Christmas in Walford was rocked by tragedy as Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) met a shocking end, leaving Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) on a desperate mission to uncover the truth and protect her daughter.
A Festive Fatality and a Mother's Mission
The festive episode saw Anthony's life cut short following a violent altercation with Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). After a fierce shoving match, both were left unconscious on the floor. While Zoe eventually woke, Anthony could not be revived and was pronounced dead.
With a hysterical Kat watching her daughter hand herself in to the police, she gave a guarded statement to officers. Determined to shield Zoe, she immediately launched her own investigation, confronting her granddaughter, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), for answers.
Jasmine's Revelation and Chrissie's Cryptic Warning
Amid the chaos, it was confirmed that Jasmine – the secret daughter of both Zoe and Anthony – had been conspiring with the recently returned Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), united by their shared disdain for Zoe.
After some persuasion, Jasmine confessed to Kat that Chrissie had manipulated her into helping torment Zoe. Most damningly, she revealed that Chrissie had muttered about "Zoe getting what was coming to her" before instructing Jasmine to flee before the police arrived.
This detail sparked Kat's suspicion. How could Chrissie have known the police were coming unless she already knew Anthony was dead? Kat theorised that Chrissie had planned to kill Anthony all along, aiming to frame Zoe for the murder.
An Actor's 'Bittersweet' Exit and Storyline Surprise
Reflecting on his dramatic exit, actor Nicholas Bailey shared his thoughts. "A Christmas storyline is a huge moment in soap, so to get that and a big Christmas Day exit was a real honour!" he said.
He admitted the paternity twist and the story's dark turn took him by surprise. "My jaw hit the floor when our producer Ben Wadey told me where this was going," Nicholas revealed. "But I think it was a masterstroke... Anthony was always a bit like a pressure cooker. This time he couldn't keep the lid on it!"
While sad to leave the show he calls home, he is excited for the drama his departure will unleash. "I wanted to lean into the excitement of this story being a launch pad for some incredible stuff heading into 2026," he added.
With Jasmine terrified of Chrissie's wrath, Kat's theory has weight. But can she prove it in time to clear Zoe's name? The shocking Christmas death has set the stage for a explosive start to the new year in Albert Square.
