EastEnders fans are on high alert as speculation hits fever pitch over Zoe Slater’s mysterious return — and the theory dominating fan circles could shake Albert Square to its core.

After a jaw-dropping reappearance in June — her first in two decades — Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) has already left chaos in her wake. Once the fiery heart of the Slater clan, Zoe was last seen in 2005, fleeing London after the explosive Den Watts storyline. Fast-forward to 2025: she’s back, broke, and battling a drinking problem while hiding out in Stacey’s flat. But just as quickly as she re-entered the scene, she vanished again — this time with Stacey’s stolen credit card in tow.

Now, fans are convinced her disappearance isn’t random. In fact, it may be strategic. And the theories swirling around her true connection to troubled teen Joel Marshall are only adding fuel to the fire.

Joel, introduced as a rebellious, razor-tongued teen with a chip on his shoulder, has been stirring trouble since he set foot in Walford. But a recent episode introduced his supposed mother — Cleo — who, off-screen, phoned Joel’s dad Ross to reveal she’s getting remarried. On the surface, it sounds like a simple plot detour. But for diehard viewers, it’s anything but.

Across Reddit and social media, EastEnders sleuths are calling it: Cleo is a cover. Zoe Slater is Joel’s real mother. The clues? Too many to ignore. Zoe’s sudden reappearance. Her fragile mental state. Joel’s inexplicable rage toward the Slaters — particularly Stacey. And that name drop? Fans aren’t buying it. They believe “Cleo” is nothing more than a red herring meant to throw them off the scent of a massive twist.

“If they drop another ‘you ain’t my muvva!’ bombshell, I’m going to scream — in the best way,” one fan posted. Others agree, pointing out how eerily similar this storyline feels to the Cindy/Rose identity twist that rocked the soap not long ago. But whether it’s recycled or not, fans are hungry for the drama — especially if it means revisiting Zoe’s traumatic past and unveiling secrets that could fracture the Slaters once again.

If Zoe is truly Joel’s mum, what does that mean for Kat? For Alfie? For Stacey? The Slater matriarchy is already cracking under financial strain, betrayal, and family secrets. Throw in a long-lost son with a grudge, and you have the makings of another EastEnders classic: raw emotion, devastating truth, and irreversible consequences.

As Michelle Ryan teases filming updates online, speculation only grows. Will she return to Walford under her real name? Will Joel learn the truth? And if he does, what destruction will follow?

One thing is certain: EastEnders is setting the stage for something explosive. And if the theories prove true, the fallout will change the Slater legacy forever.