Mo, Jean and Lily’s sudden new start in EastEnders destroyed by tragedy | Soaps

Hopes of a fresh start are swiftly dashed in EastEnders next week as Mo Harris (Laila Morse), Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) and Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) arrive at the Vic to move in – only to be met with tragedy.

The Slater clan are all set to move out of No. 31 after Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal) followed through on her threat to have them evicted over failure to pay rent.

The property in question has been home to the Slaters for many years and housed some of their finest memories, including happier times with Martin Fowler (James Bye), who tragically died almost two years ago.

Leaving their family home behind proves tough for the clan, with Lily in particular taking it to heart. Big Mo is on hand to try and cheer her up, boosting her mood as she contemplates a new chapter for them over at the Vic.

With Jean by their side, they head over to the Vic to join Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie).

But little do they know what awaits them when they get there.

Zoe (Michelle Ryan) tragically died in the small hours of the morning, having sustained a head injury after falling on some rubble.

Kat encouraged her daughter to get it checked out and Zoe promised that she would the following day if it hadn’t eased up by then. But sadly tragedy struck soon after, with Zoe dying on her own, calling out for mum Kat who did not hear her.

In devastating scenes, Kat found Zoe’s body in bed. Unable to share her discovery, she keeps it to herself but Alfie soon learns the truth.

Jean, Mo and Lily arrive at the Vic and subsequently learn what’s happened – they learn that Zoe has died. They’re stunned and heartbroken.

It’s an emotional day for all who reside in the pub, with Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) taking the news particularly difficult given that he and Zoe had grown close in the past year.

Word of Zoe’s death filters out into the Square and those who saw her last – namely Max Branning (Jake Wood) – are left in shock.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer. 

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