On Monday, Archie wanders into the Vic and asks Roxy to call Peggy for him. Roxy, however, reminds him that he shouldn’t be there as Peggy’s barred him. While waiting for Peggy, Archie talks to Jack about Sam and claims that she won’t last long if she’s sent to prison.

Having seen the pair kiss the previous week, Archie suggests that Jack should help Sam because she trusts him. Jack’s left thinking it over while Roxy eventually tells Archie that Peggy’s not even in and that she’s at Aunt Sal’s.

Later, Archie’s having lunch with Sam at Fargo’s and he broaches the subject of prison. Sam claims that she’s prepared for whatever life behind bars has in store for her if she’s sent down, but Archie suggests that she get a second opinion on her legal position.

Later, Janine turns up at Archie’s house with a solicitor in tow hoping that Mr Stewart will speed up Archie’s divorce process. Archie’s seemingly not bothered by the lawyer’s presence, but his interest is piqued when he discovers that he deals with criminal law, too.

When introduced to Mr Stewart, Sam’s despondent to hear that the outlook’s bleak. Archie tries to convince Sam to run away, but Ricky’s stunned when she admits what she’s thinking of doing so. However, the realisation that she could lose her family causes her to think twice about her ‘plan’, before admitting that she has to face up to what she’s done wrong. Archie calls her a “brave girl”, but he’s frustrated that his plan hasn’t worked.

Realising that there’s nothing else for it, Archie informs Bianca that he saw Sam and Jack kissing. With that, Bianca storms over to the Vic and confronts a stunned Ricky with the news.

Meanwhile, Phil makes a phone call while eating his breakfast. As he stares at the loss adjuster’s business card, the person on the other end of the phone answers and Phil suggests that they have a chat. Later, Phil and Max are talking in the Vic and a furious Phil demands that ‘they’ have to pay back the money that ‘they’ stole. He adds that Max has until 3pm to find the cash. Tanya interrupts them and she accidentally drops her scarf, which Phil picks up with a devilish look on his face. In the café, Phil reminds Max that the clock’s ticking and threatens to go to the police if he doesn’t find the money in time.

Max returns home and is surprised to find Phil talking to Tanya as he ‘found’ her scarf. Tanya then asks Phil to stay for dinner and he happily obliges. As Tanya heads upstairs to see baby Oscar, Phil reminds Max that he’s running out of time to pay up and when Phil threatens to tell Tanya, Max agrees to cough up the cash.

Elsewhere, Denise is frustrated by Libby’s preoccupation with arranging for Owen to be released from prison. When Libby visits Owen, he asks how much she really knows about Lucas and Libby’s furious to learn that it was Lucas who told the police about Owen. Denise learns of Lucas’s actions and turns to Patrick for advice, but when Libby comes to blows with Lucas over dinner, Denise calls the wedding off.

Also, Jack offers to babysit baby Amy but Roxy continues to evade him until finally, she tells Jack that she knows he still loves Ronnie.

On Tuesday, Bianca’s washing up in the kitchen as Ricky walks in, still confused over her revelation about Sam and Jack the previous evening. Spurred on by Bianca, Ricky goes to confront his fiancé over her fling with Jack. Sam tries play the news down, which only serves to anger Ricky further. She eventually admits to kissing Jack, but all isn’t as it seems.

Ricky later goes to see Bianca in the café and suggests that she stop believing gossip because Sam only kissed Jack on the cheek for helping to find her a new solicitor. At the same time, Sam asks Archie why he told Bianca about her and Jack, but Archie feigns ignorance, stating that he made an innocent remark which Bianca made into a big deal. In the hope of placating her, he hands her some cash to go shopping with.

Later, Archie betrays Sam when he assures Bianca that what he saw between Sam and Jack was more than a peck on the cheek, before suggesting that she ask Jack if she wants proof. Following her uncle out of the pub, Bianca confronts him about his affair with Sam. With that, Jack admits that it was “a bit of fun” that’s now over because Sam realised she loves Ricky too much to risk their relationship.

Storming upstairs in the Vic, Bianca grabs Sam and drags her downstairs into the bar where she pushes her into Ricky, demanding that she confess to her adultery. Bianca goes on to reveal Jack’s admission which tips Roxy over the edge, prompting her to throw Sam out.

On the Square, Sam pleads with Ricky to give her another chance but he’s dismissive and insists that she doesn’t know what love is. As Ricky walks away, Archie appears, hands her a tissue and says, “It’s gonna be alright. Uncle Archie’s here.”

Meanwhile, Phil bursts into Max’s house and shouts for Tanya. As she leaves, Phil suggests that Max pay up by the end of the day or Tanya will find out about his scam. Later in the café, Max overhears that Shirley has given Heather some winnings. It doesn’t take him long to ask Heather whether she’s thought about life insurance.

She’s concerned about the money involved, but Max assures her that she’ll easily be able to afford it. Before she knows it, she’s signing a contract and agrees to pay up. Max later goes to see Phil and passes off Heather’s money as his own. It’s not enough though and Phil demands the balance.

Elsewhere, Janine asks Archie about the status of his divorce and Ryan asks Janine about her game of ‘pull a pensioner’ but she tells him he’s just jealous. Janine assures Ryan that she’s “in it for the long haul” with Archie, but things soon get steamy between them in the Vic’s barrel store.

Also, Lucas tries to patch things up with Denise and insists that he didn’t mean to hurt her or Libby by calling the police about Owen. Later, Denise visits Owen in prison where he claims that he can see Lucas for what he is and insists that Lucas killed Trina. Astounded by such an allegation, Denise returns home and tells Lucas, Libby and Chelsea that she went to visit Owen and that the wedding’s back on.

On Thursday, at Archie’s house, Sam layers herself in make-up as she prepares to head out in an attempt to make peace with Ricky. Archie, however, tells her not to make a fool of herself as Ricky won’t take her back. With that, Archie hands her a pile of money and states that he wants to see her “through the trouble”. He goes on to claim that if she goes to prison, she’ll always be indebted to her family, and cash, therefore, is her route to freedom.

As Sam counts the wad of notes, Peggy hammers on the door before storming in demanding that Sam return to the Vic with her. Peggy lays into her devastated daughter about the affair with Jack before calling her greedy and selfish. As Sam leaves, Phil suggests that Peggy go easy on Sam or she’ll push her away. He reminds Peggy that if Sam runs, the Mitchells will lose her bail money and the family will face financial ruin.

Later in the Vic, Ricky goes to meet with Phil, but Sam’s there too. Seizing the opportunity, she profusely apologises to Ricky for her actions and admits that her wedding day to him was the happiest she’s ever been. With that, Ricky decides to forgive her. Having cleared the air with Ricky, Sam returns Archie’s cash to him and reveals that she and Ricky are back on and she has her mother and brother’s support.

Later, Sam tells Peggy that she and Ricky might move in together, but she takes her mother’s response as her being doubtful over her future with Ricky. Sam’s appeased though when Peggy hands her a dress for the Children In Need dance contest.

While Ricky waits for Sam to arrive at the dance competition, Pat urges him to dance with Bianca until his fiancé arrives. They’re reluctant at first but they relent and soon take to the dance floor.

While Sam stares at herself in the mirror, she questions her life and the choices she has; settle for a life with Ricky and her patronising mother in Walford, or take Archie’s money and run. When Peggy returns to the Vic to see what’s taking Sam so long, she finds only her dress and a note. Returning to the dance contest, Peggy interrupts a moment between Ricky and Bianca to show Ricky the note Sam’s left. Meanwhile, Archie’s helping Sam into a taxi, hands her a pile of cash and assures her that she’s doing the right thing by leaving…

Elsewhere, Dr Al wants to invite Roxy to be his date for Denise and Lucas’s wedding, but Chelsea flirts with him and seems to presume that Al is asking her to the wedding with him.

Also, Liz visits Owen in prison where he reiterates that he’s concerned for Libby and Denise’s safety. Later, Lucas admits to Liz that he may have misjudged Owen and when Liz informs Owen that Lucas will do right by Denise and Libby, Owen tells her that he’ll deal with Lucas himself…

Finally, Jack’s concerned that Ronnie will find out about his affair with Sam.

There’s no episode of EastEnders on Friday due to the Children In Need appeal on BBC1.