Hold on to your seats, EastEnders fans, because things in Walford are about to explode with one of the most jaw-dropping twists of the year. Zoe Slater’s emotional return to Albert Square has been nothing short of chaos and heartbreak, but her latest confession sends shockwaves through every corner of the Queen Vic — a bombshell that not only leaves Kat Moon reeling but could tear the entire Slater family apart.

Ever since Zoe walked back into Walford, she’s been a storm of secrets, confessions, and unresolved pain. Each episode has peeled back another layer of the mystery surrounding her years away. But this week, that mystery takes a shocking turn when Zoe points the finger at a well-known Walford resident for the suffering she’s endured — and surprisingly, it’s not her mother, Kat.

On Thursday’s episode, Zoe makes a confession that completely flips everything Kat thought she knew about her daughter’s disappearance. The revelation doesn’t stay contained for long, though. During a lighthearted quiz night at the Queen Vic, Kat accidentally lets the truth slip in front of the whole pub. Within minutes, gossip spreads through Walford like wildfire, and Zoe finds herself under the kind of scrutiny she’s spent years running from.

As the walls close in, Kat and Zoe engage in another explosive argument. Words are said that can’t be taken back, and Kat gives Zoe an impossible ultimatum — stay and face the truth or walk away from Walford for good.

That same night, Kat and Alfie Moon sit in silence, struggling to process the emotional chaos. But before they can make sense of what’s happened, Zoe storms into their home, accusing Kat of breaking a framed photo of the two of them. Kat swears she didn’t do it, leaving Zoe to wonder if someone else has been lurking in the shadows, stirring trouble for her family.

The next morning, as Halloween decorations go up around the Vic, an unexpected crisis hits. A burst pipe floods the cellar, and amid the mess, Ross Marshall uncovers a dusty old VHS tape from the 1980s. Intrigued but cautious, Ross brings over an old player to watch it. Kat, however, is hesitant — something about that tape fills her with dread, as if it holds a secret meant to stay buried.

Meanwhile, Zoe’s paranoia is growing. She’s convinced that someone is targeting her, that the broken photo wasn’t an accident. Her suspicions turn toward her longtime rival, Vicky Fowler, leading to a heated confrontation that nearly turns violent. It takes Dr. Anthony Truman stepping in to calm Zoe down, though his well-meaning attempt at comfort backfires when he unknowingly triggers a painful memory, sending Zoe running out of the pub in tears.

By evening, tensions are boiling over. When Zoe returns to the Vic, she walks in to find the mysterious VHS already playing — and what she sees on the screen changes everything. Her face drains of color, her body shaking as she realizes the horrifying truth. She orders everyone to leave immediately, screaming that she’s been betrayed.

In her rage, Zoe lashes out again, this time turning her fury toward Anthony, accusing him of being behind everything. But is the kind-hearted doctor really guilty of something sinister, or is someone else — someone much darker — manipulating Zoe’s fragile state?

As Walford buzzes with whispers, the fallout spreads fast. The video’s contents remain unknown to viewers, but sources hint it connects directly to Zoe’s missing years — and to a secret about twins that Kat thought had been buried forever. Could Zoe’s shocking revelation mean she had twins — one of whom never made it home? The emotional toll threatens to shatter Kat completely as she’s forced to confront painful truths about her past.

Meanwhile, the chaos in Walford deepens with another major storyline reaching its explosive conclusion. Joel Marshall’s reign of terror is finally nearing its end, and his departure promises to reshape the Square’s future. Ever since his introduction earlier this year, Joel’s character has embodied the show’s chilling exploration of extremist misogyny. His violent assault on his stepmother, Vicky Fowler, left fans outraged and desperate for justice — and now, it looks like that justice might finally arrive.

With actor Max Murray confirmed to be exiting the show, Joel’s storyline is closing with high-stakes drama. There will be no last-minute redemption, no emotional turnaround — just the raw, unflinching consequences of his actions. Insiders reveal that Joel’s final scenes will see him face the full force of the law, likely ending up in court for both the assault and his disturbing secret recordings of Avani.

As Joel’s story winds down, focus turns to those he’s left behind. Tommy Moon, who once helped Joel cover up his crimes, is haunted by guilt and desperate to change. Viewers can expect to see him wrestling with his conscience, trying to make amends while proving he’s not destined to repeat Joel’s mistakes.

Vicky Fowler, still reeling from her trauma, finds her relationship with Ross Marshall in tatters. Though Ross wants to stand by her, their connection seems too fractured to repair. Yet with Joel gone, there may be a small glimmer of hope for healing — or perhaps a new romance waiting in the wings.

And for Avani, Joel’s exit signals a long-awaited chance at peace. After months of manipulation and pain, she may finally be able to move forward, free from his shadow.

But the emotional rollercoaster doesn’t stop there. Nigel Bates faces his own heartbreaking reckoning as the consequences of his dementia-fueled car accident catch up with him. Wracked with guilt over injuring Jasmine Fischer and Gina Knight, Nigel confesses everything to the police, leaving his wife Julie torn between love and despair. As he struggles to accept the progression of his illness, Nigel makes a devastating decision — to cancel their long-planned trip to India, admitting he can no longer trust himself to travel safely.

Julie’s attempts to hold on to their dream may prove futile as Nigel comes to terms with his decline, delivering one of the most emotional moments EastEnders has seen all year.

From Zoe’s shocking twin baby bombshell to Joel’s downfall and Nigel’s tragic confession, Walford is bracing for an unforgettable week of heartbreak, revelations, and unexpected twists. One thing is certain — when secrets this explosive hit the surface, nothing in Albert Square will ever be the same again.

EastEnders airs Mondays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.