Do the co-parents have a future together?
EastEnders’ Nicola Mitchell finally takes baby Ivy in her arms next week, as the mum and her newborn daughter are brought together for the first time.
It’s an emotional moment not only for Nicola, but for George Knight too, who’s soon keen to rekindle their romantic relationship. But how will Nicola react to the idea of the trio becoming a family?
"George is definitely moved by the sight, but when he then tells Nicola that he loves her, is it a real declaration – or something born out of a heady combination of emotion and exhaustion?"
The week begins with Nicola still isolated from her daughter after being struck down with flu. With Ivy premature and prone to infections, she’s been taken to the neonatal unit and Nicola is being kept away from her daughter for the tot’s safety.
Desperate to see her baby, Nicola grows increasingly frustrated. So, when dad George is offered skin-to-skin contact with his daughter, he turns it down, feeling Nicola should be the first one to hold their little girl.
With Nicola more and more determined to see her daughter, it’s a relief all round when she finally gets permission from the medics to hold Ivy. Feeling it marks a new beginning for them all, this is the moment that George makes his declaration of love.
Pointedly, Nicola doesn’t echo the sentiment, but when she later tells her son Harry what George has said, his words give her food for thought.
"It’s clear the pair need each other – by the end of the week they are both worn out and are grateful for their mutual support. But are their feelings strong enough between to plan a romantic future together?"