Tension has been building in the marriage of newlyweds Whitney and Lee Carter ever since they tied the knot (never a good omen!).
He got cold feet, convinced he wasn’t good enough for her.
And the depression causing Lee’s self-doubt has just grown ever more crippling since he decided to go ahead with the big day.
Plagued by fear and self-loathing, the former soldier has been pushing his young wife further away.
And, despite being devoted to him, the rejection and constant low-fi misery is taking its toll on Whitney.
Confused and frightened after being injured in the bus crash, she even kissed her father-in-law Mick last month.
Desperate to try and cheer up her husband this week, she pawned her engagement and wedding rings so they could have a night out together.
But her actions backfired and they ended up having an almighty row instead.
Lee hit the roof when he found out that Whit had been asking his friend Bean Bag (yes, really…) to get him a job.
“I’m a grown man,” he bellowed.
His exasperated wife hit back: “Start acting like one! I put up with so much.
“What I wouldn’t give for you to be more like your dad. But you can’t, you leave him to pick up the pieces.”
“Earlier, your dad said, ‘He don’t deserve you’, and, you know what? I’m beginning to think he’s right.”
This was like a red rag to a bull and Lee slapped his wife clean across the face.
Viewers were appalled. One wrote on Twitter: “OMG cant believe Lee seriously just hit Whitney #Eastenders.” (sic)
Another added: “Lee Carter. Crossed the line there. #Eastenders.”
Another objected: “Never Lay or Put your hands on Wife Lee! #EastEnders,” (sic)
Someone else commented: “Lee just slapped Whitney! How could he? #EastEnders.”
Yet another said: “Lee is proper struggling, mentally he’s breaking down, and then Eastenders made him a domestic abuser on top? That’s so longggg.”
This is an interesting point.
EastEnders has been doing a great job of exploring how depression affects men – and how it manifests itself.
But, while we’re sure this can sometimes lead to deplorable actions the sufferer wouldn’t otherwise dream of, is it right to raise them in this storyline yet?