In a surprising twist, Tracy-Ann Oberman, known for her role as Chrissie Watts in EastEnders, has finally opened up about her character's unexpected return during the Christmas special. The recent episode, which aired on Christmas Eve on BBC One and is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer, left fans reeling with a shocking revelation: Zoe Slater is being stalked not just by one person, but two! Even more startling is the fact that one of these stalkers is a familiar face from the past.
The cliffhanger moment unveiled that Jasmine Fisher, Zoe’s estranged daughter, is partnering with Chrissie Watts to harass Zoe. In her discussion about this intriguing plot twist, Oberman shared insights into Chrissie's motivations for coming back. "Chrissie has always felt that it was incredibly unjust for her to have spent two decades behind bars without truly moving on from the trauma inflicted by Dirty Den and her life in Walford," the actress explained.
"When the chance arose to get back at Zoe Slater, who has always annoyed her, she leaped at the opportunity. Clearly, she has some time to spare!"
Oberman elaborated further: "While Chrissie may come off as tough and unyielding, she possesses a deep sense of justice. In her view, Zoe has never fully accounted for Den's murder or her role in wreaking havoc within the Watts family. What initially began as a mere game for Chrissie has spiraled into an obsession. Finding Jasmine, who also suffered due to Zoe, presented an irresistible opportunity.
Moreover, I believe she genuinely cares for Jasmine. To Chrissie, Jasmine represents the daughter she never had, and she seeks to empower her to take revenge on the woman who let her down. Chrissie feels that Zoe must face the consequences of her actions, and that serves as her driving force."
Reflecting on her return, Oberman remarked that she simply couldn't refuse the opportunity to reprise her role after her previous storyline involving Sharon in prison last year. She revealed that she had extensive and thoughtful discussions with the new showrunner, Ben Wadey, about the complexities behind Chrissie's character and her motivations. "Ben and I were both eager to keep Chrissie's comeback a secret, so I'm thrilled that we managed to keep it under wraps," she added.
With Chrissie's dramatic return following the heart-wrenching Nigel-centric episode aired yesterday, fans are left wondering if tomorrow's explosive installment can deliver even more unexpected twists.
EastEnders is broadcast from Monday to Thursday at 7:30 PM on BBC One, with most episodes available early on BBC iPlayer at 6 AM before they air on television.
