Next week in EastEnders, grief, love, and betrayal collide in one of Walford’s most explosive funerals to date. Callum Highway is set to bury his father Jonno, a man whose cruelty left scars that time never healed. What begins as a somber farewell quickly unravels into chaos when two shocking returns shake the Square to its core, leaving Callum trapped between the painful past and a devastating choice for his future.

For Callum, laying Jonno to rest is no straightforward act of closure. His father was violent, homophobic, and abusive—a presence that twisted his childhood and haunted his adult life. Jonno’s sudden death doesn’t erase the trauma, nor does it conjure fond memories. Instead, it leaves Callum mourning something far more complicated: not the man his father was, but the father he should have been. As actor Tony Clay explains, Callum’s grief is rooted in lost possibilities—the life he might have had, the love he never received, and the acceptance that was denied him. This emotional tug-of-war sets the stage for a week filled with heartbreak, betrayal, and family reckonings.

But Jonno’s influence doesn’t die with him. Johnny Carter, who shared a complicated bond with Jonno, finds himself tangled in a web of lies. Unable to face the truth of Jonno’s final cruelty, Johnny lies to Callum, claiming that Jonno’s last words were forgiving and regretful. In reality, they were filled with venom. Johnny knows his deception is dangerous, but he convinces himself it’s kinder to shield Callum from the truth. Yet, the guilt gnaws at him, especially as his relationship with Callum deepens.

Their romance, fragile and intoxicating, intensifies in the shadow of grief. Callum, desperate to take back control of his chaotic life, pushes Johnny to make things official between them. He wants certainty, something solid in the middle of so much turmoil. Johnny, though deeply in love, urges caution. He knows that if the truth about Jonno’s final words—or their affair—emerges, the fallout could destroy them before they’ve even begun.

But secrets in Walford never stay buried for long. Their stolen moments catch the eye of Kathy Beale, who happens to see Callum and Johnny sharing a kiss. The revelation is like a spark in dry tinder. Kathy, unable to hold back, gathers the Mitchells and Beales—Phil, Ian, Billy, Honey, and Harvey—exposing Callum’s betrayal of Ben. One by one, the family condemns him, their judgments sharp and merciless. The hypocrisy is staggering, and for once Callum refuses to shrink under the weight of their anger. In a rare, raw outburst, he lays bare the loneliness that drove him to Johnny, confessing how much of his life has been dictated by others’ choices and how desperately he craves happiness on his own terms.

It’s a searing moment of truth, but guilt still lingers. Wracked with regret, Callum begs Johnny to stand by his side at the funeral. He wants strength, solidarity, and love to get him through the most painful goodbye of his life. Unbeknownst to him, however, the Mitchells and Beales strike a pact of secrecy. They decide that Ben must not discover the truth about Callum and Johnny—not yet. Callum will be forced to confess, but only after Jonno is buried.

The day of the funeral dawns heavy with tension. Mourners gather, whispers ripple, and the shadow of Jonno’s legacy hangs over every bowed head. Callum steels himself to say goodbye, torn between rage, grief, and guilt. Just when he thinks he has braced for everything, the first shock arrives.

Out of the blue, his brother Stuart Highway walks back into his life. Their relationship has always been stormy, scarred by past betrayals and clashes. Yet, in this moment, Stuart’s presence is a balm for Callum’s soul. In the darkest hour, Stuart’s return reminds him that he is not entirely alone. “It’s amazing for him,” Tony Clay reflects. “They’ve got a really special bond.” For Callum, seeing his brother offers comfort and strength, a small but vital reminder of unconditional love.

But nothing could prepare him for the second bombshell. As the family prepares to lay Jonno to rest, another figure emerges—one who turns the entire service on its head. Ben Mitchell, released from prison on compassionate grounds, appears at the funeral.

The sight of his husband hits Callum like a gut punch. In an instant, the future he imagined with Johnny collides with the unresolved love he still feels for Ben. Every suppressed feeling, every unfinished chapter of their turbulent marriage, crashes back to the surface. Callum’s resolve shatters.

The funeral spirals into emotional chaos. The Mitchells rally protectively around Ben, while Callum finds himself pulled in two directions at once. On one side stands Johnny, offering the promise of new beginnings, honesty, and a life free from the shadows of the past. On the other is Ben, the stormy love of his life, the man who has broken his heart countless times but still holds it in his hands. The tension is raw, human, and devastating.

For viewers, it’s quintessential EastEnders. The funeral is not just about death—it’s about identity, survival, and the longing for unconditional love. Callum’s infidelity is only part of the story. Beneath it lies the deeper truth: he has spent his life yearning for acceptance, for a family that loves him without judgment. And in Walford, where loyalty and betrayal sit side by side, those desires rarely come without cost.

The week ends with Callum standing at a crossroads. Will he cling to the history and unresolved passion he shares with Ben, risking yet another round of heartbreak? Or will he step boldly into the future with Johnny, daring to believe he deserves happiness on his own terms?

The answers won’t come easily, and no matter what he chooses, someone will be left broken. With Stuart back in the mix, Johnny’s lie hanging over them, and Ben’s sudden reappearance, the fallout is set to ripple through the Square long after Jonno is buried.

One thing is certain: this funeral is no ending. It is the beginning of yet another gripping chapter in one of EastEnders’ most beloved and complex love stories. Callum’s journey is far from over, and as grief collides with passion and loyalty collides with truth, Walford braces itself for the storm to come.