She’s only been back in Walford for a fortnight, but Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) has already landed herself in the thick of the drama in EastEnders, particularly after her explosive encounters with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig).

Long-time EE viewers will remember Zoe’s involvement in Sharon’s father Den Watts’ murder, and it appears that two decades on, both Sharon and Vicki remain unforgiving.

Sharon was far from pleased when she returned from Australia to discover Zoe had taken up residence on Albert Square, with the pair quickly clashing over their troubled history. Before this confrontation, Vicki had made her loathing for Zoe crystal clear.

In Tuesday’s (23 September) EastEnders episode, already streaming on BBC iPlayer, Zoe and Vicki were seen brawling in the Square, prompting Sharon to corner Zoe in the Queen Vic.

Zoe appeared unfazed whilst her mother Kat (Jessie Wallace) leapt to her defence. Before long, Zoe disclosed the real reason behind her return to Walford, confessing she desperately needed cash to locate her adopted son, whom she’d given up at birth following his twin sister’s death, reports OK!.

However, Zoe took immense satisfaction in dropping a bombshell on Sharon – revealing that Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman), Sharon’s deceased husband, was actually the father of her children.

“20 years ago, Dennis Rickman slept with me. That’s right, Sharon. Your precious Dennis, he got me pregnant,” Zoe declared to a shell-shocked Sharon.

Sharon and Zoe were previously caught up in a complicated love triangle involving Dennis, with Zoe even fabricating a pregnancy at one point in a desperate bid to hold onto Dennis.

“OMG Dennis Rickman is that dad? ! Never expected that #EastEnders,” one viewer posted on X, whilst another chimed in: “I knew Dennis Rickman was the father to the twins I just knew it. He was with Zoe right up until March 2005. Dates add up even if they aren’t ultra precise with the dates. #Eastenders.”

Other viewers remained sceptical about whether Zoe was being truthful, given her track record of deception since her return.

“Not sure i buy the retcon of Dennis sleeping with Zoe though (if Zoe is actually telling the truth! ) #eastenders,” one viewer remarked, whilst another observed: “I don’t believe the baby is Dennis’s baby. Zoe just said that to get a rise and hurt Sharon. #EastEnders It would be too easy if it were Dennis’s kid.”