EastEnders viewers watched on as Joyce’s (played by Maggie Steed) lifeless arm was seen to hang out of bed after she died in her sleep.
Ted (Christopher Timothy) was oblivious to her passing and didn’t find out about the death until hours later.
Joyce’s death was unexpected, with the character only arriving in Albert Square in May last year.
Tonight’s episode saw emotional scenes when Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) phoned from the funeral parlour.
Ted struggled to be in the house he shared with Joyce as her belongings covered the entire living room.
However, Ted is holding back a huge secret about Joyce from their children.
Not only has he failed to register her death, he hasn’t informed his children that their mother has died.
Jay asked: “When you told your children, did they give you any idea of how many would be coming? Just so we can sort the limousines.”
Ted then revealed: “No. No, I mean my kids. I haven’t told them.”
The war veteran has already been seen battling with post traumatic stress disorder and depression, so Joyce’s death has come as a huge blow to his mental health.
Friend, neighbour and chess apprentice Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris) offered Ted support tonight and visited the funeral parlour with him.
She then gave the grieving resident a nudge to inform his children.
Bernadette said: “While we’re dealing with things, you could call your kids.”
Ted replied: “No, I honestly don’t think they’d care!” before Bernadette explained how Joyce touched more people that Ted probably knew about and may have kept in touch.
In a turn of events, Ted was seen to phone his daughter in the closing moments of the episode.
He said: “Judith, it’s your father… It’s dad!”
Joyce’s sudden death will send shockwaves through Albert Square, especially when the couple’s daughter Judith (Emma Fielding) turns up next week.
She has a very strained relationship with her father, and Ted is set to be put under even more strain.
Will Joyce’s funeral be a calm farewell or will soap-style chaos ensue?
EastEnders continues tomorrow on BBC One at 7.30pm.
