The residents of Albert Square are reeling from an unprecedented wave of emotional distress and physical danger, as a sinister stalking campaign intensifies and two characters share a controversial kiss that has caused an uproar among viewers.

Stalker Escalation: Zoe Uncovers a Suspect

Zoe Slater’s torment has reached fever pitch, pushing her to the brink as the attacks on her and her family escalate. The nightmare began with a string of disturbing incidents, including a bloodstained picture frame, a mysterious VHS tape, and a physical assault on Zoe herself. Although her mother, Cat Moon, has steadfastly defended her, Zoe’s own admission of previously vandalising family photos led Alfie Moon to initially doubt the true danger.

However, recent events have forced Alfie to accept the chilling reality. Malicious online reviews targeting the Queen Victoria pub and a threatening message scrawled across the barrel store wall proved the danger was genuine.

In upcoming scenes, the attacks intensify as Cat and Alfie are bombarded with continuous calls from an unknown number, and the pub’s landline is besieged with prank calls. The escalating chaos is driven by a single earring found by Cat, which she believes is a vital clue. Zoe becomes certain she knows the stalker’s identity, but a fierce row erupts when Cat and Alfie strongly disagree with her theory, leaving Zoe isolated. After seeking comfort from her ex, Anthony Truman, Zoe returns to the Vic only to be plunged back into fear by a Christmas card decorated with a deeply unsettling message. The Slater-Moons are left shaken and uncertain, bracing for the stalker’s terrifying next move.

The Controversial Kiss: A Family Rift Looms

In a plot twist that left many EastEnders fans “stunned and unsettled,” Vicki Fowler and Zack Hudson shared an unexpected kiss. The pairing sparked fierce online reactions because of the characters’ complex family ties to Walford icon Sharon Watts. Vicki is Sharon’s adoptive half-sister (both were taken in by Dirty Den Watts, who later fathered Vicki), while Zack is Sharon’s biological half-brother (sharing their father, Gavin Sullivan). Both characters consider Sharon a sister figure, which added an uncomfortable layer to their brief embrace.

The kiss occurred after a disastrous night for Vicki, who accidentally knocked her date unconscious following a confrontation where she learned he was married. Zack stepped in to support her, persuading the man not to call the police and listening as Vicki opened up about the trauma from her recent assault. With emotions running high, the two leaned in for a brief but intense kiss, only to be caught mid-embrace by Kathy Beale.

Both Vicki and Zack swiftly insisted that Sharon “could never find out” about what happened, fearing the inevitable fallout. Actress Alice Hey, who plays Vicki, hinted that this moment could be the start of a messy love triangle involving Vicki’s on-off partner Ross Marshall. Hey told Radio Times that while Vicki insists the kiss was “just a moment of madness,” the possibility of a romantic rivalry between “decent men” Ross and Zack could lead to compelling drama.

Financial Fear and Fresh Trauma

The emotional toll is also weighing heavily on Lauren, who is devastated by the steep $\mathcal{L}3,000$ initial payment required for Jimmy’s cutting-edge medical treatment. Panicking about time running out, her fears are only compounded by an incident involving Jimmy during the charity quiz night, making her even more determined to seek the specialist care he desperately needs.

Elsewhere in the Square, Oscar is horrified to find Cindy lying motionless after an attack. He immediately raises the alarm and confronts Jasmine, who eventually invents a false story to cover her tracks, leaving the mystery of what truly happened unresolved.