EastEnders character issues blackmail threat in early BBC iPlayer release

As a new week began, Sam played mum by rallying the troops for Aunt Sal Martin's (Anna Karen) funeral, judging Phil's wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) for not attending and ordering Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Ben (Max Bowden) to be there.

After the funeral, everyone headed to Peggy's bar, where Sam was intrigued by Alfie Moon's (Shane Richie) anger towards Phil, who seemed keen to chat to a family friend.

As Phil ranted to Sam about the unwelcome arrival of Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford), Billy's father, tensions rose between the siblings as Phil vented his annoyance at Sam trying to play matriarch.

But things took another turn when Uncle Harold Martin (David Sterne) told Sam that Sal had left her, Phil and brother Grant (Ross Kemp) £100,000!

Phil was in charge of the purse strings, but when Sam confronted him, Phil reminded her that she still owed him for paying off the drug gangsters who were after her.

Soon, though, Sam gained the upper hand, when she was chatting to Alfie in the Square.

Alfie was convinced that Alfie would hurt Kat, and when he let slip about Phil's fling with Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit), Sam used the ammunition to order Phil to pay up, or she would expose his infidelity!

We already know that Sam will indeed broadcast Phil's dirty secret, but how will he react?

Read more:

• EastEnders cast: Who is joining, leaving and returning to the soap?
• 6 EastEnders spoilers: Sam discovers Phil’s secret, The Six worry about Denise
• EastEnders star Kim Medcalf on Sam and Phil’s clash amid Aunt Sal’s funeral
• EastEnders' explosive Christmas episode helps break BBC iPlayer record
• EastEnders casts veteran British actor as Aunt Sal’s husband Harold Martin
• EastEnders' Kellie Bright: "The body wasn't who I thought it would be"
• EastEnders first look as Nish Panesar awakens and The Six panic

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

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