EastEnders fans relieved as controversial Zoe fan theory is ruled out

Last night, EastEnders fans tuned into the latest episode to discover what happened to Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) when she left Walford.

The beloved character headed back to Albert Square on Monday after she was found by her little brother Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall).

A showdown between Zoe and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) ended when Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) pulled the trigger on a gun, leading to Zoe getting shot.

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 to call for an ambulance.

Alfie Moon (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 emotional 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 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.

In June, the episode that saw Zoe return for the first time in 20 years saw Joel’s storyline play alongside those scenes. Multiple moments between Joel, Tommy, and Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) left fans wondering if they were clues hinting that Joel’s absent mother Cleo is actually Zoe.

But with the birth scenes being set in 2006, this theory has now been quashed.

Sharing relief that Joel is not connected to the Slaters, RJ Clauds wrote on X: ‘At least we know Joel isn’t the baby because he’s too young #EastEnders’.

Megan was thrilled: ‘She’s not Joel’s mother!!!! 2006!!! He’s too young omg thank god praise the Lord.’

Toby shared: ‘Biggest sigh of relief when ‘2006’ popped up which immediately threw the Zoe being Joel’s mum theory in the bin! (Joel is 15/16 so it’s impossible to be him – and he also wasn’t adopted). Thank the lord Zoe isn’t the mother of that evil spawn.’

Meg, another user of X, also reeled from the twists delivered in last night’s episode.

She wrote: ‘1. praise the LORD that nasty Joel isn’t Zoe’s kid 2. her daughter is 10000000% alive out there 3. MAX?!?!?!?!?.’

Ah yes, Max Branning.

Jake Wood’s returning scenes as Max aired at the end of the episode.

When Kat noticed that Zoe’s phone was ringing, we saw Max was the person making the call.

It suggested that Zoe was being threatened by Max, after noting that her ‘enemy’ is still alive.

The episode of EastEnders that airs this evening – now available on BBC iPlayer – reveals more about Max’s connection to Zoe, as it’s confirmed they met each other at a bar earlier this year.

Max discovered Zoe’s connection to the Slater clan and began a sexual relationship with her. She opened up about wanting to find her son, but explained to Max that she had ran out of money after asking a dodgy PI to look for him.

Zoe met with the PI, but lashed out after he asked for more cash. She attacked him with a lampshade and left the man on the floor.

In the months that have followed, Max has been trying to meet up with Zoe, but she hasn’t allowed it.

But with Max set to make a permanent return, Zoe may not have any choice soon.

EastEnders’ Executive Producer Ben Wadey previously said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome the immensely talented Jake Wood back to the role of Max Branning.

‘Whilst his character has only been away from Albert Square for four years, Walford, and the lives of those who live in it, have changed immensely.

‘Max has a lot of unfinished business, but whether he is welcomed by his family remains to be seen.

‘However, with a past as checkered as Max’s, it’s fair to say that many Walford residents will not be pleased to see him, putting the Brannings back at the heart of the Square, and the drama, this year.’