EastEnders airs emotional Vicki Fowler scenes as Joel Marshall’s trial takes a tragic turn in BBC iPlayer release

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Please be aware that this article contains discussions of sexual harassment and assault which may be upsetting to some readers.

Vicki Fowler (played by Alice Haig) was heartbroken after a court appearance involving Joel Marshall (Max Murray) on EastEnders.

She had been fearing this day for months: having to relive the terrible experience she suffered at the hands of her stepson. He was involved in a hateful online community that justified mistreating women, and he believed it was okay to abuse her.

As many people remember, he physically attacked her after she disagreed with him, and then filmed himself while continuing to mistreat her.

After a long and stressful court battle, Vicki has had plenty of time to think about her future and the people she wants to share it with. She considered a relationship with Joel’s father, Ross (played by Alex Walkinshaw), but decided it was best to take things at a slower pace.

Despite her attempts to avoid it, she developed feelings for Zack Hudson (James Farrar). Just before the trial, their attraction became too strong, and they gave in to temptation.

Today on the show, Vicki woke up feeling awful and went to find Ross. He demanded to know where she’d been, and she quickly told him she’d spent the night at Phil Mitchell’s house after visiting her brother, Mark.

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The trio then made their way to court, swiftly followed by Zack who wanted to show his support.

Joel felt sure his time in juvenile detention was almost over and he’d be released soon. He confidently told Ross he was planning to get a takeaway from McKlunky’s as soon as he got home.

The first witness was Tommy Moon, played by Sonny Kendall, a former friend of Joel’s who had also become involved in his dangerous beliefs.

Joel’s lawyer aggressively questioned the young man, pointing out his history of violence against women undermined his reliability as a witness. This angered Tommy’s parents, Kat and Alfie Moon, who pleaded with the court to believe their son.

Watching Vicki testify was truly heartbreaking. She bravely recounted the horrific attack, and I couldn’t help but feel for her as she broke down on the stand. However, the opposing lawyer quickly began to dismantle her story, presenting evidence that seriously undermined her claims. It was a tough scene to watch, as her emotional testimony was systematically challenged.

Joel revealed he’d borrowed £25,000 from his sister, Sharon Watts, to compensate a woman’s family after secretly taking a photo up her skirt while in Australia. He also confessed that Vicki had paid off another woman he’d inappropriately touched on the London Underground.

I left the courtroom reeling, completely overwhelmed. Vicki just bolted outside, right into the street. It was clear in that moment she felt defeated – for her, the fight was finished, and she believed she’d lost.

But will Joel eventually face justice?

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed, support is available from Rape Crisis. You can reach their 24/7 support line at 0808 500 2222.

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Authors

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, providing the latest news and spoilers for popular shows like Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he was a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years and also gained experience working on the sets of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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2026-01-28 10:05