EastEnders is preparing an extended farewell to Zoe Slater, with four special episodes set to center on her funeral and the fallout from her death.
Zoe’s final storyline ended in tragedy after a head injury proved fatal. The loss has devastated Kat and the wider Slater-Moon family, and the soap is now turning the funeral into a major week of drama rather than a single farewell episode.
Zoe Slater’s funeral will span four episodes
The funeral storyline is expected to air across October 26 to 29 on BBC One. The episodes will bring Albert Square together to mourn Zoe while also opening the door to further revelations during the wake.
Michelle Ryan’s return as Zoe had been one of the soap’s most notable comebacks after roughly two decades away from the role. Ryan has indicated that the character’s death was part of the planned conclusion to her return, giving Zoe a definitive ending rather than another departure with the possibility of disappearing abroad.
Linda and Lee Carter return to Walford
The funeral week will also feature the return of Linda Carter and Lee Carter, adding another layer of significance to the episodes. Their appearances come as the Square continues to process a series of major changes and losses.
For viewers, the extended funeral storyline signals that Zoe’s death will have consequences beyond the immediate grief of Kat and Alfie. A teased revelation at the wake could shift attention from mourning to fresh drama before the week is over.
With returning characters, a major Slater family gathering and four episodes devoted to the aftermath, EastEnders is positioning Zoe’s funeral as one of its biggest late-October events.