In a stunning twist that rocked Albert Square, Tracy-Ann Oberman has broken her silence on the shocking return of her iconic character, Chrissie Watts, to EastEnders. The actress revealed that Chrissie's campaign of terror against Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, evolved from a twisted game into a full-blown 'obsession'.
A Bombshell Return Kept Secret
The legendary villain made her unexpected comeback on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2025, in episodes that aired on BBC One. The dramatic reveal showed that Chrissie, alongside her secret daughter Jasmine (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), was the mysterious stalker who had been terrorising Zoe for months, driving her to the brink of despair.
'Ben and I were keen to keep Chrissie's return a complete secret, so I'm delighted my return was kept under wraps,' Oberman stated, referring to producer Ben Wadey. The carefully guarded plot had seen Zoe mistakenly accuse both Anthony Trueman and her own relative, Jean Slater, before the truth finally emerged.
Motivated by a Twisted Sense of Justice
Oberman explained that Chrissie's actions stemmed from a deep-seated bitterness over her own fate. Having spent 20 years in prison for the murder of Dirty Den Watts—a crime in which Zoe was also involved—Chrissie felt a powerful sense of injustice.
'She has always felt that it's very unfair she spent 20 years in prison... Zoe never really paid for Den's murder,' the actress said. 'What started off as a game for Chrissie has ended up becoming a little bit of an obsession.' This fixation was compounded by discovering Jasmine, the daughter Zoe left at birth, who Chrissie now views as 'the daughter she never had.'
An Emotional Walford Reunion
The return also served as a poignant reunion for the cast. Oberman shared scenes with Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell), two decades after the original 'Who Killed Dirty Den?' storyline. 'Being back in The Queen Vic with Michelle and Kim was really emotional,' she confessed, noting they shared photos and life updates from the past twenty years.
For Oberman, reprising the role was an opportunity she couldn't refuse. 'Chrissie is in my DNA; she is such a great character, so I love the idea of her returning at Christmas to create havoc,' she said. The actress praised the show's team for their collaborative approach in crafting Chrissie's motivations for returning to the Square.
The fallout from Chrissie's revenge mission and her new bond with Jasmine promises to fuel major drama in Walford. EastEnders continues its festive schedule, with episodes airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
