EastEnders fans were stunned on Thursday night as another dark secret from Zoe Slater's past was revealed in a flashback episode. The episode, which aired on BBC One, showed that Zoe had a romantic relationship with Max Branning a year ago, and that she may have committed murder.
The flashback depicted Zoe meeting Max in a bar one year after she left Walford in 2005. Max, who joined the Square later, recognised her name and the pair struck up a relationship. Zoe confided in Max about her twins and her regret at abandoning her son in hospital after his birth.
Max supported Zoe, lending her £5,000 to give to the foster parents' former neighbour, whom a private investigator had tracked down. When she visited the neighbour, he refused to cooperate and demanded more money. He then attempted to sexually assault Zoe, and she struck him with a lamp in self-defence, fearing she had killed him.
After the attack, Zoe fled to Max's car, who asked, 'You didn't have to kill the geezer did you?' She later called Stacey Slater. In present-day scenes, Zoe phoned Max after Stacey had rung him, unaware he was listening. Zoe warned she would 'end him' if he returned to Walford, but Max replied he hates being told what to do.
EastEnders continues Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
