BBC/Composite: EastEnders Insider Share By Joel Harley Sep 3 2025 By Joel Harley Sep 3 2025 What happened in EastEnders tonight: Max Branning returned as Zoe fought for her life Who saw that one coming? Max Branning Zoe Slater Share By Joel Harley Sep 3 2025 By Joel Harley Sep 3 2025 Max Branning returned in EastEnders tonight (Wednesday, September 3), in a shocking twist to Zoe Slater‘s story. This came as Zoe battled for her life after being shot by Jack and Ravi last night (albeit accidentally), while a terrified Kat worried that she was about to lose her daughter for good. Drifting out of consciousness on her way to death’s door, a flashback revealed what had happened in Zoe’s past since she left Walford. As it emerged, she’d given birth to twins – one of which had apparently died, and the other she’d given up for adoption. Meanwhile, full of guilt over what they’d done, Jack and Ravi formed a plan. Here’s everything that happened on EastEnders tonight. Zoe was the gunshot victim (Credit: BBC) The shooting victim was revealed in EastEnders tonight As the episode began, the recipient of a bullet from Jack and Ravi was revealed. And, as Jack and Ravi scrambled to escape, Zoe collapsed, shot in the gut. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers The pair took cover in Walford East where, as Zoe lay bleeding out, Kat continued to try and talk things out with her daughter. Time and a place Kat, time and a place. “I’ve got an enemy out there,” Kat told Zoe as she queried what she’d wanted the money for. “He’s still alive.” But who’s out for Zoe’s blood? Jack and Ravi played the blame game (Credit: BBC) Jack and Ravi covered their tracks Having also taken cover, Jack threatened to rat Ravi out if he didn’t stand by him. And so an unlikely pact was formed between the former love rivals. Palming the gun off on Ravi (make your mind up!), Jack told him to stash it at Walford East while he concocted a plan. Ravi attempted to do so, but found Kat and Zoe there instead. Panicking, he pocketed the gun and fled. Meanwhile, Jack returned to The Vic, where all hell had broken loose. News of the shooting had broken on the street group chat, and the police had already cordoned the area off. Swallowing his guilt, Jack took charge, telling everyone to ‘hold their fire’ (geddit) on panicking, and blamed the shooting on gang violence. It was then that Alfie arrived, having found Zoe and Kat. Dumping poor Zoe on the floor, Alfie and Kat waited for the ambulance while she continued to bleed out. Thankfully, there was a doctor in the house, and Anthony Trueman arrived to examine his former lover and patient. A flashback to 2006 revealed Zoe had given birth (Credit: BBC) Zoe’s past was revealed in EastEnders tonight As Zoe began to lose consciousness, a flashback took us back to 2006, where a younger Zoe was mid-labour. And it wasn’t just any labour either. Like her mum before her, she was pregnant with twins, and had just given birth to a baby boy when she suffered an apparent stillbirth on the second child, a baby girl. Later, as Zoe recovered from the traumatic birth, she revealed her plan to have the surviving child adopted. Bombshell (and baby) dropped, she disappeared, fleeing the hospital and leaving only an Ibiza keychain behind. But what became of Zoe’s baby boy? What’s Max’s connection to Zoe? (Credit: BBC) Max Branning returned to EastEnders as Zoe fought for her life Back in the present, Zoe begged Kat to remain conscious. Thankfully, the paramedics had arrived – and just in time to stop Ian Beale and Anthony from trying to glue her war wound shut, like they’d seen on TV. Finally in an ambulance, Zoe’s condition worsened. Briefly coming to, Zoe opened up to her mum, revealing how she’d been ‘running scared’ for so long now, and making another mention of the ominous figure from her past. As Kat spotted a certain tattoo, Zoe admitted that she’d given birth, but lost the child… or at least one of them. Zoe then took a turn for the worse, briefly flatlining as the ambulance rushed her to hospital. Later, with Zoe in the operating room, her phone began to ring. Kat answered the call and, believing it to be from the one who shot her, issued a promise to hunt the ‘scum’ on the other end of the line down. The scum on the other end of the phone? None other than Max Branning, who hung up the call, without saying a word. But what’s his connection to Zoe? And will she survive to tell the tale? A tense alliance was formed (Credit: BBC) Jack and Ravi covered their tracks in EastEnders tonight Sharing another covert meeting, Ravi returned the gun to Jack (quite the game of hot potato, tonight) insisting that it was his problem now. United in their guilt, the men agreed to stash the gun and keep quiet until they could get rid together. Can the men hold their nerve? Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Joel Harley Sep 3 2025 By Joel Harley Sep 3 2025
