Stu’ve got a FRIEND…

Karen supports struggling Stuart in his hour of need

Not too long ago, Stuart was the guy who had it all – a happy marriage, a newborn baby boy, and a steady job (it’s not like funeral parlours are going to go out of business in Walford, is it?).

Sadly, since then, bit by bit, his life has fallen apart. His breast-cancer diagnosis understandably freaked him out, making him struggle to bond with baby Roland and driving a wedge between him and wife Rainie.

Unable to cope with her other half’s meltdown, Mrs Highway took their little’un and left town, sending Stuart further into despair.

His unstable state starts affecting his work, and when he’s late for Avery’s funeral, it’s the latest in a long line of professional mistakes, which proves to be the last straw for Jay. With a heavy heart, he has no choice but to sack Stuart.

Callum, Vi and Karen are left even more concerned when they later find Stuart packing his bags and fear he’s had bad news from his recent hospital appointment.

In fact, Stu reveals he’s actually got the all-clear, but then he admits he’s signed over all parental rights for Roland to Rainie, knowing she wants nothing more to do with him.

Caring Karen tries to make suffering Stuart realise he is still in the grips of postnatal depression, and encourages him to talk to his GP.

Even though it means ditching daughter Bernie’s birthday party, Kaz agrees to accompany Stuart to the doctors. Can he get the help he needs to deal with his demons?