EastEnders viewers reckon they’ve sussed why Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) is mysteriously absent from the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary episodes.

Amongst the high drama – which has so far included (but not limited to!) a shooting, a killer return, a car crash and a horrific explosion – there’s been no sign of Kat.

The majority of Albert Square’s most favourite residents have been seen celebrating Billy and Honey Mitchell’s (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) wedding, but no explanation has been given to her whereabouts.

If we’re to believe the fans, there could be a good reason why!

‘Zoe Slater. That’s why Kat isn’t around, she’s gone to meet Zoe’ said one on X.

And they’re not alone.

‘where the **** is KAT SLATER!!!’ said another.

‘Did Kat Slater miss filming for this week? or has she gone to get Zoe?’ questioned one.

A fourth added: ‘hope zoe slater returns.’

One viewer also clocked the fact a Slater family photo featured in Monday’s instalment, writing: ‘The Slater close up! Who’s coming back! I hope it’s all of them – Little Mo, Lynne AND ZOE!’

Back in 2001, it was famously revealed that Kat was actually her mother, despite the women being raised as sisters, in an episode watched by 19 million viewers.

Since December, Zoe actress Michelle Ryan has been fuelling rumours of a huge comeback.

She firstly reunited with Kacey Ainsworth, who played her aunt Little Mo Slater. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote: ‘Our boss John Yorke took a real risk putting a family of women in the show and it paid off as on one week when Zoe found out that Kat was her mother viewers tuned into the BBC for 19, 18, 20 and 21 million per episode plus the omnibus.

‘The national grid reported a surge in electricity as all the kettles were clicked on after the credits. Such a heady hayday the early 2000’s were.

‘The excitement of knowing you had a two hander written by Tony Jordan was like opening a present on Christmas Day.’

She added: ‘You would check your pigeon hole where scripts and fan mail were placed and rush back to highlight the dialogue. I will always be grateful to John and Tony for my first big break on primetime TV.

‘They were a winning combo.’

She was seen pictured with Sam Mitchell star Kim Medcalf, and shared more throwbacks at the end of January.

Posting some of her character’s headshots, she wrote: ‘I was just sent these two photos from the square that were taken when I was 17/18, that’s early 2000’s!

‘They were actually never used for cards to be signed (although I’m being told that some people have them, I didn’t realise).

Denise decides, you choose. How to vote

To access the vote, viewers must have a BBC Account. You can register for an account at BBC.co.uk/account, on or before February 19.

The vote will officially open at 8:30pm on Wednesday February 19 at BBC.co.uk/EastEnders. It will close at 7:10pm on Thursday February 20, so the result can be incorporated into the live episode, which will broadcast at 7:30pm from BBC Elstree Centre that very evening.

‘Wishing everyone on the square a very Happy 40th Birthday! What an achievement for a show to run for that long!

‘Many great memories. Congratulations to everyone.’

Soundtracking the post with Blondie’s Call Me, she added: ‘Don’t read into the song chosen, it’s playing in the cafe.’

Last month, Jessie Wallace expressed her desire for Michelle to return when speaking to Lacey Turner on her new BBC podcast We Started Here.

‘I’d love it if she came back,’ she said. ‘I think it would be great for Kat and Zoe.

‘I think it would be brilliant if she just turned up and went, “Hello, Mum!”‘

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