EastEnders fans, get ready because the 2025 Christmas episode is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in the show’s history. New

executive producer Ben Wadey has offered up the first spoilers for the festive season, and it’s clear that the holiday in Walford will be anything but merry.

 

 

According to Ben, the special will weave together elements of EastEnders’ ‘past, present and future,’ promising a powerful blend of nostalgia, current conflict, and major revelations that will set up future storylines. In particular, the Branning and Slater families will be pushed to their limits as they take centre stage in the lead-up to Christmas Day.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Wadey said: ‘This Christmas, we’re looking past, present and future, so we’ve got a lot of stuff that we’re very excited to share with the audience.’

While exact plot details remain under wraps, it’s already clear that the drama will be thick and fast. One of the biggest storylines unfolding this autumn, and expected to play a major role in the Christmas special, is the return of Zoe Slater, a character whose complicated history with her mother, Kat, has been at the heart of some of EastEnders’ most iconic moments.

 

 

After a 20-year absence, Zoe recently returned to Walford and came face-to-face with Kat. Long-time fans will remember that unforgettable scene where Kat revealed she was actually Zoe’s mother, a twist that remains one of the most talked-about moments in soap history. Their reunion took place in the very same spot where the original bombshell was dropped, giving long-time viewers a moment of nostalgia.

However, any hopes of a warm and lasting reunion were short-lived. In a devastating twist, Zoe told Kat she couldn’t stay in Walford and abruptly left the pub. As Kat ran after her through the Square, things took a dangerous turn.

A confrontation between Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) over a gun Jack had tried to plant on him spiralled out of control, and the firearm was accidentally discharged

The gunshot was fired in the direction of Kat and Zoe, leaving Jack horrified as he realised what had happened. Zoe was rushed to hospital, fighting for her life, and the repercussions of that moment have continued to play out, with the most recent instalment having shown Jack and Ravi finding a scapegoat to frame for the shooting.

To make matters more complicated, a flashback sequence revealed that Zoe has secretly been seeing Max Branning, adding a whole new layer of drama to her return. This connection is particularly shocking given Max’s history with Stacey Slater, Zoe’s cousin.

Long-time fans will recall the infamous 2007 Christmas Day episode when Max and Stacey’s affair was exposed in front of their respective partners, Tanya and Bradley, via a hidden video recording, another iconic moment in the soap’s festive history.