The teenage mum is set to struggle with baby Charli again (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Teenage mum Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) hasn’t had an easy time of it with baby Charli in EastEnders, and as the New Year begins things are about to get tougher.

Lily was just 13 when baby Charli was born, and soon admitted motherhood was much harder than she’d expected.

She’s been desperate to prove she can be a good mother to Charli, who was born back in September in the midst of mum Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) ordeal at the hands of creepy stalker Theo Hawthorne (William Ellis).

Stacey has had to intervene in Charli’s care more than once – but was so hands on that she created a vicious circle where Lily lost her confidence.

Stacey’s concerns were understandable though.

On one occasion, Lily and Ricky Branning Jr (Frankie Day) took Charli out for the afternoon. But it ended badly after they tried making a viral video and were caught trying to feed Charli crisps by Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) – which could have killed her.

Lily’s mum Stacey has frequently taken over parenting the tot (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Over the months, nan Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) has given Lily lots of help and comfort, telling her what to do instead of stepping in and taking charge.

Now as the new term begins, Lily has to go back to school.

This means she’ll be spending hours every day away from Charli – and she’s going to find it very strange.

Grandparents Stacey and Jack have been hands-on with the baby – and also recently with each other (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)