Zoe’s Son Returns With Jasmine’s Secret | EastEnders

Walford is bracing itself for another emotional earthquake as EastEnders lines up a trio of storylines packed with romance, danger, and heartbreaking consequences. From a shocking family reunion that threatens to tear the Slaters apart, to a deadly game of cat and mouse involving a secret police informant, and finally a devastating chapter in Nigel Bates’ battle with dementia, the Square is heading into one of its most intense periods yet.

At the center of the chaos is the looming arrival of a mysterious newcomer with deep ties to Jasmine Fischer — and a secret connection that could rewrite everything fans thought they knew. Word on the Square is that actor Joshua Vaughn is set to appear as Jasmine’s long-lost twin brother, a man whose very existence is a bombshell. Even more explosive? He is also revealed to be Zoe Slater’s son, a twist that instantly intertwines past trauma with present heartbreak.

His return couldn’t come at a worse time. Jasmine and Oscar Branning’s relationship has been blazing at full speed, fuelled by passion and recklessness, but rarely free from conflict. From the moment they got together, drama followed close behind, and now this unexpected arrival threatens to completely derail their already volatile romance. Insiders are already teasing the trio as one of the most combustible love triangles Walford has seen in years — a collision of unresolved emotions, buried guilt, and loyalties pulled in opposite directions.

For Jasmine, the past has never truly stayed buried. Her departure from the Square was clouded in suspicion and lies, and the sudden reappearance of her twin threatens to drag every hidden truth back into the light. Fans will remember the devastating events of Christmas Day, when Jasmine killed her father, Anthony Trueman, after he launched a violent attack on Zoe. In a cruel twist of fate, Zoe took the blame for the crime and is now serving time in prison, sacrificing her freedom to protect her child.

While Zoe sits behind bars, haunted by her decision, she’s also been consumed by grief and longing. When she returned to Walford last year, she believed one of her twins had died. It was Anthony who cruelly revealed the truth — both children were alive. That revelation sent Zoe on a desperate search that eventually led her to them, but not without reopening old wounds. Now, with her son walking back into the Square, the fragile balance within the Slater family could collapse entirely.

The question of loyalty looms large. Will Jasmine’s brother stand by her, or will he feel torn between the mother who sacrificed everything for him and the sister who has been living with devastating secrets? And how will Oscar react when he realizes that Jasmine’s past is far darker — and closer — than he ever imagined?

Jasmine’s recent disappearance only adds fuel to the fire. After her lies about giving a police statement in Anthony’s murder investigation were exposed, Oscar was left shattered. Max Branning had already been meddling, determined to break the young couple apart, and Jasmine vanishing without explanation pushed Oscar to the brink. While Kat Slater feared the worst and worried something terrible had happened, Yolande remained convinced her granddaughter would return. But when she does, she may not be alone — and her brother’s presence could unleash a storm Walford is completely unprepared for.

While one family braces for emotional fallout, another storyline takes a far more dangerous turn as Mark Fowler edges closer to making a catastrophic mistake. Determined to uncover a police informant hidden within a ruthless criminal gang, Mark unknowingly places his trust in the very man he’s hunting — Ravi Gulati.

In a reckless moment, Mark confides in Ravi about his mission, completely unaware that Ravi is the undercover source feeding information to the police. That single confession puts both men in immediate danger, setting off a chain reaction that could have deadly consequences.

Mark’s return to Albert Square was marked by bruises, fear, and unanswered questions. It soon became clear he had been caught up in a dangerous drugs operation, and his fellow gang members had turned on him, convinced he was the snitch. Violently attacked and left shaken, Mark became desperate to prove his innocence. Turning to Phil Mitchell for help, he vowed to uncover the real informant before the gang destroyed him completely.

But the stakes couldn’t be higher. The gang has made it clear that if suspicion falls on Mark again, his half-sister Vicki could pay the price. What Mark doesn’t realize is that every move he makes is being watched. Ravi, aware that Mark is closing in, finds himself walking a tightrope where one wrong step could blow his cover — and cost lives.

The tension escalates when Ravi updates Jack Branning about an upcoming meeting with a new gang contact, only to be stunned when he realizes that contact is Mark himself. The cruel irony isn’t lost on viewers, but Mark remains oblivious, even as he grows closer to the man who could destroy him.

The two men bond over cars and shared experiences, and as Mark’s questions become sharper, Ravi struggles to keep his composure. His nerves are already frayed when he learns that Nugget has been rushed to hospital, leaving him emotionally drained and distracted.

Seeking a moment of escape, Ravi heads to Harry’s Barn for a drink, hoping to steady himself — but trouble follows. When a group of men begin harassing Chelsea, Ravi steps in without hesitation, with Mark backing him up. The confrontation quickly spirals, threats flying and tempers flaring, until Ravi shields Mark from harm and forces the aggressors to retreat.

In that moment, Mark sees Ravi in a new light. His bravery and quick thinking spark a sense of trust and admiration, and acting on impulse, Mark makes a fatal mistake. He reveals the details of his plan to expose the gang’s informant — completely unaware he has just handed Ravi a loaded weapon.

For Ravi, the confession is pure nightmare fuel. If Mark ever connects the dots, his undercover identity will be exposed, with consequences that could be catastrophic for everyone involved. Now trapped in a web of lies, Ravi must carefully navigate every interaction, knowing that suspicion is tightening like a noose.

As danger mounts across the Square, another storyline leaves viewers reaching for tissues as Nigel Bates’ battle with dementia takes a devastating turn.

Fans were left shaken when Nigel was discovered unconscious in the bathtub, fighting for his life. Since his return to Walford in 2024, Nigel’s storyline has been one of the most emotionally raw the show has tackled in years. Initially, he claimed his wife Julie had abandoned him, but it was later revealed that Nigel had actually run away, terrified that his worsening memory loss was making him a burden.

Living with Phil Mitchell, who stepped in as his primary carer, Nigel’s condition continued to deteriorate. When Julie eventually found him and took him back to Scotland, it became clear that removing him from his support system only made things worse. The couple soon returned to Walford, moving back in with Phil as concerns grew.

Over Christmas, Nigel’s dementia intensified, bringing haunting hallucinations of loved ones who had passed away — including Pat Butcher, Barry Evans, and his first wife, Debbie. His behavior became increasingly unpredictable, with Julie bearing the brunt of his physical outbursts.

In a heartbreaking attempt to reclaim some normality, Nigel and Julie renewed their wedding vows in a deeply emotional ceremony surrounded by friends. Hoping for a fresh start, Julie agreed to put her differences with Phil aside and live under the same roof again.

But cracks soon appeared. Phil failed to tell Julie about a care home offering Nigel a place, and confusion deepened when Mark mentioned the idea of taking Nigel to Portugal. Amid the chaos, Nigel was tragically left alone in the bath — a mistake that nearly cost him his life.

When Phil realized what had happened, he raced upstairs in horror, finding Nigel submerged and unresponsive. With Mark’s help, he dragged him out, performed emergency first aid, and called for an ambulance. At Harry’s Barn, Honey delivered the devastating news to Julie, who watched in shock as paramedics rushed Nigel away.

At the hospital, Phil initially downplayed his absence, claiming he’d only been gone briefly. Doctors later confirmed that while Nigel was stable, the situation could have ended in tragedy. Overcome with guilt, Phil eventually confessed the truth to Julie, admitting he’d been away longer than he claimed.

Though Julie forgave him for that, she was deeply hurt by his decision to hide the care home offer. Putting Nigel’s wellbeing first, the pair made the painful decision to accept the placement before his condition worsens further.

As viewers flooded social media with tears and predictions about Nigel’s future, it became clear that EastEnders is pulling no punches. With shocking family revelations, dangerous secrets, and devastating emotional choices ahead, Walford is heading into a storm — and no one will escape unscathed.