EastEnders fans, get ready because this year’s Christmas episode is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in the show’s history. New executive producer Ben Wadey has offered up the first hints of what viewers can expect during the festive season, and it’s clear that the holiday in Walford will be anything but merry.
According to Ben, the special will weave together elements of EastEnders’ ‘past, present and future,’ promising a powerful blend of nostalgia, current conflict, and major revelations that will set up future storylines. In particular, the Branning and Slater families will be pushed to their limits as they take centre stage in the lead-up to Christmas Day.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Wadey said: ‘This Christmas, we’re looking past, present and future, so we’ve got a lot of stuff that we’re very excited to share with the audience.’
While exact plot details remain under wraps, it’s already clear that the drama will be thick and fast. One of the biggest storylines unfolding this autumn, and expected to play a major role in the Christmas special, is the return of Zoe Slater, a character whose complicated history with her mother, Kat, has been at the heart of some of EastEnders’ most iconic moments.
After a 20-year absence, Zoe recently returned to Walford and came face-to-face with Kat. Long-time fans will remember that unforgettable scene where Kat revealed she was actually Zoe’s mother, a twist that remains one of the most talked-about moments in soap history. Their reunion took place in the very same spot where the original bombshell was dropped, giving long-time viewers a moment of nostalgia.
However, any hopes of a warm and lasting reunion were short-lived. In a devastating twist, Zoe told Kat she couldn’t stay in Walford and abruptly left the pub. As Kat ran after her through the Square, things took a dangerous turn.
A confrontation between Jack Branning and Ravi over a gun Jack had tried to plant on him spiralled out of control, and the firearm was accidentally discharged.
The gunshot was fired in the direction of Kat and Zoe, leaving Jack horrified as he realised what had happened. Zoe is now in the hospital, fighting for her life, and the repercussions of that moment are expected to echo throughout the coming months.
To make matters more complicated, a flashback sequence revealed that Zoe has secretly been seeing Max Branning, adding a whole new layer of drama to her return. This connection is particularly shocking given Max’s history with Stacey Slater, Zoe’s cousin.
Long-time fans will recall the infamous 2007 Christmas Day episode when Max and Stacey’s affair was exposed in front of their respective partners, Tanya and Bradley, via a hidden video recording, another iconic moment in the soap’s festive history.
Max, last seen in 2021, after his affair with Linda Carter was revealed, and she chose to stay with Mick instead. Jack, Max’s brother, had urged him to move on, prompting his exit. But with his name back in the mix, and his relationship with Zoe now exposed, it’s clear that Max’s story in Walford may be far from over.
Discussing the upcoming turmoil within the Slater family, Ben offered more insight into the emotional weight of Zoe and Kat’s reunion.
‘Of course, Zoe is now back in the square, and Zoe and Kat’s relationship is complicated. There are 20 years there for them to try and recover and get to know each other,’ he said.
‘I think Kat’s been expecting one thing when Zoe would come back, and actually meeting your adult daughter is more complicated than perhaps Kat thinks. There’s a lot for them to get to understand about each other. Zoe has a lot of secrets that she’s going to bring into the Square with her, so the Slaters are in for a whole ride this autumn.’
The emotional and narrative weight of Zoe’s return looks set to anchor the show through autumn and into Christmas, and with Max’s involvement adding more fuel to the fire, the fallout could be massive for multiple families.
And it’s not just the Slaters and Brannings in the spotlight. Veteran cast member Rudolph Walker, who has portrayed Patrick Trueman since 2001, recently shared his optimism about the show’s new direction under Wadey’s leadership.
‘Ben is great. He’s come in. He’s very positive about the future of EastEnders,’ Walker said in an interview with Best of British magazine.
‘And I have very high hopes that we are going to see things that maybe we’ve never seen on television before. Or if we did, it hasn’t been highlighted. I think we’re going to see a lot more of that.’
Under Ben’s guidance, the show seems ready to push boundaries while staying true to its emotionally-charged roots. After recently picking up the National Television Award for Best Serial Drama, the EastEnders team has every reason to be ambitious, and fans have every reason to be excited.
The soap has long made Christmas a pivotal moment in its storytelling calendar. From Den handing Angie divorce papers in 1986, to The Six’s shocking scenes in 2023, EastEnders has mastered the art of high-stakes holiday drama. And this year, it looks like another unforgettable chapter is about to be written.
