EastEnders fans work out the ‘real reason' Zoe Slater is back as she returns to Walford after 20 years

The Sun

17-06-2025

EASTENDERS fans reckon they've worked out the real reason behind Zoe Slater's shock comeback.
The iconic character made her dramatic return to Walford after two decades away, but viewers are already speculating there's a hidden agenda behind the familiar face resurfacing.
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Zoe, played by Michelle Ryan, is back but some viewers are convinced she's not here for a cosy family catch-up.
Instead, they think she's got unfinished business with Ross and stepson Joel, who rocked up alongside Vicki Fowler earlier this year for Martin Fowler's funeral.
Since landing on the Square, teen Joel has been ruffling feathers - and while fans have uncovered a string of his dark secrets, one mystery remains... who's his real mum?
Now, viewers reckon Zoe could be hiding the ultimate bombshell.
A third penned: "You ain't my mother' to be recreated with Zoe & Joel, I predict."
Viewers will see Zoe in two further episodes this week - but she will be on board full-time this summer.
Speaking on her return to the BBC soap, Michelle said: 'It feels like coming home.
'After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away.
EastEnders' Michelle Ryan reveals emotional secret reunion with soap cast before Zoe Slater's bombshell return
'It all happened at the right time.
' I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I'd also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character.
'It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back.
'When I was pitched the storylines, and when I read the scripts, I knew it was the right decision.'
EastEnders new boss, Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: 'Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as, although we haven't seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.'
Soap's most harrowing teen storylines
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Belle Dingle's schizophrenia in Emmerdale - Belle's (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.
The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma's voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.
Hannah Ashworth's anorexia in Hollyoaks - Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.
As Hannah's condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.
Bethany Platt's grooming ordeal in Coronation Street - Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie's darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
Whitney Dean's abuse from Tony in EastEnders - Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca's boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.
On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.