EastEnders confirms tragedy for Zoe Slater in emotional death story

EastEnders flashed back almost two decades to reveal emotional scenes for Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), whose life flashed before her very eyes after being shot on Bridge Street.

The popular character, who staged a cracking comeback after 20 years, was in the middle of a showdown with estranged mum Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) when she was struck by a bullet.

The culprit was none other than Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), who accidentally pulled the trigger amid a scuffle with Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).

The events of the subsequent episode were held back from BBC iPlayer, where instalments of the soap are typically available to stream from 6am. Instead, viewers had to wait to see the drama unfold on TV.

It was certainly a big episode, as Walford descended into panic upon hearing the gunshot, with Kat urging her long-lost daughter to get out of the firing line and to safety. To her horror, however, Zoe had been hit.

The devastated mum swooped into action, assisting Zoe in making it to Walford East, where she used her daughter’s mobile device to call for an ambulance.

Alfie (Shane Richie), meanwhile, set off in search of Kat and Zoe in the aftermath of the gunshot, tracking them down at the restaurant and bringing them back to the Vic.

In motional scenes, Zoe started to lose consciousness as Kat, Alfie and Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) desperately tried to stop the bleeding.

And then, a flashback ensued.

At a hospital in 2006, Zoe delivered a baby boy. And soon, the midwife encouraged her to get ready to welcome another child – a little girl.

Upon the second baby’s delivery, there were no cries. In the flashback, Zoe lost consciousness as doctors desperately worked on the baby.

Later, she woke to the cries of just one child. Fighting tears, the Walford icon told the nurse that she wanted to give the baby up for adoption – before making a run for it.

Fans had long speculated that Zoe was the mum of troubled teen Joel Marshall (Max Murray) but the events of this episode appear to rule such a thing out as, given that Joel is at school, he is thought to have been born in 2009 or 2010.

Back in the present, Zoe was rushed to hospital in the ambulance. But will she pull through?

The shocks kept on coming as, while waiting anxiously outside the hospital room, Kat answered a call on Zoe’s phone, believing the person on the other end of the call to be the ‘enemy’ her daughter spoke of – the one she reckons was behind the shooting.

Kat branded the silent caller ‘scum’, urging him to stay away from her Zoe. But a twist soon followed as viewers discovered that the caller was none other than Max Branning (Jake Wood)!

The question is: just how does Max know Zoe?

And is he the reason why she’s been on the run for so long? Is he aware of the secret that’s ‘so bad’ she’s stayed away from Walford?

it was confirmed earlier this year that Max would be back for a short stint before staging a longer return later in the year.

‘I’m over the moon to be coming home to Walford,’ said actor Jake Wood at the time. ‘Max has got lots of unresolved drama with many characters, so I’m sure he’ll be busy. 

‘I’m excited to see what he’s been up to, and what is next for the character, but if his last 15 years in the Square are anything to go by, I’m sure there will be plenty of chaos.’

EastEnders continues Thursday September 4 at 7:30pm or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.