EastEnders Bombshell: Vicki Orchestrates Zoe’s Abduction After Learning She’s Back for Joel – How Will Zoe Strike Back?

Walford is once again the epicentre of shocking drama, and this time, the stakes are dangerously personal. In a jaw-dropping twist that’s set to send shockwaves through EastEnders, Vicki Fowler takes a sinister turn when she discovers that Zoe Slater has returned — and she’s not just back to reconnect with the Square. Zoe is back for one reason: Joel.

The moment Vicki hears whispers of Zoe’s sudden reappearance, she feels the ground shift beneath her. For months, Vicki has been clinging to the illusion of security in her relationship with Joel. But deep down, she’s always known that Zoe’s shadow lingered — and now it’s come crashing back into her world. The return of Zoe is not just inconvenient; it’s an existential threat. And Vicki? She’s not about to let everything she’s fought for be snatched away.

In upcoming episodes, Vicki’s fear morphs into something much darker. She secretly begins laying the groundwork for what may be one of Walford’s most chilling acts of betrayal in recent history — the covert abduction of Zoe Slater.

Vicki’s plan is calculated, silent, and deeply personal. Using an old family contact with a shady past, she arranges for Zoe to be intercepted and taken somewhere away from Walford — anywhere that keeps her from ever laying claim to Joel again. The plot is careful, without traceable ties to Vicki herself, ensuring she can maintain her innocent facade. After all, who would ever suspect Vicki Fowler of being behind something so extreme?

But if there’s one thing viewers know about Zoe Slater, it’s that she’s not the type to stay down — not for long.

The storyline intensifies when Kat and Stacey begin to suspect something’s wrong. Zoe was supposed to meet them at The Vic, but hours pass with no sign. Phones go unanswered. Her luggage remains untouched at the flat. When her disappearance becomes impossible to ignore, Kat’s protective instincts ignite. The Slater matriarch immediately launches into action, demanding answers and refusing to let Zoe’s vanishing be swept under the rug.

Meanwhile, Joel is caught in the crossfire of emotion and guilt. While he initially pretends to be shocked by Zoe’s return, deep inside, he still holds unresolved feelings for her. And when news of her disappearance spreads, Joel’s demeanor shifts. Could he know more than he’s letting on? Or is he just beginning to realize what Zoe truly meant to him?

In private, Vicki keeps up appearances — comforting Joel, expressing worry, even crying fake tears. But the cracks in her performance start to show. Her obsessive jealousy and erratic behavior lead Stacey to question her motives. And as pressure mounts, one wrong move from Vicki could expose everything.

But the real twist comes when Zoe escapes.

That’s right — Zoe finds a way out. Details of her harrowing ordeal are still under wraps, but what’s certain is that she returns to Walford furious, wounded, and out for revenge. No longer interested in quietly rekindling the past with Joel, Zoe sets her sights on the woman who tried to destroy her — Vicki.

Zoe’s retaliation isn’t impulsive — it’s surgical. She begins to unravel Vicki’s secrets piece by piece. From accessing Vicki’s burner phone records to tracking down the person who carried out the abduction, Zoe’s mission becomes clear: bring Vicki down — publicly and permanently.

Viewers can expect a series of explosive confrontations, escalating from whispered threats in alleyways to a full-blown showdown at the Queen Vic, where secrets come to light in front of half of Walford. When Kat discovers what Vicki did, it’s game over. The Slaters rally behind Zoe, demanding justice.

And Joel? Torn between two women, he must finally choose a side. But is there any redemption left for him, or is he just as guilty for standing by as Zoe disappeared?

This storyline promises to deliver everything EastEnders fans crave — revenge, betrayal, exposed secrets, and fierce female rivalries. With Vicki pushed to her breaking point and Zoe transformed by trauma into a woman on a mission, we’re witnessing the beginning of a brutal war — one where only one woman can come out on top.

Coming up next:

🔥 Will Vicki be arrested — or will she strike first to silence Zoe again?
💥 How will the Square react when Zoe tells all about her abduction?
⚠️ And with Joel caught in the middle, could he be the next victim in this fiery feud?

Don’t miss the upcoming episodes of EastEnders — because in Walford, revenge isn’t just a dish best served cold… it’s the main course.