In a dramatic Christmas Eve episode that left viewers reeling, BBC One's EastEnders finally unveiled the identity of the stalker who has been terrorising Zoe Slater for months. The culprit is none other than the show's iconic villain, Chrissie Watts, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman, who made a shocking return to Walford.
A Sinister Scheme Unravels
The revelation came during a tense sequence where Zoe's secret daughter, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), was seen approaching a car. The scene was intercut with flashbacks confirming Jasmine was responsible for scrawling a threatening message to her mother on the door of The Queen Victoria pub. However, upon entering the vehicle, Jasmine confessed to a hidden figure that she wanted out of the plot, insisting Zoe did not deserve the torment.
It was then that the mastermind behind the campaign revealed herself. Chrissie Watts emerged, menacingly telling Jasmine that Zoe deserved everything that was happening to her. This confrontation marks the first time the two characters have shared the screen since 2005, reopening old wounds from one of the soap's most infamous storylines.
A Deadly History Resurfaces
The bitter history between Chrissie and Zoe is rooted in the murder of Den Watts (Leslie Grantham). After discovering Den's affair with a then-teenage Zoe, Chrissie plotted revenge and enlisted both Zoe and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) to help destroy Den's relationship with his daughter, Sharon (Letitia Wright). When Den uncovered the plan and attacked Chrissie, Zoe struck him over the head to intervene, believing she had killed him.
While Sam fled, Chrissie finished the job, a act witnessed by Sam. Chrissie was eventually exposed as the real killer and served nearly 19 years in prison before being paroled in 2024. Zoe, though implicated, avoided a similar fate and rebuilt her life, a fact that has clearly festered with Chrissie during her incarceration.
Fan Reaction and What Comes Next
The reveal sent shockwaves through the fanbase, though some viewers claimed they had suspected Chrissie all along. One fan commented online, "I thought from day one Zoe's stalker was who it was... I always had that mad b**** top of the pile." Others were genuinely stunned, with one stating, "Wow! EastEnders was amazing today!! I was genuinely shocked!"
Not all reactions were positive, with some questioning the return of such a notorious character. One viewer asked, "Why have they brought literal Satan back into EastEnders?"
The storyline is set to intensify over Christmas. EastEnders will air two special episodes on Christmas Day, continuing the festive drama. Unlike recent weeks, there will be no early release on BBC iPlayer; audiences must tune into BBC One at 7:45pm and 9:45pm to see the next explosive chapters unfold.
