Zoe’s Son Caused the Fire | EastEnders

EastEnders is racing toward one of its most explosive Christmas periods in years, and viewers are convinced they’ve finally cracked the mystery at the heart of the chaos. As familiar faces return to Walford and long-buried secrets claw their way into the light, the Square is gripped by fear, suspicion, and simmering tension. With Max Branning making yet another dramatic comeback and Zoe Slater’s past threatening to destroy her future, the festive season is shaping up to be anything but peaceful.

In recent weeks, the atmosphere around Albert Square has grown increasingly volatile. Christmas lights may be twinkling, but beneath the surface, resentment, paranoia, and unresolved trauma are boiling over. At the center of it all is Zoe Slater, who has returned to Walford after two decades away, only to find herself caught in a relentless nightmare. Zoe is consumed by one goal above all else: finding the son she was forced to give up years ago. What she doesn’t realize is that her search is entangled with a web of lies that may already be closing in around her.

Monday’s episode marked a major turning point, as shocking revelations from Zoe’s past began to emerge. While Zoe herself remained in the dark, viewers were treated to bombshell after bombshell. Anthony Truman discovered that he could be the biological father of Zoe’s children, a truth that immediately sent ripples through the Square. At the same time, Jasmine—an enigmatic figure who has raised more questions than answers since her arrival—made a startling confession to the police: Zoe Slater is her mother.

The revelation stunned viewers, especially as Zoe remained blissfully unaware that her own daughter had already come forward with the truth. Instead, Zoe’s attention was firmly fixed on the terrifying ordeal she’s been enduring for months. Anonymous threats, sinister messages, and escalating intimidation have left her convinced that someone is deliberately targeting her. The most chilling moment came during the Christmas lights switch-on, when Zoe received a note with just two words that froze her blood: a direct command telling her to die.

Kat Slater, initially unsure whether Zoe’s fears were spiraling paranoia or something more sinister, has since become her fiercest protector. Determined to uncover the truth, Kat has been quietly piecing together clues, desperate to identify whoever has been stalking her daughter. As the danger escalates, Kat’s maternal instincts kick into overdrive, even as she struggles to keep the wider Slater clan from falling apart under the strain.

Tuesday’s episode only deepened the mystery. Jasmine, under questioning once again, insisted she had no connection to the notorious Ford family. This denial raised eyebrows, particularly among viewers who remembered her earlier confrontation with Cindy Beale, which ended with Cindy being shoved down the stairs. Despite Jasmine’s claims of innocence, suspicion continued to swirl around her shadowy past.

Oscar, meanwhile, found himself drawn to Jasmine, quietly hoping to build some kind of connection with her despite being ostracized by his own relatives. His optimism was short-lived. When Jasmine refused to open up about her history, Oscar made the painful decision to walk away, unwilling to invest further in someone so guarded and secretive. Little did he know that his own heroics would soon pull him directly into Zoe’s nightmare.

Elsewhere, Anthony confided in Chelsea Fox, finally admitting that he believes he is the father of Zoe’s children. Fearing the consequences, he made Chelsea swear to keep his confession secret, explaining that his domineering mother must never find out. His desperation to control the narrative didn’t stop there. In a cruel twist, Anthony later lied to Kat, claiming he had discovered that Zoe’s twins died shortly after birth—an unthinkable deception that, if uncovered, could devastate the Slater family beyond repair.

The tension reached breaking point when Zoe returned to Number 25 and was confronted with a horrifying sight: a fire raging inside the house. Even more disturbing was the discovery that the smoke alarm had been deliberately disabled. Trapped alone as flames spread and panic set in, Zoe’s worst fears seemed to be coming true. Whoever had been tormenting her was no longer content with threats—they wanted her dead.

Zoe’s life was saved thanks only to Oscar, who heard her screams from outside and rushed in without hesitation. His bravery came at a cost. After pulling Zoe to safety, Oscar was later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. As he lay recovering, the Branning family issued a firm warning to Jasmine to stay away from him, further isolating her and fueling speculation about her true role in the unfolding drama.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Max Branning made a surprise appearance, marking Jake Wood’s third return to the show this year and paving the way for his full-time comeback. Max’s presence alone was enough to send shockwaves through Walford, reminding everyone that unfinished business has a way of resurfacing at the worst possible time.

In the aftermath of the fire, fans flooded social media with theories, desperate to identify the culprit. While suspicion has fallen on several characters, a growing number of viewers believe the truth is far more shocking. Many are convinced that the fire was started by Anthony and Zoe’s son—a character who has yet to appear on screen. The idea that Zoe’s own child could be orchestrating her torment has sent chills through the fanbase, adding a tragic, almost Shakespearean twist to the storyline.

Behind the scenes, the cast has been vocal about just how intense the Christmas episodes are set to be. Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan have both praised the festive scripts, describing them as some of the most chaotic and emotionally charged they’ve ever worked on. Wallace, who plays Kat, admitted she has never experienced a Christmas storyline quite like this one, calling the pacing relentless and the drama unrelenting.

Ryan echoed those sentiments, revealing that the material ranks among the strongest of her entire EastEnders career. She described being genuinely blown away when reading the scripts, calling it an honor to be part of a storyline that stands out so sharply from the rest. According to Ryan, the scenes shared between Kat and Zoe are particularly powerful, destined to become some of the most memorable moments in the show’s history.

As Christmas Day approaches, the tension shows no sign of easing. Ryan hinted that the days leading up to the big episode may be just as gripping as the event itself. Zoe remains trapped in a destructive emotional spiral, convinced that someone is watching her, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The constant fear begins to erode her stability, causing wild swings in her mood and behavior that leave her loved ones deeply concerned.

Kat watches helplessly as her daughter unravels, torn between protecting Zoe and holding the rest of the family together. Brief moments of calm offer false hope, only for Zoe to spiral once again, reigniting arguments and reopening old wounds. Trust within the Slater household is stretched to breaking point, and long-standing resentments resurface as everyone struggles to cope with the pressure.

As if the Slaters’ turmoil wasn’t enough, the Mitchell family is also facing major upheaval. Another significant exit has been confirmed, with Harry Mitchell temporarily leaving Walford following a devastating turn in his storyline. His father, Teddy, was recently sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Oki—a crime he confessed to in order to protect Harry, whose actions had accidentally led to Oki’s death.

The verdict sent Harry into freefall. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, he relapsed into drug use and later overdosed, narrowly surviving thanks to his mother Nicola, who administered a life-saving injection. In the aftermath, Billy and Honey rallied around Nicola, offering support as she tried to process the trauma while pregnant with George’s baby.

Honey reassured Nicola that she was still family, insisting she wouldn’t allow her to put herself or her unborn child at risk. Turning her focus to Harry, Nicola admitted how terrified she had been by his overdose and revealed she had secured him a place at a detox clinic. Although the admission was only for a couple of weeks, she hoped it would give him the chance to get clean and start healing.

Consumed by anger and self-loathing, Harry initially refused help, insisting he didn’t deserve to live after seeing his father sentenced for life. Penny eventually managed to reach him, reminding him of his strength and urging him to accept the support being offered. In an emotional moment, Harry packed his bags, said a heartfelt goodbye to Kojo, and committed to entering the clinic. Viewers have been reassured that his absence is temporary and that he will return to screens in the coming weeks.

Following Teddy’s permanent exit, Laura Doddington paid tribute to Roland Manukian online, sharing heartfelt photos and expressing her sadness at losing her on-screen husband.

With Christmas fast approaching, EastEnders is firing on all cylinders. Fires, secrets, returns, and devastating truths are colliding, setting the stage for a festive episode that promises to shock, thrill, and devastate in equal measure. As Walford braces for what’s to come, one question looms large: if Zoe’s son really did cause the fire, what will happen when mother and child finally come face to face?