EastEnders fans have delivered a shocking verdict on the Queen Vic's Christmas Day murder, pointing the finger at a suspect much closer to home than Kat Slater's prime candidate.
Christmas Day Chaos in Walford
The festive special saw a violent confrontation between Dr Anthony Trueman, played by Nicholas Bailey, and Zoe Slater, portrayed by Michelle Ryan. Anthony was enraged after discovering Zoe had kept his children a secret from him. During the altercation, Zoe pushed him away, causing both to hit their heads and collapse. Zoe later awoke to find Anthony dead beside her.
In the aftermath, Zoe's mother, Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace, became fixated on the idea that the villainous Chrissie Watts was responsible. Chrissie, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman, had recently been revealed as Zoe's stalker, using Zoe's long-lost daughter Jasmine to torment her for her part in Den Watts's murder two decades prior.
The Fan Theory Pointing to Jean
However, a compelling fan theory circulating online suggests a different culprit entirely: Jean Slater, portrayed by Gillian Wright. Viewers note that Jean has harboured a deep-seated hatred for Zoe since her return to Walford, blaming her for daughter Stacey's departure and constantly wishing she would leave.
One fan outlined the motive perfectly: "I’m starting to think Jean killed Anthony. She hates Zoe, she blames her for Stacey’s departure, and she wants her gone." They crucially added a detail about her mental state: "On top of all that, she’s off her meds..." referencing Jean's recent bipolar crisis.
Why Chrissie Doesn't Add Up
Other fans have logically dismantled the case against Chrissie Watts. One pointed out the forensic impossibility, stating: "If Chrissie killed Anthony surely her DNA will be all over him. Even if she wiped everything."
Another highlighted the lack of opportunity and motive for Chrissie, noting she and Anthony had never shared scenes and she wouldn't have known about his confrontation with Zoe. "Also killing Anthony just to frame Zoe puts her even more at risk of going back to prison," they reasoned, given Chrissie had only recently been released.
The plot thickened on Boxing Day when Jasmine and Kat agreed Chrissie must be the killer, with Jasmine refusing to go to the police out of fear. Yet a third fan speculated this could be a lie, further clouding the truth.
As the EastEnders mystery deepens, the fanbase remains convinced that the real danger to Zoe Slater lies not with a returned villain from the past, but with a bitter and unstable family member living right under her roof.
