In a stunning Christmas Day twist, EastEnders viewers are adamant that fan favourite Anthony Trueman is not dead, despite a dramatic episode that seemed to seal his fate and that of Zoe Slater.
The Christmas Day Cliffhanger
The BBC One soap aired a dramatic scene on 25 December 2025, which showed Anthony lying lifeless on the floor of the Queen Vic pub. Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, was seen unconscious nearby. Upon waking, Zoe was horrified to discover Anthony's body and, unsure if she was responsible, made a drastic decision.
Fearing that her recently reunited daughter, Jasmine, might have been involved, Zoe chose to take the blame. In a heart-wrenching move, she called the police and confessed to the crime, leading to her arrest. This sequence of events strongly suggested an exit storyline was beginning for the character of Zoe Slater.
Viewer Theories Point to Survival
However, eagle-eyed fans immediately took to social media to dispute the apparent death, theorising that Anthony's story is far from over. Many believe the shock twist is that he is still alive, setting up a major plot for the coming episodes.
One fan speculated online, "Oh he's not dead. I'm calling it now. That guy is going to get back up." Another added, "Yep I agree because at first I thought maybe but then realised it made no sense for him to be dead in the first part since more drama is to come in part 2."
Others questioned the scene's logic, with one viewer posting: "Am I being stupid? What is Anthony doing on the floor? Zoe was knocked out and he was standing over her." A popular theory suggests someone else attacked Anthony while Zoe was unconscious, with Jasmine or another character being the true culprit.
Chrissie Watts' Sinister Return
The Christmas episode also featured the surprise return of iconic villain Chrissie Watts, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman. It was revealed that Chrissie has been the one secretly tormenting Zoe. Speaking about her character's motivation, Oberman explained that Chrissie has never forgiven Zoe for her part in Den Watts' death and the destruction of the Watts family.
"She thinks Zoe needs to take responsibility, that's her motivation," said Oberman. The actress also revealed that Chrissie has developed a genuine fondness for Jasmine, seeing her as "the daughter she never had," and wants to empower her to get revenge on Zoe for abandoning her.
Oberman expressed her delight at returning to the show, especially for a festive storyline, stating: "Chrissie is in my DNA; she is such a great character, so, I love the idea of her returning at Christmas to create havoc."
With Zoe in police custody and Anthony's true condition unknown, EastEnders has set the stage for a explosive start to 2026. Fans will be watching closely to see if their predictions of Anthony's survival are correct, and what Chrissie Watts plans to do next in her campaign of revenge.
