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Kat Tells Zoe the Shocking Truth About Her Son | EastEnders

EastEnders is lining up a powerful and emotionally charged week as secrets, lies, and desperate decisions collide across Albert Square. At the heart of the drama is Kat Slater’s heartbreaking visit to her daughter Zoe, where a devastating truth about her son threatens to change everything. But this isn’t the only storyline set to rock Walford. While one family teeters on the edge of betrayal and escape, another faces life-or-death choices, as Sam Mitchell undergoes surgery and Phil Mitchell edges closer to a plan that could destroy him and everyone who loves him.

The week begins with Jasmine Fischer plotting what could be her most dramatic move yet. Still reeling from everything she has learned about her past, Jasmine decides she can’t stay in Walford any longer. Her plan is bold and ruthless: she intends to disappear from Albert Square with Oscar, leaving behind the chaos, the accusations, and her newly discovered family ties. The most painful part of all is that Zoe Slater, the mother Jasmine has only just found, remains locked up in prison as Jasmine prepares to run.

On the surface, Jasmine reassures Kat Moon that she’s ready to help. She promises to cooperate with the police and claims she’ll do everything in her power to shift suspicion back onto Chrissie Watts, whom Kat firmly believes is the real culprit behind Anthony’s death. Kat clings to this hope, convinced that Jasmine could be the key to proving Zoe’s innocence. What Kat doesn’t know is that Jasmine is already preparing her escape, quietly cutting ties and planning to vanish before anyone can stop her.

An EastEnders insider reveals that Jasmine’s instinct has always been to flee rather than face her problems head-on. Now, with pressure mounting and expectations closing in, that instinct is stronger than ever. Yet the irony is cruel: the family Jasmine has only just found needs her more than ever. Her testimony could be the one thing that finally brings Chrissie to justice and sets Zoe free. Instead, Jasmine is ready to walk away, even if it means betraying her own blood.

Kat, meanwhile, is relentless in her determination to clear her daughter’s name. Convinced Zoe has been wrongly accused, she travels in search of Chrissie Watts, certain that she’ll uncover evidence that proves her suspicions. But when Kat returns to Walford empty-handed, her hopes are crushed. With no new leads and no progress, Zoe’s situation remains unchanged, and Kat is left feeling helpless.

Desperate and heartbroken, Kat visits Zoe in prison, bringing Jasmine along with her. What should be a moment of unity turns into another devastating blow when Zoe admits she’s planning to plead guilty. Terrified and exhausted, Zoe believes claiming self-defense is the only way forward, even though it could still mean a long and painful sentence. The confession leaves Kat reeling. She begs Zoe to tell the police everything she knows about Chrissie’s involvement, convinced it’s the only way out.

But Zoe refuses. Her fear isn’t just for herself—it’s for Jasmine. Zoe is convinced that if she names Chrissie, Jasmine could be dragged into the fallout, and she won’t risk her daughter’s future. Kat is torn apart by Zoe’s refusal, but when she realizes that Jasmine might hold the crucial evidence needed to free Zoe, a flicker of hope returns. Jasmine agrees to speak to the police, and Kat believes, at last, that things are turning around.

Unbeknownst to Kat, Jasmine is lying. She has no intention of giving a statement. Instead, she’s already made up her mind to leave Walford behind for good. Feeling like an outsider on the Square, Jasmine convinces herself that the Slaters will eventually reject her. In her mind, running away with Oscar is the only way to protect herself from future heartbreak.

Oscar, however, is far from certain. While Jasmine pushes forward with her escape plan, Oscar struggles with the idea of abandoning his family. His doubts grow even stronger when Max discovers what they’re planning. Furious and protective, Max confronts Jasmine and bluntly tells her to stay away from his son. He makes it clear that he doesn’t trust her and won’t allow her to drag Oscar into a life on the run.

The tension escalates as Jasmine continues to mislead Kat, pretending she’s still preparing to speak to the police. At the same time, Cindy warns Max that Jasmine isn’t to be trusted, branding her manipulative and dangerous. With pressure coming from all sides, the situation spirals out of control. A heated confrontation between Max and Jasmine explodes, placing Oscar squarely in the middle.

According to insiders, Oscar is torn between loyalty to his father and his feelings for Jasmine. Desperate not to lose him, Jasmine crosses a dangerous line. In a last-ditch attempt to secure Oscar’s devotion, she spins a shocking lie, making a serious allegation about Max. Though Max fiercely denies it, Jasmine insists she’s telling the truth. Confused, shaken, and feeling trapped, Oscar begins to believe he has no choice but to leave Walford with her.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If Jasmine disappears, Zoe’s chances of freedom could be destroyed forever. The question hanging over the Square is whether Max can expose Jasmine’s lies in time, or if Oscar will vanish alongside her, leaving devastation in their wake.

As this explosive storyline unfolds, another Mitchell family crisis takes center stage. Sam Mitchell faces one of the most terrifying ordeals of her life as she prepares for surgery to remove a breast lump. While she tries to stay strong, Sam is painfully aware that her brother Phil is hiding something. Unknown to most of the family, Phil is secretly planning to take his terminally ill friend Nigel Bates to Portugal.

Sam knows the plan is reckless. She’s fully aware of Phil’s desperation to stop Nigel’s wife, Julie, from placing him into care as his dementia worsens. But Sam believes uprooting Nigel and fleeing the country could have devastating consequences. Despite her repeated pleas, Phil refuses to listen, insisting he’s doing the right thing.

The situation becomes even more fraught when Sam realizes Phil intends to leave on the very same day as her surgery. While Sam heads to the hospital with Ricky and Jack, Phil continues making arrangements behind her back. For Sam, the timing feels like the ultimate betrayal—just when she needs her brother most, he’s preparing to walk away.

Earlier in the week, tensions rise during a surprise birthday party Ricky organizes for Phil on behalf of Raymond. Members of the Mitchell family gather to celebrate, but the atmosphere quickly darkens. Ricky becomes convinced that Sam is about to abandon him once again, unaware of the serious health battle she’s facing. The fragile bond Sam and Ricky have worked so hard to rebuild begins to crack under the strain.

Later, George Knight notices Sam clutching a letter about her upcoming operation. Speaking as both a friend and a father figure, George urges her to be honest with Ricky. Finding her courage, Sam finally tells her son the truth about her cancer diagnosis. Ricky is devastated but promises to stand by her no matter what happens.

Sam’s surgery ultimately goes well, bringing a brief moment of relief amid the chaos. When she wakes up, she’s comforted to see Phil sitting at her bedside, his presence giving her strength during a vulnerable moment. For a short time, it seems like family might come before everything else.

But the calm doesn’t last. In an unguarded moment, Sam accidentally reveals Phil’s secret plan involving Nigel while George is nearby. Alarmed by what he’s heard, George immediately informs Denise Fox. Denise has already been keeping a close eye on Phil, especially given his recent mental health struggles, and this revelation only heightens her concern.

As fear spreads and time runs out, Denise and George are left scrambling to intervene. Can they reason with Phil before he follows through with his dangerous plan, or will he manage to leave Walford with Nigel before anyone can stop him?

With lives hanging in the balance, families on the brink of collapse, and truths threatening to explode, EastEnders promises a week packed with heartbreak, betrayal, and impossible choices. These dramatic scenes air from Monday 19 January at 7:30 p.m. on BBC One, with episodes available to stream from 6 a.m. on BBC iPlayer.