Walford is in for a wild ride this week as EastEnders welcomes back a familiar face – Zoe Slater. Her unexpected return sets off a chain of emotional chaos, shocking confessions, and long-buried family secrets. It’s the kind of week that tears through the Slater household with the force of a hurricane.

It all begins when a voicemail is left – quiet, heartfelt, and from a voice viewers haven’t heard in years. Zoe’s mother, Kat Slater, is desperate for contact, reaching out into silence. But Zoe’s absence hasn’t gone unnoticed. Her sudden reappearance stuns the Slater clan, especially Stacey, who finds herself torn between compassion and frustration.

Zoe shows up disheveled, anxious, and clearly hiding something. She claims she’s been robbed, that her card was stolen, and she’s in trouble with loan sharks – but it doesn’t take long before holes begin to appear in her story. From vapes and biscuits as sustenance to mysterious cab arrivals and abrupt disappearances, the signs are there: Zoe is running from more than just financial troubles.

Jean and Stacey try to coax the truth out of her, with Alfie reluctantly caught in the middle. Emotions run high when Zoe’s erratic behavior causes rifts – one minute she’s defensive and secretive, the next she’s begging them not to involve Kat, her own mother. But it’s only a matter of time before Kat arrives, full of motherly concern and questions that no one wants to answer.

In a heart-wrenching twist, Zoe admits the entire loan shark story was a lie. She fabricated it to get a place to stay and quick cash, a move that devastates Stacey. But what’s worse is Zoe’s fear – not of debt collectors, but of something darker. She’s visibly haunted and confesses she’s done something terrible, something unforgivable. Something she believes Kat will never understand.

Kat, unaware of the storm building behind the walls, shows up in her typical force-of-nature style. She senses something is off, but when she demands to know who’s hiding in the bedroom, chaos erupts. Zoe, terrified, bolts before Kat can lay eyes on her. Her final words to Stacey – “Don’t look for me” – echo like a goodbye.

And just like that, Zoe disappears again.

But the mystery only deepens when it’s revealed Zoe used Stacey’s credit card to book a last-minute flight to Barcelona. Stacey and Alfie, both deeply concerned, track her spending and realize she’s on the run – but not from imaginary threats. Something real, something dangerous, has her spooked.

The question is: what?

Alfie, ever the optimist, proposes they follow her and bring her back, protect her from whatever demons she’s hiding from. But the logistics are complicated. Kids, money, secrecy from Kat – everything becomes harder to balance. Yet Stacey is determined. Zoe isn’t just a wayward cousin. She’s family. And she’s in trouble.

In the middle of all this, Kat is preparing for her wedding. She’s blissfully unaware of Zoe’s return and the havoc it’s causing. That is, until Alfie delivers the ultimate bombshell: he’s leaving for Australia. The timing is suspicious, and Kat isn’t buying it. She demands answers, but Alfie deflects, claiming he’s helping Spencer through a rough patch.

Kat sees through the excuse but chooses to believe in the man she loves. Before he leaves, they have an honest conversation about Zoe. Alfie confesses he still cares deeply for the girl and regrets how things unfolded. Kat, showing the softer side fans know and love, reveals her own regrets and hopes for reconciliation.

In a touching moment, Kat gives Alfie her blessing – not just to travel, but to bring Zoe home.

As Alfie races to the airport, Stacey vows to do everything she can to protect Zoe. The Slater family is nothing if not resilient, and even when secrets tear them apart, their love pulls them back together.

But questions still linger.

What exactly is Zoe running from?

Who is she so afraid of?

And what is the dark secret she’s hiding that she believes will destroy everything?

This week’s episodes promise high-stakes emotion, unexpected reunions, and a storyline that could change the Slater family forever. With Zoe back in the picture and Kat unknowingly standing at the heart of the mystery, EastEnders fans are in for a rollercoaster of drama, heartbreak, and shocking revelations.