EASTENDERS have aired Zoe Slater’s humiliating final scenes after Michelle Ryan’s disastrous comeback and shock soap death.
The iconic character was killed off during Friday’s episode as her mother Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) found her lifeless body in bed.
6
6
Monday’s instalment, which is already available to watch on BBC iPlayer, sees the aftermath of Zoe’s death as her family come to terms with the tragic news.
However, actress Michelle’s final ever scenes on the BBC One soap have an embarrassing twist as her head is covered in a cardigan.
She made one final appearance but instead of having a fake body or a body double, Michelle actually played dead for the entire episode.
She’s credited at the end of the episode but makes no appearance except under the blanket.
READ MORE ON EASTENDERS
BRIDE AND GLOOM
Eastenders: Who does Max marry on New Year’s Day? Latest fan theories
SOAP QUEENS
EastEnders legends stun fans as they reunite for sweet snap 20 years later
The Sun exclusively revealed last month that the character would die in one of the ‘blandest’ deaths in the show’s history.
After the scenes aired on BBC One on Friday, viewers took to X and shared their disappointment over Zoe’s departure.
One person wrote: “I just can’t believe that’s the way it’s ended for Zoe.
“The character deserved much better, Michelle Ryan deserved much better.
Most read in Showbiz
LIGHTS, CAMERA, OVER!
Hollywood star reveals shock split from wife after 20 years
SPARKLING
Alison Hammond looks incredible as she shows off 13st weight loss in glam gown
SYDNEY SIZZLES
Sydney Sweeney strips naked as she balances on basketball in steamy shoot
HAYDEN TRAGEDY
Hayden Panettiere died ‘after taking one pill laced with fentanyl’
6
6
“It’s a travesty and a masterclass on how NOT to treat your legacy characters. #eastenders.”
Another added: “What an awful way for Zoe to be written out #Eastenders.”
A third penned: “EastEnders really killed off zoe, an iconic legacy character, all because michelle wanted some annual leave. a lacklustere ending as well.”
Kat discovered Zoe’s corpse after waking up at 3am and finding cat Mini Mo meowing outside her room in the landing of the Queen Vic.
It came after Zoe fell over and hit her head on concrete earlier this week while trying to get Charlie Slater’s old cab back.
The barmaid knew that the fall caused her to bleed, but she decided to ignore it… not knowing that it would have deathly consequences.
The Sun revealed last week that Zoe’s exit storyline saw her on-screen for just eleven minutes over a two-month period.
She sensationally quit the soap just a year after her much-panned comeback.
6
6
Zoe disappeared entirely from screens on July 17 and only returned this week on September 7, just four episodes before her on-screen death.
Her death saw her appear in just three minutes of screentime in Friday’s episode.
And in fact she’s appeared in just 39 episodes this year, despite her apparently carefully planned exit storyline.
As well as this, Zoe’s entire exit storyline saw her have just one conversation with her daughter Jasmine – and not acknowledge son Josh at all.
A source said: “It’s all been a bit of a disaster, but even to kill off a character like Zoe in such a small amount of screen time is unthinkable.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
“It’s not even been the main story of the week. It seems so rushed and messy.”
Michelle originally played the role of Zoe in EastEnders between 2000 and 2005, and last year she made an epic return after a 20-year absence.