a full-blown killer.

Actress Laura Doddington made her EastEnders debut as Nicola Mitchell this Monday (November 11), as her character arrived in Albert Square in the midst of her son Harry’s arrest. The hunk played by Elijah Holloway was pushed in the back of a police car for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Shireen.

This Tuesday, November 12, in scenes aired on BBC One viewers, Nicola moved heaven and earth to get Harry released, supplying him with an air-tight alibi before poking fun at Jack Branning (Scott Maslen). But when she returned to No.1 to confront her ex-husband Teddy (Roland Manookian), her secrets were flung out into the open.

Barney (Lewis Bridgerman) was notably horrified when he found out that his mother was once sent to prison after one of her botched business ventures left a girl in hospital. This led Nicola to warn Teddy and their two sons that, while they may not want her around, she’d still try to fight her family’s corner.

Over on social media, however, some viewers of the long-running show believed that Nicola’s plan was crystal clear. According to them, Harry may not even be involved in Shireen’s murder – but his brother Barney could be.

A viewer took to Twitter, now X, to speculate: “I think Teddy/Nicola is the heads of a crime family or Nicola is a cop. Nicola was “tipped off” by someone at police station so I think she’s a cop or she’s got an informant. My guess is Barney killed Shireen & they covered it up.”

In another theory, Nicola could share a link with Chrissie Watts, who was last seen in Walford in September, 2024. The villainess was released from behind bars at the time, and bumped into Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) in prison before she was finally able to drive away from Albert Square with Jake Moon, who unexpectedly returned for the occasions after he was thought to have been killed by Johnny Allen.

With Nicola’s past in prison, one theory could suggest that Chrissie may be trying to get under Sharon’s skin through Nicola, despite making amends with her former stepdaughter during her last appearance in the show.

Teddy was previously thought to share a connection with Chrissie Watts and, amid theories that he could embark on a romantic relationship with Sharon, Nicola will, either way, be an obstacle for her. This led some fans to speculate she could get her hands on the Queen Vic after Linda Carter’s potential death.

“Kind of need Nicola Mitchell as the next landlady of The Vic.”, one soap viewer pleaded as another suggested she could take over wine bar Peggy’s: “I think Nicola will end up buying Peggy’s as Phil’s “Secret buyer” She’ll then offer Ruby a job in the club when she returns next week as Ruby is short of money when she returns apparently.” But what will Nicola really do and could Barney have killed Shireen?