On Monday, Phil returns to the Square with Ben following his holiday and a relieved Peggy greets them. Archie walks into the Vic to let Peggy know that he’s booked them a table at Fargo’s, but she doesn’t take too kindly to the offer. Archie, however, insists that it’s up to her whether she shows up or not. Later, Archie waits at the table in the restaurant and, becoming impatient, he decides to leave but at that moment, Peggy walks in. In the hope of scaring Archie, Peggy quickly mentions that Phil’s back in Walford, but Archie’s undeterred as he continues in his attempts to win her over.

As their conversation continues, Peggy lets on that she’s kept her wedding ring before admitting that she’s tired of being angry. However, despite her thawing attitude, she insists that she’s not about to start feeling sorry for him. After their meal, Archie accompanies Peggy as they return to the Vic. Phil spots Archie in the bar and warns him that he’s not welcome in Walford. Archie, however, maintains that until Peggy tells him otherwise, he’s staying put.

Meanwhile, Charlie asks Stacey if she’ll be joining the family in the Vic, but she’s acting oddly and evidently hiding an envelope. As her relatives leave, she opens the envelope to find her divorce papers inside. Later in the Vic, Stacey attempts to cause trouble between Max and Tanya but instead of rising to the bait, they walk out together. Back at home, Stacey dresses up in an attempt to like a supermodel while Jean’s concern for her daughter escalates when she begins rambling about the divorce. Jean reassures Stacey that they’ll get through their problems together as Stacey signs the divorce papers.

Elsewhere, Tiffany asks Janine for a new dress for the Teeny Weeny talent competition which Janine’s managed to talk Ricky and Bianca into allowing their daughter to enter.

Also, Christian’s attempts to make Syed jealous begin to work and at the Masala Queen unit, an argument between them turns into a play fight. Later, Syed reveals that he’s had four one-night stands with guys in the past which prompts Christian to try to persuade Syed that he’s gay.

Finally, Max tries to persuade Tanya that they should be together and the two share a passionate kiss, which leaves Max wondering whether they’re back on or not.

On Tuesday, Peggy’s unimpressed to find out that Phil’s drinking again but Phil tells her he’s furious that she went out with Archie after all he’s done. Ben also finds that Phil’s back on the bottle and urges him to attend his support group. Phil later turns to Dot to talk about forgiveness and she’s taken aback by his apparently genuine regret. Soon after, Dot sees Peggy and suggests that she give Archie another chance. Peggy’s not convinced, but it gives her food for thought. After an emotional session at the support group, Phil finds Archie talking to Ben and quickly warns him off. Later at the Arches, Phil receives a package from an unknown man. Inside, there’s a gun.

After learning that Archie donated a large portion of prize money for the kids’ talent contest, Peggy goes to confront her husband. He deflects her accusations that he’s trying to wheedle his way back into her good books and he begins to cry, begging her for another chance and Peggy looks as if she’s softening towards him. With a loaded gun in his hand, Phil turns up at Archie’s but is stunned to find him and Peggy kissing. Phil storms out and when Peggy catches up with him, she demands that he leave Archie alone. Later, Phil turns up to see Archie again and threatens to kill him if he doesn’t leave the family alone. As he leaves, Phil drops a bullet into Archie’s whiskey glass.

Meanwhile, Zainab’s furious that Syed’s painting has been damaged. As Syed goes to explain how he and Christian damaged it by play fighting, Christian interjects and claims that it was Bobby’s fault. Zainab’s livid and insists that she’ll have words with Jane. Despite the boys’ best efforts, Zainab and Jane bump into each other, but the truth is eventually revealed. As Syed begins to mend the painting, Christian tries to help. The mood lifts slightly and Christian decides to paint over the original in a bid to fix it. Syed yells that the painting’s been ruined and that all his life he’s wanted to be an artist. Christian quickly apologises, but Syed grins: “Gotcha…” Christian agrees, takes Syed by the hand and invites him back to his flat.

Elsewhere, Stacey asks Whitney if she’d like to go on a girls’ night out but later, Whitney’s annoyed by Stacey’s frantic mood and she becomes upset by Stacey’s constant talk about older men and insistence that Whitney must like older men.

Also, Max sends Tanya a big bunch of flowers, but Tanya hides the identity of the sender. The pair later romp on Dot’s kitchen table but this leaves Tanya angry with herself for acting irresponsibly.

Finally, Janine goads Ian about the kids’ talent competition, so Ian plans to bribe chief judge Charlie. However, after a day of ongoing bribes, Charlie tells Jane that he wants to pull out of the competition and wants her to replace him.

On Thursday, following Phil’s death threat the previous day, Archie’s nervous; he looks out of the window and spots a drunken Phil waiting in his car for him to emerge from the house. Roxy asks Archie to pop out and get Amy some nappies but as Archie emerges from his front door, Ben jumps into the back of Phil’s car wanting a lift to school.

Immediately, he sees the gun and watches as Phil stares at Archie walking across the Square. Archie later calls into the Vic where Peggy tells him to leave before Phil finds him. Archie, however, is insistent and says that he can’t live without her and if they can’t be together, Phil may as well put a bullet in him. Later, Phil’s unimpressed when Peggy asks him to attend dinner that evening with her and Archie in a bid to clear the air.

Ben reluctantly helps his gran prepare for the meal but he spots that Phil’s gun package under the sink is empty. Panicking, Ben bolts across the Square as Phil informs Archie that he’s taking him to Epping Forest to kill him. At that moment, Ben frantically knocks on Archie’s front door and interrupts Phil’s plans. Returning to the Vic, Ben takes the gun from Phil before Peggy turns up to find Phil in an inebriated state and Ben crying. Realising the impact of Archie’s return, Peggy announces that they’re all heading to Spain to see Grant.

Meanwhile, Christian’s in the café brimming with happiness until Syed walks in and insists that the previous night was a mistake. Christian’s further frustrated when Amira questions him as to his mood. Out on the Square, Stacey attempts to talk to Syed who’s rejecting Amira’s calls. Syed refuses to talk to Stacey and when Amira arrives, she’s put out to hear from Stacey that he was rejecting her calls because he was talking to her which causes Amira to storm off.

Later, Syed talks to his mother in the café and she tells him to be true to himself. Syed then arranges for Zainab and Christian to be in the Vic at 6.30pm. They eagerly await Syed and Amira’s arrival and when they turn up, Christian also tells Syed to be true to himself, convinced he’s about to admit that he’s gay. He’s devastated though when Syed proposes to Amira…

Elsewhere, Roxy meets up with Ronnie outside of Walford and attempts to stop Ronnie from returning to the Square, fearful of what’ll happen if her sister finds out that Archie’s back.

Also, Ian piles the pressure on Bobby to win the talent contest and is delighted when he learns that Jane’s judging the talent show. Meanwhile, Bianca’s furious after she finds a home-made 40th birthday card when she’s only going to be 32 and Janine keeps Tiffany off school to rehearse her rendition of Annie.

Finally, Stacey flirts with Max as he washes his car in an attempt to reignite her romance with him but later, she becomes obsessed by her belief that Max has a new woman.

On Friday, it’s Bianca’s birthday and Ricky leads her into the living room where she’s showered with cards and presents by the kids. Ricky announces that he’s taking the whole family to Brighton for the day to celebrate but when questioned as to where the money’s coming from to pay for it, Ricky’s adamant that Tiffany will win the talent contest.

Later, Max turns up at the house with Bianca’s present but the birthday girl’s not there. Instead, he helps Whitney to bake a cake. Stacey then spots Max walking into the house and presumes that Whitney is his new woman, so she goes to get Bianca so that she can witness the scenario for herself. However, she later confronts Max in the café but he tells her that she obviously needs help.

Over at Pat’s, Bianca tells Whitney that she saw Max leaving the house and that she can’t “do it again”. Whitney’s devastated by Bianca’s accusations and shows her Max’s present and the cake that they baked. Bianca’s then left feeling guilty when Whitney walks out.

While Bianca’s at the talent contest watching Tiffany, Ricky explains to Whitney that Bianca’s sorry for what was said. Ricky leaves Whitney alone when she admits that she’d rather not go to Brighton and, moments later, Debra’s hammering on the front door for Whitney to let her in. As soon as Whitney opens the door, Debra flies inside, before exclaiming, “He’s coming!”

Meanwhile, Christian leaves a voice message on Syed’s phone asking if they can meet to talk. Finding Syed at the unit, Christian claims that he’s not angry about his and Amira’s engagement, but warns that marrying her won’t change who he is but Syed’s adamant that he’s doing the right thing. Zainab and Amira walk in full of the joys of spring and ask Christian to be involved in the wedding plans. Christian again attempts to persuade Syed to rethink his plans, but to no avail. Syed tells his mother that he’d rather Christian wasn’t involved, but Zainab’s insistent – the more the merrier.

At the Masoods’, Christian’s in a bad mood as everyone discusses the impending nuptials and Syed’s scared that he’ll reveal all about their affair. Christian, however, reluctantly keeps quiet, for which Syed’s grateful. Later, finding Christian alone in the unit, Syed apologises before promptly leaving.

Elsewhere, Stacey watches Max with Tanya and the kids from across the Square. She then confronts Max about his reignited relationship with Tanya, but Max denies there’s anything going on. Stacey later pulls out a notepad which contains a list of local women; she’s obsessed with her quest to uncover the identity of Max’s new lover.

Finally, Janine’s cruel in her attempts to train Tiffany to cry on cue at the talent contest while Big Mo’s roped in to be a judge at the last minute. When the show finally gets underway, Dotty ruins Bobby’s performance, Jane’s fuming with Ian and Tiffany ultimately wins the talent contest after being coached by Ricky.