Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) made a return to Walford earlier this week in EastEnders, for the first time in 20 years.
She briefly made a comeback to our screens in June, but was staying in a flat with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). It became apparent in those scenes that Zoe had landed herself in danger during the time we’ve not seen her, but she was reluctant to tell anyone exactly what happened.
She then disappeared, prompting Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to leave Albert Square for a bit to try and find her.
As it’s been so long since we last saw her, you may be reading this completely unaware of what she got up to the last time she was in Walford, or perhaps you just can’t remember.
Consider this a handy guide, as we take a look at why Zoe left in the early 2000s, and what we know so far about the many secrets she’s carrying.
Why did Zoe leave EastEnders in 2005?
Zoe left Walford in 2005 after the events that saw Den Watts murdered. Zoe briefly thought she killed him, but it was actually Chrissie Watts.
She departed for Ibiza, but reconnected with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) before she went.
When did Zoe return to EastEnders and why?
It was in June of this year that we discovered Zoe had been living with Stacey Slater. She was growing increasingly frustrated by Zoe’s chaotic behaviour, and phoned Alfie for some help.
Alfie arrived but then so did Kat. The duo respected Zoe’s wishes to not see her mum, and covered for her.
What’s going on with Zoe Slater?
Yesterday’s episode and the one that airs tonight (but can be viewed now on BBC iPlayer), confirms a great deal about what happened to Zoe when she left Albert Square.
Wednesday’s instalment revealed that Zoe gave birth to twins in 2006. It’s believed the baby girl died, but Zoe put the boy up for adoption.
She also revealed in the present day that she’s being threatened by someone, who is apparently still alive.
As the episode drew to a close, Zoe’s phone started to ring. On the other end of the call was Max Branning (Jake Wood).
Tonight’s episode reveals that Max and Zoe met each other in a bar earlier this year.
Max became a listening ear to Zoe as she opened up about trying to track down her son. She said that she had hired a dodgy PI to do this though, who was now pestering her for money.
Max tried to help Zoe, and drove her to meet with Greg the PI.
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Zoe attacked Greg and left him for dead.
Having parted ways with Max on that day, he was the last person she expected to reach out when she answered her phone.
Zoe wasn’t pleased to hear from him, saying that if he dared contact her or any of her family again, she would ‘end [him]’.
Max was startled, but after hearing Stacey on the phone earlier, he knew she was back in Walford.
