We need to talk about EastEnders’ Jean Slater (Gillian Wright).
It’s not exactly been a nice and relaxed Christmas over at the Slater Homestead. Viewers jaws’ hit the floor up and down the nation during the Christmas Day episode, when Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) learned some pretty upsetting revelations about her no-good ex Anthony Truman (Nicholas Bailey).
Not only was Anthony aware that he was her twins’ biological father, but he told a sickening lie to her mother Kat (Jessie Wallace) that both babies had died.
This epic showdown turned into a violent struggle when Zoe shoved Anthony, he smashed his head on the doorway. Fighting back, he smashed Zoe’s head on the bannister and they were both knocked out. But only Zoe woke up.
All of a sudden, Zoe and Kat found themselves with a manslaughter to cover up before the turkey’s even cold. Not only that, but things were complicated by the triumphant return of EastEnders’ legend, the simply fabulous Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), who’d teamed up with Zoe’s secret daughter, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), to torture their shared enemy.
Among all this gloriously soapy tea being spilt all over Albert Square, one might be forgiven for forgetting good old quirky Jean Slater, and with Zoe banged up for Anthony’s murder and Jasmine assimilating herself within the family, Jean’s quite understandably shaken.
Often seen by her family the delicate glass doll of clan Slater, Jean’s struggle with bipolar disorder – once leading to a tragic suicide attempt – is often exacerbated by stressful or traumatic events, such as living in Walford.
Earlier this month, Jean ‘s granddaughter Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) was dismayed to see Jean take a turn for the worse and tried to help, but Jean who refused therapy and insisted that she was taking her medication. However, Jean’s mental health has been profoundly impacted by the departure of her daughter Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner)…not to mention to the arrival of Zoe.
EastEnders fans and the BBC Press department might have been excited about Zoe Slater’s return to the Square, but Jean certainly wasn’t. Ever since Zoe returned, Jean’s spent the past few months moaning to everyone in the Vic about her cousin, how Zoe is the root of all evil, how she’s responsible for pushing Stacey away, and basically how she just needs to shut up and go away forever.
So intense is Jean’s dislike that some conspiracy-loving fans have wondered if she was the one stalking Zoe. Now Anthony’s death will only push Jean further into suspicion and paranoia…
She’s has spent the months since her cousin returned moaning about her existence and telling anyone who would listen that everything is Zoe’s fault and she should go away. In upcoming episodes, the devastating fallout of Christmas Day continue to reign down upon the Slaters, leaving Kat determined to help Zoe. Meanwhile, the impact of events on Jean leaves her loved ones deeply concerned for her mental health.
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Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace) and Lily do their best to support Jean but fear that she needs professional help. Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) voices her concerns to Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), who tries to convince Jean to open up. But later, Jean’s behaviour causes even more concern.
Will Jean’s family save her from spiralling… or is it already too late? Someone struck the killer blow against Anthony while Zoe was unconscious…could that someone be Jean?
Has Jean already been pushed to breaking point and taken the ultimate revenge against Zoe? Or is this humble writer simply high on sugar from too much Quality Street at Christmas? Stay tuned…
