{"id":37285,"date":"2023-09-27T17:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T15:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1896878"},"modified":"2023-09-28T07:59:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T05:59:18","slug":"is-there-a-secret-seventh-leading-lady-for-eastenders-christmas-2023-theories-clues","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/is-there-a-secret-seventh-leading-lady-for-eastenders-christmas-2023-theories-clues\/","title":{"rendered":"Is there a secret Seventh leading lady for EastEnders Christmas 2023? Theories, clues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why was Six afraid of Seven? <\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 27 September 2023 at 15:35 PM<\/p>

\n\n

It\u2019s the soap story we just can\u2019t get enough of this year.<\/p>\n

EastEnders<\/a> has its fans questioning everything ever since the unprecedented flash-forward to Christmas 2023 back in February<\/a> which saw six women \u2013 Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean<\/a>), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth<\/a>), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner<\/a>), Denise Fox (Diane Parish<\/a>), Linda Carter (Kellie Bright<\/a>), and Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal<\/a>) \u2013 standing over a suited man\u2019s dead body on the floor of the Queen Vic pub on Sharon\u2019s wedding day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition to speculation over who the dead man is and who the groom is, another question is, of course, which of the women are responsible for the death?<\/p>\n

Of course, it could be any one of them, but many have wondered if the real culprit is someone else entirely\u2026<\/p>

Is there a secret Seventh leading lady for EastEnders Christmas 2023?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Of course, EastEnders does love a bit of misdirection with its big mysteries.<\/p>\n

For the \u2018Who killed Archie Mitchell?\u2019 whodunnit from 2009-2010, the real culprit Stacey Slater was never offered as an official suspect.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Bobby Beale was also never an official suspect promoted by the show for the \u2018Who killed Lucy Beale?\u2019 whodunnit from 2014-2015.<\/p>\n

So, could the killer of the dead body in this case be none of \u201cThe Six\u201d featured in EastEnders\u2019 big flash-forward?<\/p>\n

The women are all looking at the dead body but are also facing one side of the room. Could another woman be present and responsible for the Yuletide death?<\/p>\n

There are certainly a few possibilities, which will also impact who the dead body is.<\/p>\n

So could be the secret culprit in the EastEnders Christmas 2023 death?<\/p>\n

Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Michelle\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale for EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The comeback everyone was talking about, legendary schemer Cindy Beale<\/a> strutted back into Albert Square this summer and brought a whole heap of drama with her.<\/p>\n

Of course, Cindy has a track record with attempted murder \u2013 she famously tried to have Ian killed by a hitman in 1996 during a very bitter custody battle over their children.<\/p>\n

Ian may have forgiven her, but the stress of her return to his life appears to have caused a heart issue<\/a>. With affairs in past, it seems likely that Cindy will stray again \u2013 most likely with her second husband George Knight (Colin Salmon<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Could this trigger Ian\u2019s death or could Cindy purposefully try to bump him off again?<\/p>\n

Alternatively, could Cindy also crack and kill George himself if their passionate love-hate relationship escalates?<\/p>\n

We would never put it past Cindy to get involved in the drama.<\/p>\n

Kat Mitchell (Jessie Wallace)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Jessie\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jessie Wallace as Kat Mitchell in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

An iconic character in her own right and one of the Square\u2019s most fierce matriarchs, it felt like Kat Mitchell could have very easily been a member of the Six.<\/p>\n

While the Slater name gets a share of the drama in the form of Stacey, Kat is one of the longest-running strong female characters on the Square and has gained an even more prominent status in Walford as the fifth wife of Phil Mitchell<\/a> (Steve McFadden).<\/p>\n

However, unbeknownst to Kat who recently married Phil<\/a>, he has helped hide the fact that her ex-husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) has been secretly battling prostate cancer<\/a> and also has hidden his own infidelity with Emma Harding<\/a> (Patsy Kensit), whom he subsequently threatened to leave Walford.<\/p>\n

Kat and Phil have faced numerous issues in the past due to his criminal schemes and putting her and her children in danger, but will this be one mistake too far?<\/p>\n

Could Kat kill Phil in the heat of the moment?<\/p>\n

Alternatively, if the Six women band together to take down an abusive and violent man, Kat has suffered the horrors of child sex abuse and sexual assault in the past, meaning she will know all too well what it is like to be victimised by a man.<\/p>\n

Could Kat strike out with the other ladies to protect one of the other women on the Square?<\/p>\n

Eve Unwin (Heather Peace)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Heather\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Heather Peace as Eve Unwin in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Eve Unwin has been one of the most prominent characters in EastEnders this year, not least as one half of her passionate affair with Suki Panesar, one of the Six.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Eve is the wife and best friend of another member of the Six, Stacey Slater.<\/p>\n

Known to have a temper when pushed to her limit \u2013 she did serve time for GBH after all \u2013 Eve could perhaps be a wildcard in striking out against a Square villain.<\/p>\n

Eve would certainly have a motive to kill the likes of love rival and villain Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), Suki\u2019s villainous step-son Ravi Gulati<\/a> (Aaron Thiara), or even Suki\u2019s manipulative son Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota).<\/p>\n

Additionally, Eve could also be poised to try and protect Stacey from the likes of her evil stalker Theo Hawthorne<\/a> (William Ellis).<\/p>\n

Whatever happens, Eve is not one to sit on the sidelines in a dangerous situation. Could she be the Seventh?<\/p>\n

Shirley Carter (Linda Henry)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Linda\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Linda Henry as Shirley Carter in EastEnders<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A modern icon of EastEnders, Shirley Carter walked out of Walford last December<\/a> following the apparent death of her son Mick Carter<\/a> (Danny Dyer).<\/p>\n

Despite leaving Walford, Shirley has been confirmed by the BBC to be returning to the soap, but much of the year has gone by without her present.<\/p>\n

The last we heard of Shirley was back in February \u2013 during the episode which featured the now legendary flash-forward where it was confirmed in a photo seen by former daughter-in-law Linda Carter<\/a> that she had been reunited with her daughter Carly Wicks (Kellie Shirley) and, more shockingly, her previously estranged son and Linda\u2019s rapist, Dean Wicks<\/a> (Matt Di Angelo).<\/p>\n

Previously, Shirley had \u2013 after a long road \u2013 turned her back on Dean after it became clear he had raped Linda and also attempted to rape Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons). Shirley even almost killed Dean and he almost killed her in turn.<\/p>\n

However, the trauma of Mick\u2019s death seems to have sent Shirley back to her son. Could Shirley and Dean make a shock return to Albert Square in time for Christmas and could he be the dead body on Christmas Day?<\/p>\n

If Dean is the one to be killed in a struggle with the Six, could Shirley finally come to her senses about her son once again and end his reign of terror?<\/p>\n

Regardless, Shirley is a force of nature and we\u2019re sure she would not be afraid to face a villain if needed\u2026<\/p>\n

Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Kim\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell for EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell for EastEnders.<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Another character who has been absent for a large chunk of the year, Sam Mitchell made a temporary exit from Walford in April<\/a>, heading to Spain for a lucrative hotel management job to raise funds for parenting her now infant granddaughter, Charli Slater.<\/p>\n

However, Charli\u2019s birth did not bring Sam back to Walford \u2013 to the chagrin of son Ricky who also ditched her surname and officially became a Branning.<\/p>\n

Despite this, Sam will be back this Autumn<\/a> and is sure to bring some chaotic energy with her, but could it be as the Seventh woman involved on Christmas Day?<\/p>\n

Despite two former Mrs Mitchells in the ranks of the Six (Sharon, Kathy), there is no representation by blood for the Mitchell dynasty in the line-up, meaning Sam could fulfil that role.<\/p>\n

Sam is one of the few female Mitchells standing following the deaths of Peggy, Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, so it would make sense to include her in the drama in some way.<\/p>\n

Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Harriet\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Harriet Thorpe as Elaine Peacock for EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ever since returning with a new face this summe<\/a>r, new Queen Vic landlady Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) has been in the thick of the action, not least with the arrival of her beau George Knight and his family<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, an obstacle in Elaine\u2019s romantic bliss of life with George emerged when Cindy Beale returned to Walford in August and was revealed to be the true identity of George\u2019s long-lost wife Rose<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If George is tempted into an affair with Cindy, could Elaine seek revenge on him?<\/p>\n

As the landlady of the pub, Elaine has a natural proximity to whatever occurs there and her daughter Linda is already a member of the Six.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Elaine has already established close bonds with the Six, especially the likes of Kathy Cotton.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Elaine has been the most prominent wearer of the colour yellow since she arrived, a bold primary colour that is not worn by any of the other members of the Six.<\/p>\n

Could yellow be the colour of the Seventh and could Elaine be the missing link in the chain?<\/p>\n

Others<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Of course, there are a number of other regular female characters in the cast who could also be an additional member of the group currently dubbed \u2018The Six\u2019.<\/p>\n