There’s happiness and sadness in equal parts ahead for the Jackson family when mum Bianca Jackson – who’s played by Patsy Palmer – gets out of prison just days before Christmas…

But as to why she has a black eye, we’ll have to watch her return on December 22nd to find out!

However, soon after her joyous arrival on the Square, Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) will tell her family, including newly returned Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) and David Wicks (Michael French) that she has terminal cancer.

The Daily Mail – who have the picture above in their online edition today, and the one after the jump of Pat’s funeral – state that Pat will die of a heart attack over the festive period.

The writers of the show have of course written three endings for Pat’s exit, but all of them involve her leaving in a box…

Apropos of which, as I mentioned, here’s the spoiler pic of the funeral…

And while all that’s going on, Bianca’s ex-boyfriend, and Morgan’s dad, Ray turns up on the Square.

He’s there because Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) has tracked him down, angry that he has never paid any maintenance to Bianca for Morgan’s upkeep.

However, it soon turns out that Ray – who’s played by Chucky Venn – didn’t even know he had a son.

A BBC insider told the Mail, “Ray is determined to be a part of Morgan’s life and he heads to Walford.

“Although Bianca isn’t keen on having him around, Ray soon turns heads with the other ladies in Albert Square.”

And rumour has it that Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) could be tempted to cheat on Alfie (Shane Richie) with Ray!

We’ll keep you posted on that one.