EastEnders fans have been speculating wildly about the impending death of Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), with several theories emerging about who will be responsible for the iconic character's demise. The BBC confirmed that Ryan is leaving the show, and reports indicate Zoe will meet a permanent and fatal end.
Zoe's dramatic return and recent storylines
Zoe returned to Albert Square in June 2025, reuniting with her long-lost twins Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) and Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan), fathered by her ex Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey). However, the reunion turned sour when Jasmine was revealed to be behind a stalking ordeal, working with Zoe's old accomplice Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman). The drama escalated when Anthony resurfaced and was killed by Jasmine in a violent confrontation, echoing Zoe's own past with Dirty Den Watts. Jasmine was later found innocent, and the Slater family embraced her.
Fan theories: Dermott Dolan as the killer
A popular theory suggests Zoe will be killed by her twin brother Dermott Dolan (Oisin Stack), whom she never knew. Born Luke Slater, Dermott was taken from Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) and raised in Ireland, where he had a violent history. In the EastEnders spin-off Redwater, Dermott drowned a man named Lance Kelly. One fan said: 'My theory is her evil twin brother who she never knew she had will probably kill her.' Another added that even if Dermott isn't the killer, 'this story could be a way of reintroducing Dermot (Zoe's twin)'.
Another theory: Josh or Chrissie Watts
Some fans believe Zoe's son Josh could be the killer, motivated by jealousy over Zoe's bond with Jasmine. One fan wrote: 'Why do I get the feeling that Josh will kill Zoe because he's jealous of her bond with Jasmine? It sounds petty but given how he acted on Jasmine's birthday and how he took no accountability for his affair with Oscar – it wouldn't surprise me if it goes down this route playing into the narrative that he's actually 'The evil twin'.' Another suggested a role reversal: 'Remember Jasmine went to prison for Anthony's murder — now could the roles reverse with Josh going to prison for Zoe's death/murder.'
Others point to Chrissie Watts, who has a motive for wanting Zoe dead after sleeping with Den and causing Chrissie to serve time for his murder. Chrissie has already stalked Zoe, leading fans to ask: 'Chrissie Watts returns to kill Zoe Slater?'
A grounded theory: dating app gone wrong
Some viewers think Zoe's exit could be more realistic, noting her recent use of dating apps. One fan predicted: 'Zoe gets killed by the man she meets online.' Another agreed: 'Zoe has mentioned a couple of times in the last few weeks that she's on dating apps. Knowing what we know now, could it be that she meets a psycho online and is killed off by him? It would be sudden and wouldn't need tons of build up for it.'
A BBC spokesperson told Metro: 'We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don't want to spoil it for the viewers.' An insider added: 'Michelle's exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time. With such an iconic character, Zoe's exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it's not going to be quiet.'
