BBC/Composite: EastEnders Insider Share By Joel Harley Aug 5 2025 By Joel Harley Aug 5 2025 EastEnders early release confirms identity of Joel's mum... and it's not Zoe But is the soap throwing us a red herring? Joel Marshall Zoe Slater Share By Joel Harley Aug 5 2025 By Joel Harley Aug 5 2025 Warning: This article contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of EastEnders, which is streaming now but has not yet aired on BBC One – in which the identity of Joel Marshall‘s mother is ‘revealed’… and it’s not Zoe. EastEnders has seemingly confirmed the identity of Joel’s mother, as Ross received a phone call from his ex-wife out of the blue last night. As the story continues today (Tuesday, August 5), Ross confirmed that Joel’s mum had called to say that she was getting re-married. This left Ross and Vicki worried about how volatile Joel would take the news. Amid the news of her impending nuptials came another interesting bit of information – Joel’s mum’s name is, apparently, Cleo. So not Zoe, then. Ross is struggling with Joel’s troubling attitude toward women (Credit: BBC) EastEnders early release reveals identity of Joel’s mum – and it’s not Zoe As they chatted, the soap casually name-dropped Joel’s mother. “You saw his face turn when I mentioned Cleo,” said Vicki as she and Ross snuggled on the sofa afterwards. Meanwhile, sneaking out of the house, Joel went to see Tommy, where he shared more insight into his upbringing. “I had a wicked social life. Loads of mates,” said Joel as he talked about his life in Australia. “And then Mum went and cheated on Dad, didn’t she?” Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Do Joel’s issues with women stem from his feelings of abandonment by his mother? And who exactly is Cleo anyway? Does this debunk the long-held fan theory that Joel’s mother is Zoe Slater? Joel had some choice words for Kat and Stacey (Credit: BBC) Joel raged at Kat in EastEnders tonight After Joel’s heart-to-heart with Tommy, the boys were caught trying to steal booze from the barrel store. As they were admonished by Kat, Alfie, Ross and Vicki, Joel hit back. First describing Vicki as a ‘melt,’ he then unloaded on Kat, calling her a ‘slag.’ Ross dragged Joel from the pub, but not before his son took a vicious swipe at Stacey on the way out (“ain’t you got some baps to butter?”). Clearly the boy’s issues with women aren’t going away anytime soon – and, as the week progresses, his behaviour only worsens. As Ross and Vicki confront Joel over his actions tomorrow (Wednesday, August 6), Ross appears to be making some headway. Joel shows his dad a video from his influencer, leaving clueless Ross unaware of its misogynistic implications. However, he’s unable to ignore a troubling video he finds on Joel’s laptop. Horrified, Ross immediately destroys the computer. But what’s got Ross so rattled? Is soap throwing us a red herring? By confirming Cleo as Joel's mother, EastEnders seems to be disproving the long-held fan theory that Zoe Slater is Joel's mother. Fans have been speculating that Zoe is Joel's estranged mother ever since his arrival in Walford earlier this year. With the news that Zoe was set to return to Albert Square after 20 years away, many wondered whether she might come back harbouring a secret. Zoe soon confirmed that she is indeed hiding something - but is that something a secret son? Is EastEnders' Cleo reveal a red herring? It's entirely possible that the soap could be hiding its Zoe return behind the 'Cleo' name-drop. Might Zoe have adopted the name Cleo after leaving Walford? Perhaps in whatever double-life she's been leading in her absence? This wouldn't be the first time a character has adopted another name after leaving Walford. Cindy Beale, one might recall, went by the name 'Rose' while she was living in Spain with then-husband George. Could Cleo be a similar red herring intended to throw viewers off the scent? EastEnders fans convinced Zoe is Joel's mother -here's why This isn't the first time Joel has dropped hints that Zoe could be his mother. During a previous heart-to-heart with Tommy, Joel described his absentee mother as a 'slapper' - language which echoes Zoe and Kat's own past and the way they've spoken about each other in the past. The 'clues' continued as Joel argued with Vicki in a later scene. 'You ain't my mum,' he told her during an argument - before the soap cut to it's next scene, with Zoe Slater. Coincidence? We think not. With Zoe hiding a terrible secret from her family, might Joel be the reason she's so reticent to return home to Walford? 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 Aug 5 2025 By Joel Harley Aug 5 2025
