EastEnders has confirmed danger for Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) as she is targeted and groomed by suspended detective Craig Ingram (Matthew James Bailey).

Craig was introduced back in July to investigate the attack carried out on Joel Marshall (Max Murray).

The detective crossed paths with Amy, daughter of colleague Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), when interviewing all the teen suspects, who were in the park with Joel prior to the attack.

Amy was keen to find out what Craig knew and, believing him to be trustworthy, she confided in him that she was the one who carried out the assault.

Craig contemplated reporting her confession to the police, but he was taken off the case before he could make his mind up.

A complaint was made against him – and it came to light that it wasn’t the first, with DS Reynolds confirming that Craig was being investigated for gross misconduct over ‘engaging in inappropriate relationships with a female officer’.

Craig withheld such information from Amy and instead claimed that he’d decided to keep her name out of it, urging her to come to him if she needs anything.

He subsequently asked her out for a drink and kissed her. When Jack got wind of the fact he’d been texting his daughter, Craig covered by revealing that Amy had attacked Joel, before continuing to meet up with Amy in secret.

EastEnders has now confirmed the direction of the storyline, with Amy groomed by Craig. The BBC One soap is working with Barnardo’s, End Violence Against Women and experts in the field on the story.

Amy, who remains unaware of his suspension, believes she can trust Craig, who will use his position of power to elicit control.

Believing Craig is the only thing standing between her and serious consequences for what happened to Joel, Amy is incrementally manipulated and groomed by Craig across a series of months – and will eventually find herself in danger when Craig creates an environment where she believes he’s the only person she can trust.

Discussing the story in question, EastEnders boss Ben Wadey said: ‘When telling a storyline like Amy’s, we have a huge responsibility to highlight and raise awareness of the warning signs of grooming. We’re grateful to be working with Barnardo’s and End Violence Against Women to help us tell this story.’

Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s Chief Executive added: ‘We welcomed the opportunity to provide expert advice on this storyline – which is a powerful reminder that there is no stereotypical victim or perpetrator of grooming. Young people from all walks of life can be targeted and fall victim to controlling behaviour – and many are often unaware that they are being groomed. 

‘We hope this important storyline can highlight how subtle the signs of grooming can be and how it builds over time. To any viewers who recognise themselves in this story – who may be currently experiencing abuse or might have in the past – we hope this storyline shows you that the abuse was not your fault and we encourage you to seek support. We appreciate the writing team’s professional curiosity and determination to get this story right.’

Janaya Walker, Interim Director at End Violence Against Women Coalition added: ‘We’re proud to have worked with the EastEnders team on this storyline about grooming and police-perpetrated abuse, which has been delivered with sensitivity and care.

‘On-screen portrayals like this have the power to shift attitudes and increase understanding of abuse across society.

‘This storyline will help raise awareness about how those in a position of trust can abuse their power to target women and girls. We hope it can play an important role in making these experiences visible and help victims watching at home to understand that what happened to them was abuse, and to seek support.’

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

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You don’t last 20 years on Dragons’ Den without learning a thing or two about negotiation. 

Yet despite that, Deborah Meaden has just admitted to making one of the worst negotiating decisions she’s ever made in the Den. 

So what caused the self-made millionaire to lose her senses? Well, she was so impressed by one entrepreneur she just couldn’t help herself. 

Specifically, she was dazzled by entrepreneur Sam, who was seeking a £10,000 investment for a 2 per cent stake in his fashion business, Yes Friends.

What separates Sam’s business from other fashion chains, though, is that Yes Friends wants to prove that ethical clothing doesn’t need to be expensive.’

‘We’re on a mission to make ethical clothing affordable and transform the fashion industry,’ Sam explained.

Sam then shared that he started his company in 2021 with a sustainable and ethically produced £7.99 T-shirt, of which he sold 4,000 in just one month. 

Since then, he claims the company has worked to dispel the myth that it’s too expensive to run a successful fashion business ethically. 

After his pitch, Peter Jones immediately began to interrogate him on the mission, asking, ‘Isn’t this what every modern clothing brand does?’

However, Sam immediately corrected him, claiming: ‘The vast majority of brands aren’t doing that… the majority of brands aren’t paying living wages.’

Sam then explained that while factories claim to pay fair wages, if you compare that to benchmarks provided by the Global Living Wage Coalition, it will show they’re not paying a living wage. 

Deborah was immediately struck by the quality of the product and was further impressed by the company’s ethical mission and Sam’s knowledge of his business. 

‘I love absolutely everything that you do,’ she said. ‘That’s why I was interested to understand how deeply you went into it. So it’s one thing handing over cash; it’s another to make sure it goes into the payslips of the people you want it to go to. 

‘I am your perfect dragon, I have the audience you’re talking to, and I really want to be your investor,’ she continued. 

[I’ve] never sat here and been that open ever; it’s like the worst negotiating stance a Dragon could possibly take. Do you know what else I’m going to do, which is very un-dragonlike? You asked for £10,000 for 2 per cent of the business. I’m gonna offer you £20,000 for two per cent of the business.’ 

Unsurprisingly, given this praise, a rather stunned Sam decided to go with Deborah, even turning down a £30,000 offer from Touker Suleyman, who asked for 25% of the business. 

As he left the Den, Sam said he was ‘amazed’  at the offer, while Deborah explained she didn’t want to take a huge chunk of the business; she just wanted to make an ‘ethical investment’.

Dragons’ Den airs on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.

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Hurley Sport will officially open at Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich at 9am on Saturday, September 12, more than four decades after the name became synonymous with Manchester’s 1980s sportswear scene.

Ahead of the doors opening to shoppers, The Bolton News was invited behind the scenes for a sneak peek at the finished store following a whirlwind two-and-a-half-week transformation.

And just days ago, general manager Jess Pizzey admitted she was not convinced they would get it finished in time.

She said: “There were times I thought it wasn’t going to be ready.

“Literally two days ago we were still painting things.

“I didn’t think we’d do it, but we did.”

A sneak peek inside the store

The shop, opposite Hurleys’ existing men’s and women’s store near Vue cinema, combines the distinctive sportswear labels of Hurley Sport’s heyday with nods to the family business’s 71-year history.

Its rails are packed with brands including Sergio Tacchini, Fila, Rockport, Kappa, Ellesse, Patrick, Diadora, Gola, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Lois, Henri Lloyd and Gabicci.

(Image: NQ)

There are bold pieces inspired by the colours and styles of the 1980s alongside more understated modern clothing, with the new store dedicated entirely to menswear.

But some of the most personal touches are away from the rails.

Old family photographs have been incorporated into the changing rooms, charting the story of the Hurley family through the generations.

Jess, whose grandparents Ron and Eileen Hurley founded the business in 1955, said: “My dad’s career is on the walls in the dressing rooms.

“There’s one picture of Grandad and Gran, the next photo is him with his auntie and then us.”

Jess is the third generation of the family involved in Hurleys alongside her sister Tara Minion and their father Mark Hurley.

Jess, Mark, Tara

For her, the new store is as much about the people behind the business as the clothes on its rails.

She said: “It’s like a family dynamic on steroids. We’re a very small team and the staff are a family unit.

“We’ve got a staff member who’s been here 24 years.

“They’ve worked so hard and we couldn’t have done it without them.

“It’s a small business. Everyone pulls their weight. They don’t just clock off.”

The history of Hurley Sport shown through photos (Image: NQ)

Getting the store ready has meant long days for the family and staff, who have had to continue running the rest of the business at the same time.

Jess said: “It was very stressful, but worth it in the end.

“We’ve had to continue – all our other jobs don’t stop.

“We didn’t shut. We still had to manage a job on top of this.

“It was a very quick turnaround.”

The new shop marks the latest chapter in a business which began as Hurley’s Sports & Camping on Eccles New Road in Salford in 1955.

Hurley’s

It later became a familiar name in Manchester city centre, particularly through its Piccadilly stores, as the family embraced European sportswear labels which exploded in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s.

At its height, Hurleys had 16 stores across the North West before eventually consolidating around Middlebrook, which opened around 2001 and became its flagship location.

The idea of reviving Hurley Sport gathered momentum as the family celebrated 70 years in business last year and began digging through decades of photographs and memorabilia.

With many of the labels it sold in the 1980s enjoying renewed popularity, the family decided the time was right to put the Hurley Sport name above a shopfront once again.

For Jess, its return is also another example of how the family business has survived by continually changing with the times.

She said: “We’ve made it through many things.

“It’s evolution – you just have to keep going.”

The finishing touches are now being made ahead of Saturday morning, when customers will get their first chance to step inside the revived Hurley Sport store.

Hurley Sport will open at Middlebrook Retail Park at 9am on Saturday, September 12.