Patrick Trueman’s (Rudolph Walker) journey to come to terms with the loss of his son Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) has been arduous in EastEnders.

The patriarch of the Trueman clan was utterly broken on Christmas Day when he learned the true extent of his cherished sons dark actions. While already finding it difficult to reconcile the man he knew with the man Anthony had become, the two came to blows.

Still horrified upon learning that his son was the subject of a restraining order from his ex-wife, he was further wounded upon the revelation that he’d lied to Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace), telling her that the twins he’d fathered with Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) had died.

Over Christmas dinner, tensions boiled over, when Patrick declared that he wished his elder son, Paul (Gary Beadle), hadn’t died, and that Anthony had taken his place.

Though Patrick instantly regretted his grim words, he never got the chance to rectify things, as Anthony headed to the Vic, and to his death.

While Zoe was arrested for the crime, Patrick struggled to find closure. Though he formed a relationship with his recently-discovered granddaughter, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), her tendency to flee Walford and her terrifying temper made things difficult.

Visiting Zoe, he was hurt even further when she detailed the full scope of Anthony’s actions.

While temporarily buoyed by a surprisingly emotional talk with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) at Anthony’s funeral and the return of Jasmine, things just got worse when Jasmine admitted to killing her dad and was arrested.

Next week sees Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) attempt to help Patrick, and when he receives an idea from Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall), he turns to AI for a solution.

Denzel manages to recreate Anthony using the AI software and prepares to use it to manage Patrick’s grief.

Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer of the BBC explained the inclusion of AI in the storyline: ‘AI Unpacked Week builds on the BBC’s work on educating UK audiences about AI and its place in society.

‘Across TV, radio and digital we have a range of dedicated AI programming to inform and excite audiences about the rise of this new technology. From grief tech in EastEnders, to a Panorama special on the advance of robotics, to BBC Bitesize guides for teenagers.’

When presented with ‘AI Anthony’, Patrick is immediately distressed and flees.

A while later, though, he returns and asks to be shown how to use the creation. As he spends more time with the digital recreation of his son, devoted wife Yolande (Angela Wynter) voices her concerns over the situation.

While Denzel undoubtedly wanted nothing more than to help Patrick process his grief, has he just created even bigger problems?