In a dramatic twist that has left EastEnders fans reeling, a major clue about the identity of Zoe Slater's tormentor was unveiled during Thursday night's episode, broadcast on 20 November. However, while the evidence seemingly points directly to one resident, viewers are convinced the show is deploying a classic misdirection.
The Pivotal Clue
The episode saw Alfie Moon, played by Shane Ritchie, make a critical discovery. He found a single gold hoop earring, splattered with paint, near the door to the barrel store. This location was the same spot where the ominous message 'You will pay' had been scrawled, intensifying the stalker narrative that has plagued Michelle Ryan's character, Zoe.
Initially, Zoe was certain the jewellery belonged to Vicki (Alice Haig), who has been openly hostile towards her. Yet, in a last-minute cliffhanger just before the iconic 'doof doof' theme signalled the end of the episode, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) approached the bar. In a moment that stunned Alfie and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), Jean picked up the earring and calmly stated she had been "looking for that everywhere".
Fan Reaction and Theories
The immediate reaction from the EastEnders fanbase was one of scepticism. Many viewers took to social media to express their doubts that Jean, despite her recent animosity towards Zoe over Stacey's departure, is the true culprit.
One fan voiced their relief online, writing: "So it was Jean who was stalking Zoe? Thank god that this boring storyline is over." However, this sentiment was far from universal. Another viewer commented on X, formerly Twitter: "As much as I love Jean I don’t see her as the evil mastermind behind the Zoe saga." A third echoed this disbelief, stating: "I can't see the threats being from Jean she's not capable of something like that. Despite her long running feud with Zoe."
Is Lily Slater the Real Stalker?
Instead of accepting Jean as the stalker, a compelling alternative theory has quickly gained traction among the audience. Fans are now speculating that the upcoming episode will reveal Jean was merely retrieving the earring for someone else—her granddaughter, Lily Slater (Lillia Turner).
This theory holds weight for several reasons. While Jean has been visibly distraught since her daughter Stacey left for Brazil, teenager Lily's anger has been more subdued, though she was certainly furious with Zoe for encouraging her mother to leave when Max Branning showed interest.
On Reddit, one fan predicted: "I think come Monday it'll be 'oh I was looking for that to give back to' and then name of person." Another user directly responded, suggesting: "The only one I could think of where Jean is actually looking for the earrings for would be Lily." Others supported this idea, astutely noting that "Jean doesn't wear earrings like that," making it plausible the accessory belongs to the younger Slater.
Another fan summed up the popular prediction, saying: "EastEnders is that predictable that Zoe’s stalker is probably just gonna end up being Lily all cos she’s p***** off at Zoe for Stacey leaving."
With no new episodes airing on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, fans face an agonising wait until Monday to discover if Jean confesses to the stalking or reveals she was covering for Lily, and whether Kat and Alfie will confront her with their suspicions.
