EASTENDERS’ Stuart Highway has been struggling to bond with baby Roland, and as his surgery pain sparks a potential relapse in his painkiller addiction, both he and Rainie could make a devastating exit. An Express.co.uk theory explores how this might happen.
Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) was frightened of having his cancer operated on because he didn’t want to start using painkillers again given his addiction past. Rainie (Tanya Franks), the EastEnders undertaker’s wife, persuaded him that whatever occurred would be fine.
Rainie may decide to depart if Roland grows to miss being with his family as a result of Stuart’s troubles. Stuart could, in a terrible twist, try to cope without painkillers and die as a result of health difficulties.
Stuart will receive a phone call from his doctor, who will update him on his status, according to official BBC serial spoilers.
Stuart decides to start taking painkillers as a result of this. This shows that reducing the discomfort he’s been left with is crucial to his health.
Vi Highway (Gwen Taylor) finds he’s still making excuses not to hold Roland once he’s started taking pills.
Could his addiction have been triggered by the strong pills?
Rainie asks Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) to watch after Roland in the laundromat because Stuart continues ignoring the baby.
Rainie is sure to feel concerned after confiding in Stuart about what’s going on.
She’ll be eager to flee if she believes Stuart is a threat to Roland’s safety or that he could cause them to lose him to social services.
Rainie may decide to leave Walford with the baby until Stuart’s relapse is ended, trusting Vi to assist him in his recovery.
Stuart spoke in Rainie about his fears about the drugs before the procedure.
“What if I get this surgery and then have to take painkillers – what if I can’t stop?” “What if I get addicted again?” he wondered.
What if we win the lotto tomorrow? ainie tried to soothe her husband. What happens if we’re hit by a bus? We can’t live our life based on what-if scenarios.
As Stuart tried to protest, his wife cut in: “No, listen – whatever happens, we face it together, okay?”
Regardless, Rainie may feel that Roland has to be removed from the picture while Stuart recovers.
Rainie is undoubtedly willing to go to any length to ensure Roland’s safety after suffering for so long to become a mother and previously losing Abi to Max Branning (Jake Wood).
Could her exit be a tragic mistake though?
Keen to get clean again, Stuart could decide the only way is to stop taking his painkillers but this could have devastating consequences.
Stuart, on the other hand, may require painkillers quickly if his doctors have advised him to do so, and his health may worsen further if he does not take them.
It’s probable that he’s in a lot of pain, and with the extra stress of attempting to forgo medications entirely, the Walford resident will have a heart attack.
Perhaps he will grow insistent that he can bear the pain, but the torment is too great for his body to bear.
Rainie would surely be heartbroken if the new parent died as a result of his agony.
Could this tragedy spell the end of the Highways? With Rainie already away from the Square, she isn’t likely to want to return after losing her husband.
Vi might also make an exit after the tragedy, wanting to move on and perhaps track down her lost son.
After Roland was born, Rainie admitted she can never have “what she wants”.
She stated things always go wrong for her which could be foreshadowing of Stuart’s death.
The double exit would probably surprise viewers, who have come to support the struggling couple on their journey to parenthood.
