EASTENDERS has dropped a huge hint Zoe Slater’s secret child is already in Walford with a very telling scene.

The iconic character – who is played by actress Michelle Ryan in the BBC soap – returned last night looking worse for wear.

Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater in EastEnders.

There was a huge hint that Zoe was hiding a major secret in EastEndersCredit: BBC
Max Murray as Joel Marshall in Eastenders.

Could Joel be her son who she abandoned?Credit: BBC

Clutching a bag of booze and having barely recovered from her hangover, Zoe looked to be in an out of control and desperate situation.

But there was a clue that suggests Zoe is in fact the mother of predatory incel Joel who recently arrived in the Square.

Viewers know he has been grooming Tommy Moon to be as misogynistic and vile as he is – and last night he opened up about his own mummy issues.

And coinciding with Zoe’s return as a mess seems to suggest the two are linked.

“You don’t talk about your family… is your mum in Australia?” asked Tommy of Joel.

Joel told him: “No – my mum’s a slapper.”

“It’s just… my mum ran off when I was little,” he added. “And my dad moved us to Australia for a fresh start but he was always working.

“I just hated it. And the kids took the mick out of me for my accent.

“I asked the teacher if I could go to the loo on the first day. Didn’t know it was called the dunny, did I? So I was called Lulu from then on.

“Didn’t say a word for six months, in case I said it wrong after that. Then when I finally fought back, I got expelled.

Blackmail horror for EastEnders teenager as sexual predator Joel targets another victim

“Then when I finally met some real mates, dad met Vicky and dragged me back here. I didn’t have a choice in any of it and now I’m stuck in this dump.”

Joel was also pouring poison into Tommy’s ear about his mum – who if the hint is correct – is his own grandmother.

Zoe has since fled the country to go to Barcelona but will return later this summer.

Will her secret be revealed then?