1. EastEnders is heading into a devastating new chapter as the aftermath of Christmas tears through Walford, placing the Slater family at the heart of a storm filled with grief, guilt, and long-buried secrets. At the center of it all is Zoe Slater, whose life has been violently upended, and the growing fear that her son may soon be forced to come face to face with truths that could change everything.

The festive season was supposed to bring comfort and connection, but instead it has left the Slaters fractured and reeling. Jean Slater’s mental health, something her family has fought to protect for years, is once again under intense scrutiny as her condition deteriorates in alarming ways. Jean, who has lived with bipolar disorder for most of her life, has experienced cycles of stability and relapse before, but this time feels different. More dangerous. More isolating.

Since her daughter Stacey left for South America in October, Jean’s sense of stability has slowly slipped away. Stacey has always been one of Jean’s emotional anchors, and her absence has left a void that no one else has quite been able to fill. While Jean insists she is managing her medication and coping just fine, those closest to her can see the cracks widening.

Earlier this month, Jean’s granddaughter Lily attempted to step in, bravely trying to shoulder responsibilities far beyond her years. Lily urged Jean to seek professional support, but Jean firmly refused, dismissing concerns and maintaining that she was in control. Her denial, however, only heightened the anxiety of those watching her unravel.

Kat Slater and Alfie Moon soon uncovered the true depth of Jean’s withdrawal. Jean admitted she had shut herself off from almost everyone since Stacey’s departure, retreating inward as guilt, fear, and intrusive thoughts consumed her. In an emotional and deeply unsettling conversation, Jean confessed to Kat that she had written a threatening message to Zoe Slater using Christmas lights displayed in the Vic’s window. What initially seemed like a bizarre outburst quickly took on far more sinister implications.

Christmas Day itself delivered one of the most shocking sequences EastEnders has aired in years. Tensions exploded when Anthony confronted Zoe upstairs in the pub. What began as a heated exchange spiraled into violence, ending with Zoe being knocked unconscious. Moments later, Kat made a horrifying discovery: Zoe lay badly injured, while Anthony was found dead beside her. The truth of what happened in those chaotic moments remains a mystery, and the question of responsibility now hangs heavily over the Square.

As episodes airing on Monday 5 January and Tuesday 6 January unfold, the Slaters are forced to confront the brutal fallout of that night. Kat, wracked with guilt and fear, embarks on a desperate mission to protect Zoe at all costs. Her maternal instincts collide with the harsh reality of the law, moral responsibility, and the risk of exposing secrets that could destroy the family forever.

At the same time, Jean’s emotional state continues to worsen under the weight of these events. The trauma of Christmas, combined with her untreated mental health struggles, leaves her family increasingly fearful that she may be heading toward a full crisis. Even Lily, who has already tried to be strong for everyone else, begins to realise that love alone may not be enough to keep her grandmother safe.

Concern deepens when Yolande voices her own fears to Alfie, urging him to intervene before it is too late. Alfie attempts to reach Jean, encouraging her to open up about what she is going through. Yet instead of reassurance, Jean’s erratic behavior only raises more red flags. Her actions suggest she may no longer be able to distinguish between fear, guilt, and reality itself.

As the Slaters struggle to keep Jean afloat, another explosive storyline unfolds elsewhere in Walford, underscoring the show’s ongoing theme of consequences catching up with those who try to outrun them. Ravi Gulati finds himself at the mercy of Nicola Mitchell, who sets out to exact a chilling revenge that spirals far beyond her original intentions.

Determined to make Ravi pay for the destruction he has caused her family, Nicola secretly drugs his drink, triggering terrifying hallucinations. Ravi, already haunted by his past crimes—including Harry’s kidnapping, his descent into addiction, and the killing of Oki—soon finds himself trapped in a waking nightmare. Disoriented and vulnerable, he stumbles through the Square, unaware that Harry is manipulating events from the shadows.

Locked inside a garage filled with dangerous tools, Ravi becomes completely defenseless as the drugs take hold. Nicola insists her plan is far more damaging than a simple beating, believing psychological torment will hurt Ravi more deeply than physical violence ever could. But as Ravi’s hallucinations intensify, it becomes clear that Nicola’s revenge may have life-altering consequences she can no longer control.

Back with the Slaters, the emotional stakes continue to rise. Zoe’s future remains uncertain, and the looming possibility of her son coming face to face with her threatens to blow the situation wide open. Secrets that have been buried for years risk resurfacing at the worst possible moment. If the truth comes out, the fallout could devastate not just Zoe, but the entire family.

Meanwhile, another bombshell rocks Walford as Tanya Branning’s name resurfaces, bringing explosive revelations about Max Branning. Although Tanya hasn’t appeared on the Square since her 2018 exit, her presence is felt strongly when she reveals Max left his young granddaughter AJ alone while pursuing another woman. Jack’s confrontation with Max exposes familiar patterns of selfishness and denial, leaving Lauren horrified and furious.

Lauren ultimately revokes Max’s invitation to Jimmy’s christening, making it clear she will no longer tolerate his behavior. Yet Max, true to form, refuses to stay away, quietly turning up anyway and setting the stage for an intensely awkward encounter with Cindy—an encounter made even more explosive by the fact that neither realizes they spent Christmas night together.

As EastEnders moves into January, the threads of these storylines weave together into a tapestry of guilt, revenge, mental health struggles, and long-overdue reckonings. For Zoe, the possibility of facing her son represents a moment of truth she may not be ready for. For Jean, the question remains whether she will finally receive the professional help she desperately needs before tragedy strikes again.

One thing is certain: Walford is standing on the edge of irreversible change, and when the truth finally comes to light, no one will escape unscathed.