EastEnders confirms Zoe Slater exit as legendary character tipped to be killed off

EastEnders has confirmed that Zoe will be leaving Walford later this year, with the BBC announcing Michelle Ryan's departure just months after her full-time return to Albert Square. While the soap has remained silent on how the character leaves, reports have suggested her story could end in tragedy.

A BBC spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement, saying: "We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don't want to spoil it for the viewers."

The announcement follows months of major stories for Zoe after she made her long-awaited return to the Square. Having originally appeared between 2000 and 2005, Michelle reprised the role for a reunion with her estranged mother Kat, bringing one of EastEnders' most recognisable characters back into the centre of the drama.

Although the BBC has confirmed Zoe's departure, it has not revealed how she will leave. Reports published by The Sun have claimed that her final scenes have already been filmed and have suggested that the character is set to be killed off.

Zoe has already found herself at the heart of several dramatic storylines since returning. Shortly after settling back into Walford, she was caught in the crossfire during a confrontation involving Jack and Ravi, leaving her with a gunshot wound.

A flashback later revealed that Zoe had secretly given birth to twins during her years away from Walford. Believing that her daughter had been stillborn, she spent months searching for her missing son before the truth gradually emerged.

As part of that search, Zoe falsely claimed to Sharon that her former husband Dennis was the twins' father in an attempt to raise money for a private investigator. That revelation created fresh tensions, with the consequences continuing to affect those around her.

The story took another twist when Jasmine revealed herself as Zoe's daughter after secretly working alongside Chrissie. Anthony was later exposed as the twins' father, but a violent confrontation ended with Jasmine striking him over the head after he lunged towards her.

Zoe initially accepted responsibility in an effort to protect Jasmine before the truth eventually came out. Jasmine was sent to prison, while Josh emerged and began trying to build a relationship with members of both sides of his family.

The two siblings have experienced very different journeys since discovering their true identities. Jasmine has become closer to the Slaters, while Josh has found support from the Trueman family, leaving Zoe caught between both branches of her family.

Away from the longer-term exit story, Zoe has also temporarily left Walford in recent episodes. After Tommy became worried about facing Joel following his release from a young offender's institution, Zoe revealed she was planning to stay with Lynne for a couple of weeks and invited Tommy to join her. Tommy accepted the offer, allowing the pair to leave the Square together for a short break.

Following news of Michelle's departure, speculation also emerged about the reasons behind her exit. However, soap expert Sharon Marshall said on ITV's This Morning that Michelle had asked to leave the programme and described the decision as a mutual one, addressing reports of behind-the-scenes difficulties.

With Zoe confirmed to be leaving later this year, viewers will now be waiting to discover how one of the soap's most memorable characters says goodbye. While speculation continues over her ultimate fate, EastEnders has made it clear that the full details will remain under wraps until the storyline plays out on screen.

EastEnders can be viewed on BBC One, while episodes are also available to stream and catch up on through BBC iPlayer. Images: BBC used for editorial purposes only.

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