EastEnders delivered a harrowing festive chapter that tore through the Slater household and sent shockwaves across Albert Square, as long-buried lies, violent confrontations, and dangerous alliances collided in one of the soap’s darkest Christmas arcs in recent memory. At the centre of the storm stood Zoe Slater, whose long-awaited return has spiralled into tragedy, exposing devastating truths about her past and setting off a chain reaction that may yet claim more victims.

A Christmas Day truth that changed everything

What should have been a tense but familiar Slater Christmas erupted into horror when Zoe uncovered the ultimate betrayal by her ex, Anthony Truman. It was revealed that Anthony had always known he was the biological father of Zoe’s twins — a truth he deliberately concealed while cruelly lying to Kat Slater, claiming the babies had died. The revelation shattered Zoe’s already fragile emotional state and ignited an explosive confrontation that quickly turned violent.

In scenes that left viewers reeling, Zoe shoved Anthony during their argument, causing him to smash his head against a doorframe. What followed was even more disturbing: Anthony retaliated, slamming Zoe’s head into the banister and knocking her unconscious. When Zoe eventually came to, Anthony did not. In an instant, Zoe and Kat were faced with an unthinkable reality — a body on the floor, Christmas dinner untouched, and a life-altering decision looming over them.

A death shrouded in mystery

As panic set in, the horror deepened. Zoe could remember nothing of the crucial moments after she blacked out, leaving a chilling question hanging in the air: if Zoe didn’t deliver the fatal blow, then who did? With Anthony dead and Zoe later imprisoned, the mystery surrounding his final moments has taken on a far darker edge. Someone else was there. Someone who acted when no one was watching.

That unsettling possibility has turned suspicion inward, particularly toward Jean Slater, the often-overlooked but emotionally fragile heart of the Slater family.

Jean Slater: breaking point or dangerous secret?

Jean has long been portrayed as eccentric but loving, yet her struggles with bipolar disorder have been a recurring and deeply serious storyline. Past trauma, including a devastating suicide attempt, has shown just how vulnerable she becomes under intense stress. And Walford, as ever, has provided stress in abundance.

The months leading up to Christmas had already taken their toll. Stacey Slater’s departure left Jean unmoored, and Zoe’s sudden return only intensified her anxiety. While some in Albert Square welcomed Zoe back, Jean made no secret of her resentment. She openly blamed Zoe for Stacey leaving, branded her the source of the family’s misery, and repeatedly insisted she should disappear for good.

That hostility grew so extreme that some viewers even speculated Jean might have been stalking Zoe — a theory that now feels far less far-fetched in the aftermath of Anthony’s death. With Zoe unconscious during the decisive moment, Jean’s mounting paranoia and emotional instability place her uncomfortably close to the centre of the mystery.

A family on edge

In the days following Christmas, the Slaters are left fractured and fearful. Kat is determined to protect Zoe at all costs, while the rest of the family grows increasingly alarmed by Jean’s behaviour. Eve Unwin, Lily, and others try desperately to support her, urging professional help as Jean rejects therapy and insists she’s managing her medication.

Yet warning signs continue to mount. Jean’s erratic behaviour, fixation on Zoe, and growing suspicion that everyone is against her have left the family terrified that she may be slipping beyond their reach. The question now haunting Walford is whether Jean is a tragic victim of circumstance — or whether she crossed a line she can never return from.

Chrissie Watts returns — and chaos follows

Adding fuel to an already raging fire is the dramatic return of Walford icon Chrissie Watts. Her reappearance has not only stirred old wounds but entangled Zoe’s secret daughter, Jasmine Fischer, in a sinister campaign of torment against a shared enemy. As Chrissie embeds herself back into Square life, her presence complicates an already volatile situation, blurring the lines between manipulation, revenge, and justice.

With Jasmine quietly integrating into the Slater orbit, the emotional stakes rise even higher. Secrets once buried are now colliding, threatening to destroy what little stability remains.

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Meanwhile: A new revenge plot takes shape

Elsewhere in Albert Square, another chilling storyline is gathering momentum. Harry Mitchell has returned from rehab determined to stay clean after years of addiction triggered by brutal trauma. But his homecoming is far from comforting.

Harry’s father remains in prison after taking the blame for a killing Harry himself committed, while his younger brother has fled the family home. And standing as a living reminder of everything Harry lost is Ravi Gulati — the man Harry believes destroyed his life.

Ravi’s past actions, including forcing Harry into drug dealing and enabling the abuse that led to his addiction, have left scars that refuse to heal. Watching Ravi welcomed back into family life only intensifies Harry’s rage. When Phil Mitchell offers pointed advice about dealing with threats to family, something dark ignites.

A mother’s promise — and a dangerous alliance

The most chilling development comes when Nicola Mitchell steps in. Catching Harry moments away from attacking Ravi with a spanner, she realises just how close her son is to relapse — or worse. Fearing she could lose him forever, Nicola makes a devastating choice.

In a quiet, tearful exchange, Nicola vows that they will make Ravi pay — carefully, intelligently, and without suspicion. Unlike Harry, Nicola has the resources, connections, and ruthless resolve to carry out such a plan. Her calm exterior hides a lethal past, and when she sets events in motion during a New Year’s Eve celebration, the danger becomes very real.

Offering Ravi a drink with a disarming smile, Nicola signals the beginning of what could be his undoing. A silent glance exchanged with Harry confirms it: this is only the first step.

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What happens next?

As EastEnders barrels toward its next explosive chapter, the Square is a powder keg of grief, paranoia, and revenge. Is Jean Slater an innocent woman spiralling under unbearable pressure — or the key to Anthony Truman’s death? Will Zoe ever learn the full truth about her son and the lies that stole her family from her? And how far will Harry and Nicola Mitchell go to destroy Ravi Gulati?

One thing is certain: Walford is heading for another devastating reckoning — and when the truth finally comes out, it will leave nothing untouched.