EastEnders fans believe they have identified the mystery shooter set to appear in the New Year's Day flashforward, with Alfie Moon emerging as the leading suspect. The theory follows Thursday's episode, in which Kat Slater's grief over daughter Zoe's death pushed her and Alfie to the brink.
The BBC One soap previously aired a flashforward showing Max Branning preparing to marry again on January 1, 2027, alongside an unidentified pregnant woman, before being arrested for solicitation to murder. A sinister figure lurked in the shadows, later taking Max's children Oscar and Lauren hostage and demanding he choose which child survives.
Alfie and Kat's turmoil
In Thursday's episode, Kat was overwhelmed by grief following Zoe's sudden death after hitting her head. Alfie raged at his frantic wife for pulling their family apart, with Kat removing her wedding ring before storming out of The Vic.
Kat travelled to Epping Forest, where she stood surrounded by darkness and screamed for her dead daughter as rain poured down. Alfie tracked her phone, found her collapsed in the woods, and took her to safety.
The couple later had a heart-to-heart, with Kat apologising for her behaviour and suggesting love might help her through the turbulent chapter. She also revealed a desire for revenge, wanting to see the man who watched Zoe die take his last breath. That man is Max Branning.
Fan theories point to Alfie
Fans now believe Alfie will target Lauren or Oscar because Max failed to help Zoe in her final moments, mistaking her condition for drunkenness rather than a deadly head trauma.
Taking to X, one fan suggested: "Maybe Alfie is the gunman in the flash forward #eastenders." A second added: "Oh my god, is Alfie the gunman #EastEnders", while a third chimed in: "Is this hinting towards Kat or Alfie holding the gun?"
Another predicted: "Some pathetic fallacy here. Both already starting to drift in their own ways due to their grief. Is Alfie the mystery gunman?! #EastEnders", and one added: "Tbh this Kat being the gunman theory on New Year's is kinda winning me over, either her or Alfie getting revenge on Max for Zoe #eastenders."
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
