EastEnders viewers are convinced they’ve uncovered the chilling truth behind Zoe Slater’s haunting storyline — and their theory could change everything heading into Christmas.

The BBC One soap has recently aired a string of tense, emotional episodes following Zoe (Michelle Ryan) as she searches for the son she abandoned at birth. But after a series of terrifying events, fans believe the truth behind her “stalker” might be far darker — and far closer to home.

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Zoe’s Life Spirals Out of Control

In recent episodes, Zoe has been desperately trying to locate her long-lost son, born in 2006 after she falsely claimed Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) was the father. When Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) discovered the deception, she cut financial support for Zoe’s private investigator, halting the search.

Already shaken, Zoe was left traumatised after being trapped in the Queen Vic’s barrel store during Halloween, where she screamed for help as her hands became covered in blood. Her mother Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) was horrified when she found her daughter in such a state, claiming an intruder had attacked her.

To make matters worse, a disturbing video featuring Kat and her abusive uncle Harry Slater — who is also Zoe’s biological father — was played publicly in the pub.

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A Trail of Clues and Fear

The torment didn’t end there. Zoe’s car vanished without a trace, and her beloved cat went missing — which she believed was another cruel act from her unknown tormentor.

Then, just as hope appeared, her private investigator revealed progress in finding her son — but refused to share any details after Sharon withdrew from the case. When Zoe begged for answers, she was told it would cost an additional £3,000.

Moments later, Zoe made a horrifying discovery: photos of the entire Slater family had been plastered across the Vic’s living room wall, with her face violently crossed out in each one.

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Theories Explode: “Zoe’s the Stalker”

While many fans initially suspected Zoe’s ex-boyfriend Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) might be behind the torment, a new theory circulating online has sent shockwaves through the fandom.

Some viewers believe that Zoe might actually be behind the haunting events herself — suffering from a mental breakdown or a split personality disorder triggered by years of buried trauma.

One Reddit user shared their theory titled “Zoe’s Son Is Dead – The Zoe Psycho Theory”:

“The writers cleverly showed Zoe watching Psycho, which I think foreshadows the truth. After years of emotional trauma, Zoe has created a split personality to cope with her pain. There’s no stalker, no son, no intruder — it’s all in her mind.”

Another fan commented, “I said last week, it wouldn’t surprise me if the twins she mentioned were a figment of her imagination and she’s having a mental health crisis.”

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A Christmas Storyline Like No Other?

Viewers are now speculating that Zoe’s mental unraveling could lead to one of EastEnders’ darkest Christmas storylines in years.

“I’d love it if this was the Christmas plot — it would be a real breath of fresh air,” one fan wrote.

Others have pointed out the symbolic parallels between Zoe’s missing cat and her search for her child, suggesting the writers are hinting that the “stalker” exists only in Zoe’s mind.

With Kat the only one beginning to doubt her daughter’s version of events, fans are bracing for a shocking twist that could turn the Slater family’s Christmas into a psychological nightmare.