EastEnders has aired a tense cliffhanger that sees Kat Moon closer to her daughter Zoe than she has been for years.

In Monday’s dramatic episode, Zoe made a sensational return to the show, with Michelle Ryan reprising her iconic role after two decades away.

She has been staying with Stacey in a flat, with Stacey struggling to cope after Zoe stole her credit card. Stacey called Alfie, who arrived and came face to face with Zoe.

As tensions flared between Zoe and Stacey in today’s episode, Alfie calmed the situation and warmly reunited with Zoe – but told her that he would have to ring Kat.

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Zoe was furious, as her relationship with her mum is currently in tatters, and she made it clear that if Kat got involved, she would disappear forever.

Alfie found out that Zoe owed money to loan sharks in Spain, and they were sending her threatening messages. While Alfie offered his and Kat’s help, Zoe insisted she’d rather end up in hospital or prison than see her mum.

Stacey explained to Alfie that she had moved into a flat temporarily to get some space but had now left her kids with Lynne to try and look after Zoe.

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She had called on Alfie, as the only person who would do what was best for Zoe because it’s what Kat would want. Alfie was at pains to lie to his new wife, but he agreed to help Zoe behind her back.

Meanwhile, Kat was worried about Tommy and was frustrated that she couldn’t get hold of Alfie. He answered his phone and told her he was in the pub, but Tommy’s tracking app confirmed that he wasn’t where he said he was.

Stacey later got suspicious about Zoe’s threatening texts, and as Alfie offered to give her money, Stacey exposed that there were no loan sharks and that Zoe had been sending the messages to herself.

Stacey and Alfie were shocked that Zoe had fabricated this story to get some cash and were about to call Kat – but Alfie realised that Zoe was scared and was running from something.

Alfie pledged to help her in whatever way she needed and reluctantly promised not to tell Kat for the time being.

But Harvey had given Kat (and Jean) a lift to the mysterious flat, and at that moment Kat knocked on the door demanding to see Alfie.

Will Kat discover that her daughter is just metres away from her?