If you are one of the many EastEnders fans who have been speculating about the mystery surrounding newcomer Maya Hussain (Bharti Patel), your theories got a significant boost during Thursday’s (20 June) episode.

The character was introduced last month as a new friend for Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).

However, there has been much discussion about whether she is somehow connected to his son Aaron, who is currently in prison for his involvement in a far-right gang who plotted to plant a bomb in the disused Arjee Bhajee restaurant.

In scenes during the latest episode of the BBC soap, viewers saw Maya asking questions about Harvey’s family as they had lunch together at Walford East.

After initially lying about Aaron, Harvey confessed that his son is in prison, saying he loves him, but is ashamed of him.

As Maya pressed him on what Aaron did, Harvey told of his son’s involvement in the far-right gang, and explained that he was the one who called the police on him.

Clearly upset by Aaron’s crimes, Maya looked comforted by Harvey’s admission about him reporting his son. But when Harvey then added that ‘you can love the person, but hate the crime,’ Maya hastily made her excuses and walked out on their lunch, leaving Harvey confused.

Later in the caff, she was seen looking Aaron up online, with news articles about his arrest seen on her phone screen.

Many fans believe Maya is the wife of a taxi driver – who also had the surname Houssain – who Aaron and the gang attacked back in 2021, leaving him seriously injured. More weight was given to this theory when Maya also told Harvey that her husband, who recently died, used to be a taxi driver.

More clues look set to be revealed next week, when Maya is invited to join the Slaters to watch the England game at number 31…