In a dramatic turn of events on EastEnders, Zoe Slater's attempt to flee Walford has been dramatically halted, but a web of lies surrounding her newborn twins threatens to shatter the entire Slater family. The episode, which aired on December 17, 2025, left viewers reeling as loyalties were tested and a sinister plot was uncovered.
A Mother's Agonising Secret
The heart of the drama lies with Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace, who is carrying what she believes is a soul-destroying truth. Before the recent fire, Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) told Kat that neither of Zoe's twins had survived. He cruelly claimed nothing could have been done to save them.
However, the audience is privy to a chilling reality that Kat is not: Anthony is lying. Both babies are, in fact, alive. Convinced he is the father and enraged that Zoe 'took them away' from him, Anthony's twisted plan is to make Zoe believe her children are dead. This way, he can track the infants down himself and permanently cut Zoe out of their lives.
Utterly broken by the news but unaware of the manipulation, Kat begs Anthony not to tell Zoe. She insists she must be the one to deliver the horrific blow, but only after Christmas. Desperate to protect her daughter from further trauma while Zoe battles fear, guilt, and exhaustion, Kat wants one final holiday with all her children together under one roof.
Family Tensions and a Fierce Ultimatum
As Zoe's stalker ordeal continues to cast a shadow, Alfie Moon grows increasingly worried for the family's safety. He even suggests the unthinkable: that they should all consider leaving Walford. Kat immediately shuts down the idea, fiercely declaring the Square their home and refusing to run from another person's actions.
In a bid to regain control, Kat calls a tense family meeting at The Queen Vic. It is here that Zoe, played by Michelle Ryan, surprises everyone by admitting she no longer believes Jean was responsible for the fire or the recent incidents. Seizing the moment with pure maternal instinct, Kat asks Zoe to move back into the Vic, wanting her close and protected by family.
Zoe eventually agrees, and Kat throws herself into preparing a Christmas Day event at the pub, dragging Zoe along to hand out flyers in a fragile attempt at normality. However, the calm is shattered when Vicki confronts them, bluntly blaming Zoe for the fire. Overwhelmed, Zoe tells Kat she should return to Spain, believing it would be easier for everyone if she left.
Exit Plans Scrapped, But Danger Remains
Kat's response is immediate and fierce. She declares that if Zoe goes, they all go, refusing to let her daughter walk away feeling unwanted or to blame. Faced with this unwavering loyalty, Zoe finally relents and agrees to stay, her exit plans officially scrapped—for now.
Yet, the episode concludes with a chilling sense of dread. The precarious situation is built on a foundation of deceit:
- Zoe believes her babies are gone.
- Kat believes she is shielding her daughter from unbearable pain.
- Anthony Trueman, the man at the centre of it all, continues to pull the strings from the shadows.
With the stalker threat still unresolved and the truth about the twins buried, one thing is painfully clear: while Zoe may be staying in Walford, the real danger is far from over.
