EastEnders viewers were left distracted from a pivotal Boxing Day storyline after spotting a surprising on-screen blunder. During an emotionally charged scene, fans are convinced actor Scott Maslen was caught mouthing the words of his co-star.
The Heartbreaking Scene and the Glaring Error
The festive episode of the BBC One soap saw Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen, deliver devastating news to Patrick Trueman, portrayed by Rudolph Walker. Jack revealed that Patrick's son, Anthony Trueman, had been killed on Christmas Day.
In response, the grief-stricken Patrick sobbed, 'Not again, not again, not again. Two sons - why?' However, as the 86-year-old actor delivered the line, sharp-eyed viewers noticed that Maslen, 54, appeared to be silently mouthing the words along with him.
Writing on social media, one fan pointed out the gaffe, stating: 'Anyone else notice Jack mumbling Patrick's line while he said it "Two sons, not again"'. They later added, 'I had to watch it again, definitely mumbling the lines, surprised they didn't redo the scene, its so obvious.'
Fan Reaction and Debate Over the Gaffe
The moment sparked a flurry of comments online, with many questioning the show's editing. One viewer remarked, 'I would understand if it was a live episode but that was some shocking editing.'
Others offered a more charitable interpretation, suggesting Maslen was simply deeply immersed in the scene. A third fan chimed in: 'It looks like he’s empathising, feeling the emotion as Patrick is saying the line. I didn’t think he was mumbling the same line.'
Regardless of the intent, the moment pulled focus from what was meant to be a raw and tragic moment for the long-running character, Patrick Trueman.
The Dramatic Storyline Behind the Scene
The blunder occurred within a highly dramatic Christmas plot. The episode featured a confrontation between Anthony Trueman, played by Nicholas Bailey, and Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan.
Zoe mistakenly believed Anthony had been stalking her, a situation that escalated dangerously. After Anthony insisted he had a right to know the twins Zoe gave birth to in 2006 – who he has just discovered are his children – the argument turned violent.
Anthony lashed out, grabbing Zoe and slamming her head against a banister, leaving her unconscious. Later, Kat Slater discovered Zoe unresponsive and Anthony lying dead nearby, creating a chilling cliffhanger.
In the second part of the special, Zoe decided to take responsibility for Anthony’s death and was escorted away by police. Actor Nicholas Bailey, reflecting on his character's exit, said he was sad to say goodbye but excited that his departure would be a 'launch pad for some incredible stuff heading into 2026' for the show.
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
