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 and Ravi 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 is now in the hospital, fighting for her life, and the repercussions of that moment are expected to echo throughout the coming months.

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.

Max, last seen in 2021, after his affair with Linda Carter was revealed, and she chose to stay with Mick instead. Jack, Max’s brother, had urged him to move on, prompting his exit. But with his name back in the mix, and his relationship with Zoe now exposed, it’s clear that Max’s story in Walford may be far from over.

Discussing the upcoming turmoil within the Slater family, Ben offered more insight into the emotional weight of Zoe and Kat’s reunion.

‘Of course, Zoe is now back in the square, and Zoe and Kat’s relationship is complicated. There are 20 years there for them to try and recover and get to know each other,’ he said.

‘I think Kat’s been expecting one thing when Zoe would come back, and actually meeting your adult daughter is more complicated than perhaps Kat thinks. There’s a lot for them to get to understand about each other. Zoe has a lot of secrets that she’s going to bring into the Square with her, so the Slaters are in for a whole ride this autumn.’

The emotional and narrative weight of Zoe’s return looks set to anchor the show through autumn and into Christmas, and with Max’s involvement adding more fuel to the fire, the fallout could be massive for multiple families.