Walford has always been a place where secrets haunt every corner and grudges never truly fade. But in a shocking twist, Zoe Slater is preparing to leave behind the drama of the East End for a new beginning in Australia. After years of pain, confrontations, and a history that refuses to stay buried, Zoe makes the life-changing decision to walk away from everything she has ever known.

Zoe’s most recent return to the Square was never going to be easy. Fresh out of the hospital following the shocking shooting incident in which Jack Branning accidentally pulled the trigger, Zoe tried to reclaim some sense of normality. Many residents welcomed her back with open arms, grateful she had survived. But not everyone was ready to forgive and forget. Vicki Fowler, still carrying scars of the past, made it crystal clear that Zoe’s presence dredged up wounds that never healed.

At first, Zoe seemed reluctant to settle back into life in Walford. Surrounded by her family’s fussing and concern, she felt stifled rather than comforted. Seeking a moment of peace, she slipped away to the café, where she unexpectedly crossed paths with Cathy Beale. Their meeting was polite, but Zoe’s heart nearly stopped when she spotted her ex, Anthony, sitting nearby. And just when she thought the day couldn’t get more difficult, she came face-to-face with Vicki—one of the last people she wanted to see.

The atmosphere quickly soured as Vicki’s bitterness bubbled to the surface. With venom dripping from every word, she accused Zoe of carrying the blood of Den Watts on her hands. “Back to the scene of the crime, are we?” Vicki sneered, her eyes narrowing with contempt. “Do you ever catch yourself in the mirror and feel even a shred of guilt for what you did to him? You ripped him away from me and Sharon. You should be rotting in prison with Chrissy and Sam.”

Zoe, visibly shaken but unwilling to back down, insisted again that she hadn’t killed Den. But Vicki refused to hear it. “Practically did,” she spat. “You smashed him over the head and left him like rubbish. You’re just as guilty.” The argument escalated into a heated showdown. When Zoe tried to walk away, Vicki physically blocked her, throwing one last venomous insult: “You’re a heartless witch!”

That was the final straw for Zoe. Fury lit in her eyes as she snapped back, “Yeah, and if you don’t get out of my way, I’d do the same to you.” The café erupted in tension until Kathy intervened, throwing Vicki out while Anthony came to Zoe’s defense.

The painful confrontation forced old memories back into the spotlight—the infamous 2005 storyline that forever tied Zoe to Den Watts’s demise. Fans will recall how Chrissy, Sam, and Zoe united against Den after years of manipulation. Though Chrissy ultimately dealt the fatal blow, Zoe had struck him first, leaving her forever entangled in Walford’s darkest secret.

Word of Zoe’s recent troubles soon spread across the Square, thanks to Freddy and Mo gossiping about her shooting. Within hours, her face and name were splashed across the tabloids, reigniting public scrutiny. For Zoe, it was the last straw. Every attempt to start fresh in Walford only seemed to drag her deeper into the shadows of the past.

Yet amidst the chaos, she found unwavering support in the Slater clan. Kat, Mo, and the rest of her family rallied around her, urging her to hold her head high. Still, Zoe couldn’t shake the feeling that Walford would never let her move on. Too many enemies, too many whispers, too much history.

And so, after an emotional heart-to-heart with Kat, Zoe revealed her decision: she would be leaving London behind for Australia. Far away from the ghosts of Den Watts, far from the judgmental eyes of Vicki and Sharon, Zoe yearns for a clean slate. “I can’t do this anymore,” she admitted tearfully. “Everywhere I look, it’s him. It’s that night. I need a fresh start where no one knows me, no one hates me for mistakes I didn’t even make.”

The announcement shocked her family, who struggled to accept that Zoe might never return. Kat, though heartbroken, supported her niece’s choice, recognizing that Walford was suffocating her. “Sometimes, the only way forward is to leave it all behind,” Kat told her.

Meanwhile, Vicki remained unrepentant, warning Zoe that she could run as far as she wanted, but she’d never escape her guilt. Yet Zoe stood tall, refusing to let Vicki’s words define her. This time, she was choosing her own destiny.

In the coming episodes, Zoe will pack her bags and bid farewell to Walford, leaving behind not only the Square but decades of history that have shaped her life. It’s a bittersweet exit—one that allows her to finally break free from the Slater family’s darkest chapter.

But EastEnders fans know all too well that departures are rarely permanent. Will Zoe truly find happiness and peace in Australia, or will the weight of Walford eventually pull her back once more? For now, one thing is certain: Zoe Slater is closing the door on her past and stepping into the unknown.

As one character bows out, another prepares to make a dramatic re-entry. Max Bowden is set to reprise his role as Ben Mitchell in a short but emotional storyline tied to Callum Highway’s grief over his father Jonno’s funeral. Bowden teased the return on a podcast, admitting he was surprised but thrilled to revisit the role. While details remain under wraps, behind-the-scenes photos suggest Balum fans may be in for a touching reunion.

Elsewhere, Ravi Gulati grows increasingly dangerous as he sets his sights on George Knight, convinced George has been digging too close to the truth about Kojo’s flat. With Harry caught in the middle, tensions are spiraling toward a deadly confrontation. Will George be persuaded to leave Walford for his own safety, or is tragedy about to strike again?

Walford is a place where no secret stays buried forever and no departure is ever simple. Zoe’s exit marks the end of a chapter, but in true EastEnders fashion, the ripples of her departure will be felt for years to come.