EastEnders viewers are certain Zoe Slater is on her way back to Walford.
Fans of the BBC One drama have been buzzing over teaser clips for Monday’s (June 16) instalment as Ben Wadey steps into Chris Clenshaw’s shoes as the new executive producer.
To celebrate the handover, EastEnders will broadcast simultaneously on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7.30pm, ditching the usual early BBC iPlayer episode at 6am.
A fresh trailer has dropped on social media, seemingly from someone’s perspective exiting the tube station, and the sound of high heels has fans convinced it’s a woman’s return.
The footage then sweeps through a deserted street, while the soap hints at a hidden hint in the clip, with the caption: “Blink and you’ll miss it! #EastEnders, 7:30pm, Monday 16th June on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer.”, reports Belfast Live.
Speculation was already rife that Michelle Ryan might reprise her role as Zoe after recent reports, and the distinctive click-clack of heels has further cemented the belief that a female character is set to re-enter the Square.
Zoe was last spotted departing Walford in 2005 via the tube, and fans are reading into this as a sign she’s coming back the same way she left. But one particularly observant viewer has spotted what they believe is a “secret sign” on the wall.
Amidst the backdrop, there’s a poster promoting a Jazz Festival in Walford, where the letters Z-O-E are conspicuously aligned diagonally, catching the attention of eagle-eyed followers.
“You can’t convince me it’s not Zoe with the tube entrance and all #eastenders,” one fan wrote alongside a screenshot, setting the fandom abuzz with speculation. Fellow enthusiasts echoed this sentiment, as another chimed in: “STOPPP THE POSTER!”.
Noticing the detail “Y2K” scrawled on a post, fans connected the dots: “And Y2K = 2000,” one fan noted, recalling the year the Slater family, Zoe included, burst onto our screens.
Michelle kicked off Monday by taking her Instagram followers down memory lane with a throwback clip from her Bionic Woman days, post-Walford.
Fans swarmed the now-restricted comments to drop hints about her rumoured return as Zoe, with Michelle giving away cheeky likes on each comment.
Excited fans shared their hopes: “Please tell me you are back on EastEnders this evening! I think it’s Shirley but have seen people saying it’s You and I want it to be so bad.”
Others offered their prayers: “Praying we’re going to see you later walking out that Walford station.” While someone else played it cool: “Just a totally normal Monday. Nothing to look forward to today.”
