{"id":42454,"date":"2023-12-25T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T07:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1944747"},"modified":"2023-12-25T09:02:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T08:02:42","slug":"eastenders-2023-recap-what-you-need-to-know-for-christmas","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-2023-recap-what-you-need-to-know-for-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders 2023 recap \u2013 what you need to know for Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a flash, everything changes… <\/p>

By Katelyn Mensah\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 25 December 2023 at 07:00 AM<\/p>

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What a year it has been on EastEnders<\/a> this year, from new characters to returning unwelcome ones, 2023 has been one for the history books for the BBC soap.<\/p>\n

Back in February, EastEnders did something no one had seen done before in the soaps \u2013 a flash forward. Now this wasn\u2019t just any old flash forward, as viewers got a glimpse into the iconic Christmas Day episode<\/a>, which saw a man dead on the floor. But who? No one knows!<\/p>\n

As the months continued, fans began theorising who the dead body could be and, indeed, which of the six women involved is the killer. It has now all come to a head, and tonight we will finally find out which character met their demise and who is responsible.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s take a few steps backhow are these six Walford matriarchs involved with one another? If, like many people, you only dip into EastEnders on Christmas Day, RadioTimes.com<\/a> has compiled everything you need to know about each six women and how they tie into this episode.<\/p>\n

Sit back and grab some popcorn, here\u2019s everything you need to know about The Six in the run-up to the EastEnders Christmas Day episode.<\/p>\n

This article contains discussions of sexual assault, stalking, physical violence, alcoholism and domestic abuse, including coercive control, that some readers may find upsetting.<\/em><\/p>

Stacey Slater<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Lacey\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater. BBC\/Kieron McCarron\/Matt Burlem\/Amy Sharp<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Saying Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner<\/a>) had a difficult 2023 on EastEnders would be the understatement of the year.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the year, Stacey finds out that her daughter, Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), is pregnant at only 12 years old<\/a>. It is later revealed that Ricky Mitchell (Frankie Day) is the father and when he eventually finds out, his father Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) is furious.<\/p>\n

Jack attempts to convince Lily to get an abortion, but when Lily tells Stacey about it, she bans Jack from having anything to do with the baby. However, the families soon come together at the gender reveal and it is revealed Lily and Ricky are having a daughter.<\/p>\n

With an extra mouth to feed, Stacey decided to join a site called Secret Cam, in which she poses for some racy photos for money, but things soon turn sinister.<\/p>\n

As Stacey joins the site, Freddie Slater\u2019s (Bobby Brazier<\/a>) old teacher Theo Hawthorne (Williams Ellis) offers to tutor Lily for free and soon after, Jean sets Stacey and Theo up on a date \u2013 but it is incredibly awkward.<\/p>\n

However, it is soon revealed that Theo is Stacey\u2019s Secret Cam client, completely unknown to her.<\/p>\n

When Stacey discusses her work with Martin Fowler (James Bye), Theo overhears her telling him her client is probably just a desperate old man. An angry Theo then sends Stacey a sexual request and Martin is furious, believing she does more than just send racy photographs.<\/p>\n

When Stacey tells her client she won\u2019t do the request, Theo asks if it is because of her ex, and that is when she realises her client is someone she knows.<\/p>\n

\"Lacy\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Lacy Turner as Stacey Slater and William Ellis as Theo Hawthorne. BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

As the weeks continue, Theo begins sending Stacey gifts and when she and Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) try to catch the stalker out and Theo shows up, Stacey doesn\u2019t think anything of it.<\/p>\n

Things eventually come to a head in September, when Lily gives birth and Stacey finds out that Theo is her stalker.<\/p>\n

Stacey eventually tells the police but Theo denies any wrongdoing and they let him go. Stacey then speaks to Jack about Theo and Jack suggests filing a restraining order, but warns Stacey it could take weeks.<\/p>\n

The following month, Stacey and Theo are in court but he wins the case and she is left devastated. That same night, Theo sneaks into Stacey\u2019s house and attempts to rape her but is fought off by Freddie, who hits him across the head with an iron.<\/p>\n

Theo is rushed to hospital and eventually recovers and in recent episodes, viewers saw him sentenced to time in prison.<\/p>\n

But is Theo the dead body at Christmas? It\u2019s possible. Viewers recently saw Jack tell Stacey that Theo was far away in bail in Scotland, assuring her that he was alone and was checked in on by the police.<\/p>\n

In recent weeks, Jack and Stacey have grown closer as they are now co-grandparents. The pair grow even closer when they sleep together, and Stacey later causes Jack\u2019s situation to spiral when she interferes in his relationship troubles.<\/p>\n