EastEnders: Hawkins family reveals secret behind house fire

The Hawkins family, a new group in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, has revealed the reason behind their sudden arrival in Walford. While the family initially claimed they needed housing because a house sale had fallen through, it was later disclosed that the family deliberately set fire to their home to claim insurance money.

Ned, the husband of Gemma Hawkins, admitted to deciding to burn the house down after the family fell into debt with ‘the wrong people’, though he noted that the insurance company did not pay out. This revelation follows significant tension between Nicola Mitchell and her mother, Rose, regarding the death of Nicola’s father.

As the family attempts to integrate into the community, they face ongoing friction with Nicola, who has imposed strict rules on their stay. Meanwhile, the show's narrative also follows the wedding of Kim Fox and Howie Danes, which takes place in a hospital room due to Denise Fox's ongoing battle with cancer.