EastEnders fans believe they have uncovered who will kill Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) as the character faces a fatal exit later this year. The BBC confirmed Ryan is leaving the show, with reports indicating Zoe will die. A spokesperson said: 'We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers.'
Zoe's dramatic return and backstory
Zoe made her triumphant return to Albert Square in June 2025, reuniting with her long-lost twins Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) and Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan), fathered by ex Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey). The reunion turned dark when Jasmine, working with old accomplice Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), orchestrated a stalking ordeal. Anthony later resurfaced, leading to a violent confrontation where Jasmine killed him to protect Zoe, echoing Zoe's own involvement in Dirty Den's death years ago. Jasmine was eventually found innocent, and the Slater clan embraced her.
Fan theories: Dermott Dolan as the killer
A popular theory suggests Zoe's twin brother Dermott Dolan (Oisin Stack) will be the killer. Born Luke Slater, he was taken from Kat (Jessie Wallace) and raised in Ireland, where he killed a man in the spin-off Redwater. One fan said: 'My theory is her evil twin brother who she never knew she had will probably kill her.' Another added: 'This story could be a way of reintroducing Dermot (Zoe’s twin).'
Josh Goodwin as a potential murderer
Some fans believe Zoe's son Josh could kill her out of jealousy over her bond with Jasmine. One fan wrote: 'Why do I get the feeling that Josh will kill Zoe because he’s jealous of her bond with Jasmine? It sounds petty but given how he acted on Jasmine’s birthday and how he took no accountability for his affair with Oscar – it wouldn’t surprise me if it goes down this route.' Another added: 'Remember Jasmine went to prison for Anthony’s murder — now could the roles reverse with Josh going to prison for Zoe’s death.'
Chrissie Watts returns for revenge
Chrissie Watts, who served time for Den's murder after failing to frame Zoe, is another suspect. She has already stalked Zoe and has motive for wanting her dead. A fan asked: 'Chrissie Watts returns to kill Zoe Slater?'
Dating app danger theory
Some fans think Zoe's recent use of dating apps could lead to her death at the hands of a stranger. One said: 'Predictions are Zoe gets killed by the man she meets online.' Another agreed: 'Zoe has mentioned a couple of times in the last few weeks that she’s on dating apps. Knowing what we know now, could it be that she meets a psycho online and is killed off by him? It would be sudden and wouldn’t need tons of build up for it.'
An insider told Metro: 'Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time. With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet.' Which theory proves correct remains to be seen.
