Zoe’s Dramatic Flashback

EastEnders viewers were left stunned after Wednesday night’s episode (September 3), which saw Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, accidentally shot by Ravi Gulati and Jack Branning. As Zoe fought for her life at The Queen Vic under the care of her ex-fiancé Anthony Trueman, she experienced a vivid flashback to 2006.

In the flashback, a younger Zoe was shown giving birth to twins in hospital, a son and a daughter. Misled by a nurse, she assumed her daughter had died and decided to put her son up for adoption before leaving the hospital. This moment brought a deeply emotional layer to Zoe’s storyline, reconnecting her to the early years of Walford’s drama.

Ibiza Keyring Sparks Fan Theories

Fans quickly noticed a subtle nod to Zoe’s past — a keyring from Dolores’ Lounge in Ibiza, hinting at her life after leaving the hospital in 2006. This small detail triggered speculation about a potential link to Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, who famously ran a bar in Ibiza before arriving in Walford in 2007.

Ronnie and Roxy, played by Samantha Womack and Rita Simons, became iconic figures on EastEnders before their tragic deaths in 2017, shortly after Ronnie married Jack Branning. Despite their on-screen deaths, fans have long clamored for some form of return.

Fans Connect the Dots

Social media quickly lit up with speculation. Fans theorize that another flashback episode set in Ibiza could bring Ronnie and Roxy back to the screen, even if only briefly:

• @SianThymes: “Wait do you think that would potentially give us more flashback scenes that have Ronnie and Roxy appearing in them!?”

• @AdamGSmithUK: “I have a feeling we’re going to get another flashback episode of Zoe in Ibiza in 2006. Ronnie and Roxy will appear in the flashback ep. EastEnders way of plausibly bringing them back for an ep! Calling it!”

• @E20AfterDark: “Zoe went to Ibiza when she left — did she return to the UK to give birth? #EastEnders.”

Fans are excited at the prospect of seeing the Mitchell sisters again, even in flashback form, linking Zoe’s past to the beloved characters’ history.

Could Flashbacks Be the Key?

Given EastEnders’ history of using creative storytelling to revisit fan-favorite characters, a flashback in Ibiza seems plausible. Not only does it tie Zoe’s storyline to Walford’s rich past, but it also offers a clever way to honor Ronnie and Roxy’s legacy without undoing the emotional weight of their 2017 exit.

As viewers continue to piece together clues from Zoe’s current storylines, the anticipation is growing. Could 2006 Ibiza serve as the backdrop for one of EastEnders’ most exciting flashback episodes yet, giving fans the chance to see Ronnie and Roxy once more?

For now, EastEnders watchers are left speculating and rewatching details, eagerly awaiting the next episode to see whether this hint becomes a reality.