Walford was hit with a heartbreaking double exit this week as Anna Knight and Freddie Slater bid an emotional farewell to Albert Square, marking the end of a chapter that fans have grown deeply attached to. The pair — who only recently admitted their feelings for one another thanks to Zoe’s meddling during a chaotic Vic quiz night — finally spread their wings and headed off to Australia for a fresh start.

Anna had been planning her overseas adventure for a while, but it wasn’t until Freddie began feeling increasingly displaced on the Square that he decided to join her. With Stacey now in Brazil and the Slater home weighted down with ghosts of the past, Freddie’s departure felt less like a choice and more like survival. Walford has been unkind to him lately, and the chance to escape the trauma was too tempting to ignore.

But as always, no EastEnders exit comes without chaos, and their send-off party at the Vic quickly spiraled into a minefield of family tension. Earlier that day, the Slaters were horrified to find the word “DIE” scrawled in lights across their living room window — another chilling threat aimed at Zoe. This moment sent shockwaves through the household, intensifying the fear that someone close was deliberately tormenting her.

Zoe, convinced Tommy was the culprit, was stunned when Lily uncovered that Jean was behind the sinister display. Jean admitted to doing that stunt, but insisted she wasn’t responsible for the other disturbing messages Zoe had been receiving. Her confession felt less malicious and more like a woman unraveling under pressure. Jean’s grief has been simmering for months, and with Stacey gone and Freddie preparing to leave, she seems to be slipping into a darker, more unpredictable version of herself.

Cat tried desperately to keep the family united, urging Zoe to stop pointing fingers, but the damage was done. Feeling persecuted in her own home, Zoe decided she needed to move out. Watching her leave — again — was devastating. After two decades away, she returned hoping for healing, only to be met with suspicion and emotional landmines.

Meanwhile, Anna faced her own share of turmoil. Her rift with Gina hadn’t yet healed, and she remained worried about Kojo’s loneliness after Harry’s departure. True to form, Anna couldn’t leave Walford without trying to clean up the mess left behind. She visited Harry, tried to reassure him of Gina’s lingering feelings, and later confronted her dad George to urge him to forgive Harry and support Kojo before resentments swallowed everyone whole.

This heartfelt conversation ultimately pushed Gina to soften, and the sisters finally reached a fragile reconciliation — just in time. Their tearful hug was the emotional peak of the episode, a reminder that despite the chaos, their bond remains unbreakable.

In the final moments, Freddy and Anna — donning classic Aussie cork hats — walked hand in hand out of Albert Square as friends and family waved them off. Hopeful for their future, but leaving behind a deep and aching void, their exit sets the stage for new turmoil.

Will George listen to Anna’s plea?
And what happens to Jean now that Freddie — her emotional anchor — is gone?
Walford may be quieter without them, but the fallout is only just beginning.