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Do you think Christian and Syed love each other?
"Yes, I do - I would say that, though! But yes, at this point in time I do think they fall in love with each other completely. I think Syed's lived so long compartmentalising his feelings and he's quite happy doing that but I think we've recently started to see that unravel with the massive confession that Syed made to the imam. I don't think he would ever have made that confession if he wasn't in love with Christian. It's the first time he's ever told anybody about his feelings outside the relationship and he chose to do this to his religious mentor.
"He could have carried on living the life he's been living but obviously the feelings are increasing and he doesn't know what to do with them. If that's not love, what is it? It's not lust - lust doesn't drive you to question your whole religious belief. Lust is something you can have and then wipe yourself down and walk away. This is far bigger than that."
How does the blackmail plot start to unravel next week...
"Syed's had the letter and the photographs and Christian's a bit blasé about it and says that the photograph's hardly incriminating - it's not showing them doing anything. He's been trying to pacify Syed, also he's so frightened that just when it looks like things might move on and there's a chance, the financial request from the blackmailer throws a spanner in the works. It's probably going to set Syed back emotionally so Christian's constantly trying to say, 'Don't worry about it - it's no big deal'."
What happens?
"Syed leaves £300 in a telephone box and Christian can't believe he's actually gone along and done it and that he didn't even see who [collected] the money. The blackmailer then decides he's going to write to Zainab as well to let her know. Syed manages to intercept this card, though. Masood then walks into the café with the post and Christian can't get the mail. Masood's really tired, though, falls asleep in the cafe and Christian manages to swipe the letter and give it to Syed. It doesn't mention anything, it just says, 'You're a bad, bad boy', again. Syed's definitely relieved it hasn't mentioned anything else. Christian then tells Syed that he needs to call the blackmailer but he's reluctant to. Christian sneakily manages to get Syed's telephone off him because he wants to confront the blackmailer himself.
"Christian calls this number just as Masood happens to be walking through the park and the phone is ringing in the bin, so Masood picks it up out of the bin and goes into the Vic. As they're in the pub, the phone rings again and this time it's Ian on the end who says that Lucy's been mugged."
How does Christian react to the news that Lucy's the blackmailer?
"Christian's mind is whirling. He really doesn't want to believe it's Lucy that's done this because Lucy's the only person who actually knows about Syed and Christian - what could she possibly be gaining from this? Christian goes to meet Lucy and he asks her, 'Why do you want to persecute the man I...' and stops just short of saying, 'the man I love'."
What's Lucy's reasoning?
"Lucy responds that she was doing it for Christian as she could see how unhappy he was and in her defence, I think she was initially doing it for him. I think it was done out of love but in the meantime, she thought she could make a quick £300 out of it. Christian absolutely reads her the riot act - he's disgusted with her and can't believe it.
"He goes back to Syed and says that it's been dealt with. Syed pushes and pushed him to tell him who it is - he's really ungrateful and rude about it - so Christian tells him it was Lucy. Syed leaves and puts the frighteners on her, too. On bonfire night, he goes after Lucy and lets her know in no uncertain terms that she has to keep her mouth shut..."
Apparently the big reveal's going to be huge - are you looking forward to it?
"I am so looking forward to it. It feels like Christmas Eve - all that anticipation! It's like I can't wait to wake up and open all my fabulous things! When you've worked on something and invested so much in something - we've all gotten so close in all of this as well. In some ways we can't wait for those episodes to start but we also know in some ways that it's like the end of an act of a play. It's a double-edged sword in a way. I don't want to big it up too much yet but the writing is so brilliant. Everything comes out - the blood and guts and tears and shouting. Everything you've wanted to be said will be said within these episodes, they are amazing.
"Me and Nina have some corking scenes coming up - absolutely blood-curdling scenes and I cannot wait to play them with her. I love Nina - she's brilliant, funny, comic - but when she turns she's like an absolute lioness. I cannot wait to stand in front of her and feel the wrath of it. That's what's going to happen - she's going to explode."
> Click here to read more from John Partridge in Soap Scoop
Additional reporting by Philippa Warr
