In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday 2 December, EastEnders' Zoe Slater made a desperate and dangerous exit from the Queen Vic, feeling utterly abandoned by her family.
A Family Feud Forces Zoe Out
The explosive episode saw Zoe's accusations against her brother, Tommy, reach a breaking point. After finding an empty box of fairy lights in his bag—identical to the one used to spell "Die" on the pub windows—Zoe confronted him, convinced he was her stalker. However, Tommy had a solid alibi, having been upstairs rehearsing lines for Nigel's film, and was mystified by the box's presence.
This confrontation pushed her mother, Kat Slater, over the edge. With Freddie's going-away party in full swing, Kat told Zoe "this has to stop," furious at the constant scenes her daughter was causing, which included earlier threats to bar other locals. Zoe interpreted this as her mother giving up on her and forcing her out of the pub and their home.
Running Straight into the Lion's Den
In a heart-wrenching speech to the pub's patrons, Zoe declared she was moving out, yelling at them for not supporting her and claiming her "so-called mother" was kicking her out. Despite Kat's protests, a devastated Zoe stormed out into the night.
Her search for solace led her to the last person she should trust: her former flame, Dr. Anthony Trueman. Unbeknownst to Zoe, Anthony has been harbouring a disturbing obsession, keeping images of her on his laptop. Fans have long theorised he could be the stalker terrorising her life, and new evidence suggests they might be right.
Why Anthony Trueman is a Clear Danger
Earlier in the same episode, Anthony's sinister side was further exposed. He tried to blackmail Howie by threatening to reveal his stealing to Kim Fox. Howie fought back, contacting Anthony's estranged wife, Sophie, who revealed she has a restraining order against him.
When confronted, Howie labelled Anthony a "danger to women," especially when they deny him what he wants. This tracks with Anthony's previous over-the-top reaction when Zoe turned down a date, where he angrily told her he didn't want to "waste his time."
Viewers were quick to note the red flags on social media. One fan commented on his suspicious behaviour, stating, "Anthony is well over reacting... It’s like he needs her for something other than the obvious." Another simply said, "They've turned Anthony into a proper wrongun haven't they! Zoe's now in danger with Anthony too."
With Zoe now isolated and seeking comfort from the very man suspected of tormenting her, her situation in Walford has never been more perilous. As Kat's fears about Anthony are proven tragically correct, the question remains: what does the troubled doctor really want with Zoe Slater?
