EastEnders' Shirley Carter horrified as killer Gray reveals truth about missing Tina

EastEnders airs a major bombshell later this month, in the lead-up to a dramatic Christmas time on the BBC soap.

Shirley Carter is left distraught, when she learns that Gray Atkins has been lying about the whereabouts of her missing sister Tina for months.

Viewers know that Gray murdered Tina last December, before wrapping her body in a shower curtain and disposing of it in a mystery location.

Tina had uncovered that Gray murdered his wife Chantelle Atkins a few months earlier, after domestically abusing her for years - while Gray went on to claim a third victim, Kush Kazemi.

EastEnders serial killer Gray Atkins finds his lies coming back to haunt him (BBC / Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

It seems the walls are finally closing in on Gray, as characters including Whitney Dean are slowly becoming suspicious of his behaviour.

But Shirley is left worried later this month on the BBC soap, when Gray finally admits he didn't see Tina near Walford after all, like he had claimed.

Trying to stir up trouble in a bid to secure cash from the Carters earlier this year, the lawyer claimed he'd sighted her on a bus encouraging them to reopen the search for her.

Shirley Carter is left distraught, when she learns that Gray Atkins has been lying about the whereabouts of her missing sister Tina (BBC)

But in upcoming scenes, Gray's lie about his secret murder victim unravels as he tells Shirley he didn't really see her.

Shirley despairs as he admits the woman he saw was someone else - while it's not yet clear if he will admit that he lied, or if he instead claims to have seen someone who has since been identified.

Whether this will lead to Shirley working out Gray might have been involved in her vanishing act remains to be seen, with fans hoping he will finally be rumbled.

Viewers know that Gray murdered Tina last December (BBC)

Viewers had speculated Tina might still be alive, after he wasn't shown burying her body.

But actress Luisa Bradshaw-White, who played the character on the show, later spoke out to deny speculation she would return in a later episode.

The Carters are bound to be devastated when the truth eventually comes out, but will Gray strike again before this happens, and is it Whitney who needs to watch her back as she begins trying to expose his dark behaviour?

EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.