She’s been caught up in a vicious blackmail plot carved out by evil Max Branning after he threatened to hurt her son, Bobby Beale.
And despite the escalating tension EastEnders fans were still in a state of shock on Friday evening when Jane Beale was forced out of Walford in a desperate effort to protect her loved ones.
The east London businesswoman, played by Laurie Brett, jumped in a taxi and fled Albert Square after Max (Jake Wood) threatened to make her whole family suffer if she didn’t follow his manipulative commands.
When Ian failed to pick up his phone as it buzzed in his coat pocket at her leaving party, Jane left a message and said: ‘Oh god, Ian I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I had to leave like that, I had to fake it.
‘This is going to sound crazy but we were being watched. I don’t exactly get what’s going on, but I don’t know who we can trust.
‘I’m so paranoid. Listen, I will ring you tonight. Don’t speak to anyone until I’ve called you. I’ll explain everything I know, I promise.
Tense: EastEnders fans were still in a state of shock on Friday evening when Jane Beale (pictured) was forced out of Walford in a desperate effort to protect her loved ones
No choice: The east London businesswoman, played by Laurie Brett, jumped in a taxi and fled Albert Square after Max (Jake Wood) threatened to make her whole family suffer if she didn’t follow his manipulative commands
‘But listen, I still love you. I do love you.’
Max has been taking revenge on various neighbours since he was released from prison after serving time for the murder of Lucy Beale, for which he was wrongly convicted.
Many viewers expressed their devastation at seeing Jane leaving Walford in such a distressing manner, with Max watching her every move to make sure she truly left town.
One said: ‘If that was Jane’s last episode then that was an appauling [sic] exit! She better come back.’
Distressing: When Ian failed to pick up his phone as it buzzed in his coat pocket at her leaving party, Jane left a message and said: ‘Oh god, Ian I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I had to leave like that’
Shock: Eastenders fans were left reeling on Tuesday night as killer Bobby Beale made a surprising return to the soap as Jane continued to be threatened by Max Branning
Another added: ‘Erugh! I hate Max. Hope that Jane brings him down!!’ A third said: ‘Can’t believe Max actually made Jane leave.’
Earlier this week Max visited her hospital bedside, where she had recently woken up from a coma, and said: ‘When you’ve been discharged, you’re going to leave Walford for good.’
At first she refused, but Max squeezed her hand painfully hard and said: ‘If you don’t, Jane, I’m going to see to it that you, and everyone that you love suffers.’
Danger: In a video on Max’s phone, Bobby warned his stepmother what Max could do to her should she not meet his demands
What next? Fans will have to wait and see whether Jane convinces her husband Ian to stay in Walford while she leaves the square for good
Max forced Jane to split up with her husband Ian as part of his plan to get her out of Walford without any friends or family by her side.
Despite trying to refuse nasty Max’s demands, Jane finally gave in when her tormentor showed her footage of someone waking up her son Bobby in his youth detention centre – as he serves his sentence for killing his sister, Lucy – before terrorising him.
Not all viewers were sympathetic to Jane’s plight though, noting that perhaps she could have found a way around Max’s sickening threats.
Distressing: Bobby’s safety hangs in the balance after Max’s threat
Nasty: Max (above) has been taking revenge on various neighbours since he was released from prison after serving time for the murder of Lucy Beale, for which he was wrongly convicted
One said: ‘All Jane needed to do was tell Ian exactly what’s going on with Max and PRETEND they were splitting up. This is so daft.’
Another added: ‘This whole Max story-line is irritating me.. why would Jane not tell Ian!’
While a third said: ‘Jane could literally just say “Max is behind all this and he’s threatening our son in prison” it would take seven secs.’
Shock: Jane has only just woken up from a coma (pictured in hospital as she’s visited by Ian and Sharon Mitchell)