In The Prodigal Daughter, secrets buried for two decades come roaring back to life when Zoe Slater, once presumed lost to the pages of EastEnders history, makes a thunderous return to Walford. Her comeback doesn’t just shake up the Square—it sends shockwaves through the very foundation of the Slater family.

Twenty years ago, Zoe vanished after discovering the earth-shattering truth: her “sister” Kat was actually her mother, and her life had been a web of lies. That truth pushed her into the dark orbit of Walford villain Dirty Den, and her hasty exit came after his murder—a cloud of scandal that seemed to close her chapter for good.

But nothing stays buried in Albert Square.

Now, with Kat Slater preparing for the happiest day of her life—an engagement to the ever-charming Alfie Moon—the past comes knocking. Quiet rumors spiral into full-blown chaos as a familiar figure steps onto the cobbles: Zoe, older, wiser, but carrying the same intensity that made her a legend. Her return isn’t just a reunion—it’s a reckoning.

Michelle Ryan, the iconic actress behind Zoe, had long resisted a comeback. But as whispers from the set confirm her return, fans brace for what promises to be one of the most explosive storylines in years. The tension simmers, especially with Kat blissfully unaware that her greatest vulnerability is about to walk through her door.

Zoe’s arrival raises questions. Has she returned for forgiveness, for vengeance—or for something even more complicated? As her presence stirs long-suppressed emotions, she crosses paths with Little Mo and the rest of the Slater clan. But nothing compares to her inevitable face-off with Kat. The daughter who once screamed “You ain’t my mother!” now stands poised to either reunite… or destroy.

When wedding bells begin to chime for Kat and Alfie, all eyes are on the aisle. But just as Kat begins to say her vows, a haunting voice from the back of the room calls out: “Hello, Mum.”

Cue the gasps. Cue the breakdowns. And cue the unraveling of a love story two decades in the making.

Will Kat finally earn Zoe’s forgiveness? Or will this mother-daughter reunion reopen wounds too deep to ever heal?

In The Prodigal Daughter, EastEnders delivers a story of identity, betrayal, and the pain of pretending the past can ever truly stay buried.