EastEnders has dropped another shocking twist in the ongoing Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater storyline — and this time, things are going from bad to worse for Zoe.

Sharon’s Devastating Exit

Recent episodes have confirmed that Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) has officially left Walford once again, following a heartbreaking revelation that shattered her world.

Viewers will remember that Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) returned earlier this year with a shocking claim — that she had secretly given birth to twins in 2006, and that Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman), Sharon’s late husband, was their father.

The news stunned Sharon, who was still grieving her husband and their son Denny Rickman Jr. (Bleu Landau), who tragically drowned in 2020. Hoping to uncover the truth, Sharon funded a private investigator to find Zoe’s abandoned son, believing him to be her only remaining link to Dennis.

But in true EastEnders fashion, the truth came crashing down. Zoe later confessed to Kat (Jessie Wallace) that she had lied — Dennis was not the father. When Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) discovered the deception, she broke the devastating news to Sharon in a tense phone call.

The revelation destroyed Sharon. According to Vicki, Sharon is now staying with Michelle Fowler in Florida, with her young son Albie, and has no plans to return. “She won’t come back,” Vicki told Zack Hudson (James Farrar). “She was so strong for me, but she’s broken. It’s like Denny has died all over again.”

Ian Steps Up, Zoe Falls Apart

In the aftermath, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) offered to repay Sharon for the money she lost to the private investigator, defending his longtime friend as she grieves yet another emotional loss.

Meanwhile, Zoe’s life is spiralling. Still shaken after her terrifying Halloween ordeal — where she was trapped in The Queen Vic’s barrel store by a mysterious stalker — she’s now dealing with fresh heartache. Her cat, Mini Mo, has vanished, and Zoe fears this is part of the same tormenting campaign against her.

To make matters worse, when Zoe contacted the private investigator for updates, she was told that Sharon had officially withdrawn from the case and that no further details could be shared without another £3,000 payment. Desperate and furious, Zoe turned to Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) for advice, but he urged caution — telling her there’s still no evidence anyone is targeting her.

Will Sharon Ever Return to Walford?

With Sharon gone, Zoe’s search for her missing son has hit a dead end, and her emotional stability is hanging by a thread. The storyline has left fans divided — some heartbroken for Sharon’s pain, others anxious for Zoe’s inevitable breakdown.

As Walford’s tangled past continues to haunt its residents, one question remains: Will Sharon ever return — and what will be left for her when she does?