Another day, another onslaught of utter chaos for the Slater/Moon clan in EastEnders, as Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) stalking ordeal continues to cause enormous divides between the family members, though has the shady culprit behind her torment finally been unmasked?
Kicking off right where yesterdays episode finished up, with Zoe accusing little brother Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) of being behind the festive ‘DIE’ message left in the Vic window, completely unaware that downstairs, in the kitchen, Jean (Gillian Wright) had already confessed to Lily (Lillia Turner) that it was her.
See, Kat (Jessie Wallace) had said yesterday that one more incident could force Zoe to depart. With Jean utterly desperate to see the back of Zoe, she engineered ‘one more incident’. As she became more and more chaotic, clearly crumbling at the prospect of losing Freddie (Bobby Brazier), so soon after saying goodbye to Stacey (Lacey Turner), Lily questioned whether or not she was still taking her bipolar medication.
Jean confirmed that she was, but it was very apparent that she’s struggling as her speech and behaviour became ever more frantic.
Meanwhile, Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson) celebrated their engagement with their family, Patrick (Rudolph Walker), Yolande (Angela Wynter) and Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey), Chelsea Fox (Zaarah Abrahams) and Denzel Daynes (Jaden Ladega). While the others were full of cheer, Anthony had worked out that the ring Howie had proposed with had been stolen from Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine).
He gave Howie an ultimatum: tell Kim by the end of the night, or he would. Howie, though, wouldn’t be cowed so easily and skilfully manipulated Patrick into giving him Anthony’s wife, Sophie’s, phone number and was seemingly delighted by what he heard.
Back at the Vic, with Freddy and Anna Knight’s (Molly Rainford) leaving do underway, Kat called a family meeting. Though Lily made Jean promise she’d admit to the stunt with the lights, she kept silent as Kat made it clear that Zoe’s attitude was destroying the family, and when Zoe questioned whether she was being asked to leave, Kat struggled to respond.
Back in the café, a seemingly victorious Anthony taunted Howie, who finally played his ace card, letting Anthony know that Sophie had told him all about the restraining order she’d been forced to take out against him. Anthony darkened as Howie headed home.
Heading downstairs, Zoe announced to the pub that she was being kicked out, of course taking time out to clash with Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig). Declaring that somebody in the pub was guilty of terrorising her, she told Kat of her disappointment in her before heading out.
Where did she find herself? In the arms of a suddenly much more dangerous seeming Anthony, who’s devious smirk while holding Zoe spoke volumes.
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Stephen Patterson, Metro’s deputy soaps editor.
If you want to stay up to date on the latest spoilers from Hollyoaks, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Corrie and more, sign up to our daily Soaps Newsletter.
From the big moments to the gossip you can’t miss, it’s all in your inbox every morning. Sign up now.
While Anna paid a visit to a drug-addled Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway), trying to fix his bonds with Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) and Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho), Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) recommended that she start by talking to her dad, George Knight (Colin Salmon). She did and he seemingly listened, before they shared a tearful goodbye, before both families bid the departing youngsters a farewell.
Hand in hand, Freddie and Anna walked out of the Square and toward their exciting new life.
As they did, Howie returned home and was immediately faced by Anthony, who vowed to keep his secret, as long as Howie returned the favour. Howie determined that their situations were different; he was just a guy struggling to make ends meet, while Anthony is a danger to women.
Though they parted with an understanding, has Howie just unveiled that Anthony has form for tormenting women? Has Zoe ended up in the grips of the person that’s been torturing her?
