EastEnders spoilers: Chantelle Atkins leaves Gray after discovering Whitney's betrayal?
EASTENDERS fans are desperate for Chantelle Atkins to escape her abusive husband Gray Atkins and it seems she may finally take the first steps to leaving him after Whitney Dean makes a move on the hot-shot lawyer.
EastEnders: Whitney thanks Gray for rescuing her
Upcoming scenes on EastEnders will see Whitney Dean (played by Shona McGarty) go in to kiss Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) as she falls for the lawyer. For months, Gray has been representing Whitney in court as she fights to prove she didn’t kill Leo King (Tom Wells), who had been stalking her. As Gray has been on hand as support for Whitney, she has begun to see him as more than just her lawyer and will betray her friend Chantelle (Jessica Plummer) by kissing him. When Chantelle finds out Whitney is interested in Gray, could she use this as a reason to leave her husband?
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Chantelle was so close to revealing Gray’s abusive side to her father Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths) on her wedding day last year, however she remained silent.
Since then viewers have seen Gray become increasingly violent, one time even leaving Chantelle unable to pick herself up off the floor.
Chantelle had hoped that asking Gray to assist with Whitney’s court case would help put him in a good frame of mind but as he’s under stress, he’s taken it out on her.
However, if Gray’s attention turns to Whitney once the market trader takes an interest in him, could Chantelle finally get out of her marriage?
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Teasing how the storyline will play out actor Toby-Alexander shared: “At this stage, he doesn’t have any feelings towards her whatsoever.
“His main agenda is to try and keep Whitney calm and simply encourage her to stay positive about the trial, and not get her panicked.
“That’s the thing with Gray, he likes to keep everything in control and for everything to go to plan. If things don’t go to plan, that’s where he get thrown off kilter.
“I do think he’s been helping her from a predominantly good place, but I don’t think he’s expecting any sort of emotional connection to happen with Whitney, I think it’s strictly professional.”
While Gray may not initially have any feelings for Whitney, Chantelle could use the kiss to her advantage.
Claiming she can’t trust her husband, she could claim she can’t stay with him anymore and keep her abuse as a secret to avoid Gray’s wrath.
Chantelle will no doubt also be furious to learn her friend made a move on her husband.
Will Chantelle expose the pair’s kiss leading to the Walford residents urging her to leave Gray?
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However, the kiss could lead Gray to use Whitney to keep his abuse of Chantelle a secret.
Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) will reveal Whitney was hit by her ex-husband Lee Carter (Danny Hatchard), which will cause Gray to panic.
Toby-Alexander explained: “His profession requires him to detach emotionally when he gets information, that’s part of his job even if what’s being said does resonate within him.
“But I do think when Linda tells him it does make him feel uncomfortable.
“While this is news that could help Whitney in this case, Gray’s initial concern would be that Whitney’s friendship with Chantelle means it’s something that might come out if they open up to each other, so from a more selfish point of view I think that’s more what Gray is thinking.
“As well the fact that up until this point he considers Leo to be a monster and he hasn’t been able to relate to this case at all, and there’s this split second which has made it a bit personal which will make him feel very uneasy.”
Will Gray manipulate Whitney’s feelings for him to keep her close so if Chantelle does open up to her about her abuse, the market-trader insists her claims can’t be true?
If Chantelle thinks Whitney doesn’t believe her, she may panic no one else will believe her if she reveals the abuse she has suffered and choose to stay silent.
EastEnders continues Monday on BBC One at 8pm. If you have been affected by this storyline, you can find help and advice at Women’s Aid, https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
