Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff) has opened up about his sexuality in EastEnders.
This week's spoilers teased that the newcomer would open up to his auntie Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) about something after introducing his date to her.
A further preview at next week's instalments revealed that Ryder will be pressured by dad Ned (Jamie Bamber) into rejoining his local football team, though upon hearing about a player that struggled with coming out, will show reluctance.
Yesterday, Nic' decided to show him the ropes at Harry's Barn and tasked him with making some daiquiris. He messed the ingredients up, and Ned made a backhanded comment about his abilities.
Seeing how down in the dumps Ryder seemed to be, Nicola took him for lunch at the box park. A notification came through on his phone, and she couldn't resist spying at it.
The message was from gay dating app Crusadr, with the sender asking when he and Ryder were going to meet up.
Nicola hesitated to say anything, and quickly placed the phone back down when he approached.
In today's episode, Ryder sat alone in the Square Gardens and glanced through his phone. Nicola approached and asked whether he was OK, and questioned what his plans for the day were.
He said that he had a date, and when Nic' asked if she knew them, he asserted that she'd "never met ".
The comment took Nicola by surprise, and before she could brooch the subject with her nephew, Ned approached. He tore a strip off his son for slacking off from the nightclub, and warned him to do better in future.
Later, in Walford Park, Ryder received another message on the dating app. The sender asked why he'd gone quiet, and if they were still on to meet that evening. On the benches nearby, a girl named Alice glanced over and smiled.
Ryder approached and the pair then headed to the bar for a drink. When Nicola walked in, he quickly leaned in for a kiss with Alice.
Nicola clocked his plan – to make it seem like he had an interest in girls so that his family wouldn't ask any questions. She said that it didn't bother her who he saw, as long as he treated them right.
When Alice left, Ryder walked into the office and asked to speak to his auntie. It was clear what he wanted to speak to her about, and she asked him outright if he is gay.
Ryder nervously nodded, and Nic' pulled him in for a hug. He confirmed that nobody else in the family knew, and she tried to assure him that his mum Gemma (Patricia Potter) would be ok with it.
His concern was how Ned would take the news, and that he didn't Gemma to be put in a situation where she felt she had to hide something from her husband.
That night, when Ned answered the door to speak to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), he heard giggling coming from Square Gardens. He walked over and witnessed his son kissing a man.
Will Ned address this with Ryder?
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