EastEnders fans ‘solve’ massive twist to Zoe’s apparent death

Poor Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). The EastEnders Icon has barely been a year, and now she’s set to meet the grim reaper. But who will do the dastardly deed? Fans think they have it sussed. Are they right?

Walford lovers rejoiced when Zoe made her triumphant return to Albert Square last year in June.

She of ‘You Ain’t My Mavvah!’ fame is best know for that iconic long-lost daughter reveal during her previous stint in the show when ‘Enders veteran Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) famously revealed that she was, in fact, Zoe’s mother.

Zoe’s other infamous story on the Square was when legendary ‘Enders villain Dirty Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) convinced her to sleep with him to get pregnant, in a desperate attempt to convince Zoe’s then-boyfriend Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) that he was the father so he would stay with her.

When this plot predictably went pair-shaped, Zoe teamed up with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) and Den’s wife Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) to take down the devil of Walford for good. Zoe seemingly killed Den with a heavy iron door step, when in fact it was Chrissie who struck that fatal blow. Plagued with guilt, Zoe fled the country.

This back story would prove chillingly relevant when Zoe returned to Walford in 2025 to be reunited with her long lost twins – Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) and Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan), fathered by her ex, Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey).

Unfortunately, this did not turn out to be the sweet family reunion Zoe had imagined. Jasmine was actually behind her mum’s nightmare stalking ordeal and working with her old accomplice Chrissie, which was all part of the former Mrs Watts’ grand revenge.

Just when viewers thought things couldn’t get any more dramatic,the baby daddy himself, Anthony Trueman resurfaced. Cue a violent confrontation where Jasmine lamped Anthony to death (literally) to protect Zoe, in a chilling homage to Zoe’s own grim showdown with Dirty Den all those years again.

After a tense few weeks, Jasmine was eventually found innocent of his murder, and embraced by Zoe and Kat in a new dawn for clan Slater.

This made the news of Zoe’s axe from the show all the more shocking. The BBC confirmed that actor Michelle Ryan will be leaving, with reports that Zoe is set to meet a permanent – and fatal – end.

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 has since revealed to Metro: ‘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.’

This has set the rumour mill ablaze online, as fans put on their detective hats to work out who is going to be responsible for killing Zoe.

A popular theory is that Zoe meets her end at the hands of the twin brother she never knew – Dermott Dolan (Oisin Stack). Born Luke Slater, this prodigal son was taken from Kat (Jessie Wallace) after she gave birth and given to a family in Ireland – where he had a very bloody history.

In EastEnders spin off Redwater, Dermott killed an local man called Lance Kelly, drowning him while praying for his soul. Although he did save Kat;s life, it’s not a stretch to imagine him having Zoe in his murderous sights – and fans agree.’

‘My theory is her evil twin brother who she never knew she had will probably kill her,’ suggested one fan. Another added that, even if Dermott didn’t end up being the killer, ‘this story could be a way of reintroducing Dermot (Zoe’s twin)’.

Keeping in in the family, some fans believe that Zoe will be killed off by her own son – Josh. Jasmine is the killer out of the two twins, so this would certainly come as a shock, especially seeing as Zoe appeared to take her daughter’s side when Josh’s affair with Jasmine’s boyfriend Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) was revealed.

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 added: ‘Remember Jasmine went to prison for Anthony’s murder — now could the roles reverse with Josh going to prison for Zoe’s death/ murder.’

Some fans think that Zoe will be killed by a threat outside her family. Namely, her old enemy, Chrissie Watts.

‘Chrissie Watts returns to kill Zoe Slater?’ a fan asked.

Chrissie definitely has reason to want Zoe dead. Not only for sleeping with Den, but because Chrissie ended up doing time for Den’s murder after failing to frame Zoe. She’s already gone so far as to stalk Zoe. But is she capable of murder?

While all these is theories are delightfully gothic and wonderfully soapish, some fans think that Zoe’s exit might be far more realistic and grounded, but just as chilling. Noticing that Zoe has been on dating apps recently, one EastEnders’ viewer made a grim prediction that Zoe will meet a grim fate after a date gone wrong.

One said: ‘Predictions are Zoe gets killed by the man she meets online..’

Another fan appeared to agree ‘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.’

This certainly reads like a sound theory. Perhaps Zoe’s mystery cat-fisher is someone we already know.

Are any of these theories correct? Watch this space…