As she and Lauren Beale were having a chat, Howie Danes stormed into Lauren’s house, accusing her of telling Kim Fox about the stolen engagement ring. Lauren denied she was involved, before Oscar walked in and admitted he was the one who told Kim.

When Zoe interjected to defend Anthony, Howie swiftly replied: “Oh yeah, cause Anthony can never put a foot wrong, can he?”

Zoe asked for explanations, as Howie hinted at the restraining order Anthony’s wife had taken out against him.

“What? She took what?” Zoe asked in disbelief.

Concerned that Anthony could be her stalker, Zoe weighed in her options with Lauren’s help.

After a day out, Lauren offered Zoe a place to stay for the night as Oscar and Peter were out. She offered to cook while Zoe could spend time with the kids after bonding with baby Jimmy earlier that day.

Zoe accepted Lauren’s offer, but couldn’t shake Anthony off her mind. “So, do you really think this is just Anthony doing all this to scare you?” Lauren asked Zoe.

“I don’t know, but his ex got a restraining order…” Zoe replied.

“I thought it was Tommy, then Jean. Could be anyone,” she said, hinting at the stalker who’d making her life hell recently.

As the two women walked back home, a figure watched them from the shadows. The camera tilted up from the woman’s high-heeled, black pumps to reveal none other than Sam Mitchell.

The character played by Kim Medcalf was previously announced to return to Walford after she was last seen on the Square early last year. Why is she watching Zoe? Could she be the one stalking her?

Sam is expected to be around over Christmas and New Year’s as she’ll try to get some cash at her brother Phil’s house, roping Nigel Bates into her scheme.

EastEnders also confirmed Sam will be diagnosed with breast cancer after discovering a lump. Reluctant to tell her loved ones, Sam hides her concerns at first, but, as the truth about her lump comes out, she’s encouraged to go to the doctors.

After receiving her diagnosis, she’ll make a full recovery thanks to a lumpectomy, a surgery that removes the lump.