EastEnders follow-up: What happened between Suki and Ash as Avani reveals she wants an abortion

History is repeating itself
Joel Harley
By Joel Harley

Suki Panesar learned that granddaughter Avani is pregnant in EastEnders tonight (Tuesday, July 22), followed by the shocking news that she’s planning on getting an abortion. Suki stumbled across evidence of Avani’s pregnancy after catching her browsing a family planning website.

Confronting Avani, Suki got to the bottom of the situation – Avani was pregnant with Joel’s child, but was not planning on keeping it. Suki was shocked, and beseeched Avani to talk to her mother, but the teen was having none of it, and swore Suki to secrecy.

This echoed a previous time in Suki’s life, when her own daughter once had an abortion, to her great disapproval. But what happened there?

Suki argues with Ash on EastEnders
Ash and Suki had a fraught relationship (Credit: BBC)

What happened between Suki and Ash?

When the Panesars first arrived in Walford in 2019, Ash was estranged from her mother. The reason for this, it emerged, was because Suki had cut her off for two reasons; firstly, she’d come out as bisexual. Secondly, she’d fallen pregnant and had an abortion at the age of 19.

When Suki arrived in Walford looking to reconcile with her family, her family gave her the cold shoulder in return. Suki then lied, telling everyone that she had ovarian cancer.

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Somehow, she managed to forge a relationship with her children even after the truth came out (thanks to Jean Slater, who really did have cancer). And, while she and Ash parted on relatively good terms, they have become distant again in the years since her daughter left for Canada.

Might she view Avani’s pregnancy as an opportunity to redress the balance and do the right thing this time?

Suki and Priya say goodbye to Vinny as he leaves in a taxi

Vinny’s off to see Ash (Credit: BBC)

Avani set on abortion in EastEnders spoilers for Thursday

As the story continues this week, Suki is distracted when Vinny leaves to see Ash in Canada. However, she finds the time to visit the Granthi to seek advice on Avani’s situation.

Elsewhere, Avani tells Barney about her plans to abort the pregnancy. But will Suki fight her over her decision?

And, as Suki returns home, she tries to make things right with Eve, who has grown annoyed at her distant behaviour this week. Will she confide in her wife about Avani’s pregnancy?

Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns.