EastEnders finally reveals Zoe Slater's stalker in shocking early iPlayer release

 The truth is out...

EastEnders has finally revealed who has been targeting Zoe Slater in the lead-up to Christmas. Zoe’s mission to find her son has been thwarted by a string of sinister threats, but the shocking truth won’t be under wraps for much longer…

In today’s Christmas Eve episode, Zoe was unable to relax as she was surrounded by people she feared could be harassing her, including Jean, Sam and Anthony.

Kat was convinced that Sam was stalking her daughter, after finding out from Julie that she has secretly been back in London for months.

Meanwhile, Zoe continued to reach out to struggling Jasmine, unaware that she is her daughter – but they were interrupted by Jean arriving at the pub with some unexpected Christmas cheer.

Kat’s suspicions about Sam suddenly heightened when she caught her sneaking in the back of The Vic and looking through the post.

She confronted her in the kitchen and made an accusation, but Sam explained that she was only here to see Zack, as she has just been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

The pair had an honest chat over a glass of wine as Sam told Kat her fears about her mortality. But Sam wasn’t able to give Kat the answers she needed, making clear that she knew nothing about who was targeting Zoe.

Kat felt like she had run out of options, but Alfie assured her that they would look after Zoe this Christmas, and they headed outside to watch Yolande’s carol concert.

Upstairs alone wrapping presents, Zoe was shocked to find a card addressed to her, containing the Ibiza keyring that she had dropped when she fled the hospital after giving birth.

The card was from Zoe’s adopted son, who wanted to meet his biological mum after all this time and declared that he was coming to the pub on Christmas Day. Zoe was completely overwhelmed and told Kat that it was going to be a great Christmas.

As the community gathered for the carols, worried Jasmine phoned someone and asked to meet up with them immediately.

A series of flashbacks then confirmed that it was Jasmine who has been threatening Zoe over the last few weeks, which makes sense as she previously said that someone needed to pay for what they did.

But there’s another huge twist in store, as it's revealed just who Jasmine is working for, and who potentially sent her the fruit basket when she was in hospital.

Hollyoaks star Jessamy Stoddart makes heartwarming baby announcement

 "So incredibly lucky to be growing a little brother or sister for Joni."

Hollyoaks star Jessamy Stoddart has announced that she's expecting a baby with her husband Ryan O'Gorman. The Liberty Savage star has taken to her social media to share a sweet snap of a Christmas ornament with a heart-shaped cutout and a baby scan inside.

The wooden ornament has "Baby O'Gorman" written across and reveals the baby's due date: May 2026.

"So incredibly lucky to be growing a little brother or sister for Joni," the soap actor wrote on Instagram.

Stoddart also published a mirror selfie in black and white in which she's cradling her baby bump.

The soap actor and her husband previously welcomed a daughter, Joni Drew, born in January 2023.

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Hollyoaks stars flocked to the comments section to congratulate the couple on their new addition to the family.

"Can't wait to meet [your] baby! You'll love the mad gang and the park/pub," Cleo McQueen star Nadine Mulkerrin wrote.

"Amazing news!!!! So happy for you all," Maxine Minniver star Nikki Sanderson added.

"Woohoo!! Congratulations beautiful one," Jessica Fox, who plays Nancy Osborne, wrote.

"So happy for you both," Peri Lomax star Ruby O'Donnell said.

Stoddart has been playing Liberty since 2018, when she took over the role previously portrayed by Abi Phillips.

Home and Away's Levi Fowler to spiral as Mackenzie pulls away ...

 His friends and family are worried.

Domestic and Away's Levi Fowler sparkles genuine concerns for his prosperity following week, as his relationship with Mackenzie Booth remains on the rocks. As the appear returns from its yearly Christmas break, Levi is no closer to modifying his association with Mackenzie after their later tragedy.

When we final gone by Summer Narrows, Mackenzie had taken off to visit her brother Dignitary Thompson in Queensland after the catastrophe of enduring a unsuccessful labor. Levi was cleared out behind, constrained to acknowledge that Mackenzie needed a few remove from him.

Levi's sister Eden moreover couldn't stand up to interferometer. When she deceived Mali Hudson into making a call to Mackenzie, she seized the phone and attempted to mediate on Levi's sake, which rankled Mac and gambled making things worse.

In follow-up scenes on Friday 2 January, disinterested Mali and Levi both go up against Eden over her untrustworthy actions…

Levi's keen to respect Mac's wishes, so the last thing he wants is Eden speaking on his behalf and making Mac feel uncomfortable," our Home and Away source explains.

"Eden's forced to admit that she was wrong to meddle, and she even buys Levi breakfast to make up for her mistake."

Fortunately, Levi takes a level-headed approach to the situation. Although Mac hung up on Eden when they spoke on the phone, Levi points out that the issue isn't really her fault. Instead, it's just a sad reflection of where things are now between him and Mac.

Later, Levi overhears Mali on the phone again. This time Mali is checking in with Dean, who promises him that Mac is doing fine in Queensland.

Mali plays this down to Levi, not wanting him to think that Mac doesn't need him anymore. He suggests that the Salt boss is merely putting on a front while she's around Dean.

"From Levi's perspective, there's nothing more he can do, so he announces that he's heading back to work," our insider adds.

"Eden and Abigail both fear this is a bad idea since Levi's in a bad headspace at the moment. Are they right to be worried?"

Home and Away to return with crushing scenes for Lacey ..

 Is she heading back to normality too quickly?

Domestic and Away's Lacey Mill operator bravely tries to move forward from Theo Poulos's passing following week, but her strong endeavors conclusion in tears. When the Summer Narrows cleanser returns to UK screens following week taking after its Christmas break, we'll see more aftermath from the awful occurrence that murdered Theo.

As we check back in with the Bay's inhabitants, Lacey is still battling to adapt with the sudden misfortune of her boyfriend. Still taking time off from work whereas she forms her melancholy, Lacey is satisfied when her boss Mali Hudson guarantees that he's overseeing to get by without her.

Mali is unyielding that he doesn't need Lacey to come back to work some time recently she's prepared, in spite of the fact that he's subtly in a extreme circumstance. With so numerous additional obligations at work, he's over-burden and there's no time to wind down with any social time.

Lacey's father David Langham figures that she needs something to take her intellect off losing Theo, so he gives her a few minor assignments to do at the police station.

The quality time between father and daughter gives Lacey an opportunity to open up about how she's feeling," our Home and Away source explains. "Lacey shares the depth of her grief for Theo and encourages David to reveal how he coped when the family lost Lacey and Jo's mum Kristina.

"David explains that he put all of his efforts into moving on, as that's what his beloved wife would have wanted him to do. He reckons that's what Theo would want for Lacey, too."

Lacey wastes no time in taking this advice and heads straight to the surf shop, where she announces that she's ready to get back to work. Sadly, the mood soon turns sour.

A bunch of flowers arrive at the shop from a caring well-wisher who wants to honour Theo. This triggers Lacey's grief and threatens to send her straight back to square one.

"Mali's concerned when he finds Lacey alone on the beach later on," our insider adds. "They share a warm hug as grieving Lacey breaks down in tears again. Did she come back to work too soon?"

Home and Away's Harper to receive devastating death news ..

 Cash delivers some tragic updates.

Domestic and Absent returns to UK screens with a blast another week, as Harper Matheson is shaken by news of a stunning passing. Cash Newman is constrained to break the awful news to Harper, pulverizing her dreams of a more joyful future with both of her guardians back in her life.

Before the Summer Narrows cleanser went on its Christmas break prior this month, Harper was toying with the thought of coming to out to her repelled mother and father. She was driven by concern for her infant child Archie, pondering whether he'd advantage from having grandparents in his life.

Archie's father Tane Parata was concerned by Harper's plans, mindful that her mum and father have battled with sedate and liquor addictions over the a long time. Harper's sister Dana was moreover disinterested, in spite of the fact that this didn't prevent Harper from inquiring Cash to see her guardians up on the police database, needing a few upgrades on their lives.

In follow-up scenes on Friday 2 January, Harper centers on getting back on way better terms with Dana after a few tense discussions over their guardians. Be that as it may, the genuine holding is hindered when Harper gets a call from Cash…

Knowing what she must do, Harper meets with Dana and explains that their dad has died. Dana is cold in response, reiterating that she has no love for either of their parents. She then turns her attentions to Cash, guessing that he helped Harper to uncover the tragedy.

"Dana confronts Cash for interfering in the Matheson sisters' lives," our insider continues. "Cash defends himself, since he was only following Harper's wishes. He suggests that Dana should be focusing more squarely on Harper and why she can't let this go..."

Dana confronts Harper over her actions but is disappointed when her sister continues to protest that people can change. She argues otherwise: in her eyes, monsters never change.

Baby joy! Rarely seen Home and Away star who moved to LA years ago for a new life welcomes her second child

Former Home and Away star Demi Harman has quietly welcomed her second child with husband Andrew Brooks, announcing the happy news from LA this week.

The Australian actress, who played Sasha Bezmel on the Channel Seven soap from 2011 to 2015 before relocating to the US, revealed she had given birth to a baby girl in a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Thursday.

Alongside the announcement, Demi posted a touching black-and-white photograph of her newborn daughter, Florence Mae Brooks, asleep and swaddled in a blanket.

The tiny tot was pictured wearing a delicate bonnet tied under her chin, her cheeks full and lips slightly parted as she rested peacefully on what appeared to be a hospital bed.

'Meet Florence Mae Brooks,' Demi wrote in the caption.

'She arrived early measuring 21.5 inches long and weighing 9lbs 10.2oz. She's sleepy, sassy and everything we wanted in our girl. Can't imagine the world without this slice of heaven!'

Home and Away star Demi Harman has quietly welcomed her second child with her husband Andrew Brooks, announcing the happy news this week

The Australian actress, who played Sasha Bezmel on the Channel Seven soap from 2011 to 2015 before relocating to the US, revealed she had given birth to a baby girl in a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Thursday

The post was quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from friends and fans, with fellow celebrities also sending their love.

The birth comes just months after Demi revealed she was expecting her second child, having announced the pregnancy back in July with a candid mirror selfie shared to her Instagram Stories.

At the time, the US-based actress posed bare-faced in maternity pants, wearing a canary yellow shirt unbuttoned over her growing baby bump.

'18 weeks,' she captioned the image, cradling her stomach and flashing a knowing smile.

She later joked about the less glamorous side of pregnancy, admitting she struggled during the first trimester.

'I couldn't look at my kitchen during the first trimester,' Demi wrote alongside a video of homemade pizza, adding she was 'excited to eat homemade food again.'

Earlier this month, Demi and Andrew revealed they were expecting a baby girl in a playful gender announcement video that quickly went viral.

Lip-syncing to the trending 'I'm a Mommy' TikTok sound, Demi lifted her top to show off her bump before captioning the clip: 'Mamacita has a daughter.'

Demi revealed she was expecting her second child back in July with a candid mirror selfie shared to her Instagram Stories 

Fans were quick to praise the announcement, with one commenting: 'This is the best pregnancy announcement I've ever seen!'

Demi and Andrew are already parents to a young son, whom they welcomed in 2023.

The couple previously announced his arrival with another black-and-white newborn photo, with Demi sharing a typically humorous caption at the time.

'Meet Beau Thomas Brooks! Coming in at 9lbs 13.5oz, 21.5 inches tall,' she wrote.

'So far he loves his snoo, his hair being brushed and farting when everyone least expects it. He is his parents' child. We are in SO much love!'

The low-key couple tied the knot in January 2022, exchanging vows during an intimate ceremony in Palm Springs, California.

Demi announced her engagement to Andrew, a Disney producer who has worked on projects including Modern Family, back in July 2019 after he proposed on the Fourth of July.

'Just said yes, FOUR-ever!' she joked at the time.

Before settling into family life in LA, Demi rose to fame in Australia as a teen star on Home and Away and was nominated for Most Popular New Female Talent at the Logies in 2012.

She was previously in a long-term relationship with her former co-star Alec Snow before making the move overseas for a fresh start.

Dannii Minogue credits 'wild-child' Home and Away role for keeping her on the straight and narrow: 'I never had the Britney moment'

 Dannii Minogue has revealed how she managed to stay grounded after finding fame at such a young age.

The singer and actress, 54, first rose to fame as an adorable ten-year-old on the iconic Australian singing show Young Talent Time.

After leaving the show in 1988, Dannii was cast in Channel Seven soap Home And Away at the age of 17.

She played the rebellious Emma Jackson on the popular soap from 1989 to 1990, and credits the role for keeping her on the straight and narrow.

Speaking to News Corp ahead of her anticipated return to acting in the Channel Ten drama, The Imposter, Dannii said she channelled her early rebelliousness into Emma's character.

'I was speaking with a friend recently and said: "I got a year of being in physical fights, throwing milkshakes over people, saying the most horrible things",' she told the publication.

Dannii Minogue has revealed how she managed to stay grounded after finding fame at such a young age.

My friend said, "That is so not you,’ and I said: "But it was really good for me to act it out because then I never had that rebellion after leaving Young Talent Time.'

Dannii added that the role kept her grounded, unlike other child stars who fall victim to the pitfalls of fame, such as Britney Spears.

'I never had the Britney Spears shaving my hair off moment,' she said.

'I never had that and I really feel that year of just being getting that out of my system was incredible.'

It comes after Dannii recently revealed that she 'wouldn't be alive' if she wasn't so mentally strong after years of 'nasty comments' and being compared to her elder sibling Kylie.  

Speaking on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Dannii admitted: 'I've said this to my friends: "I know that, if I wasn't mentally strong and I did have any kind of eating disorder or something, I wouldn't be alive now." That is fact. 

'It was so brutal, and it went on for years.'

And despite critics trying to create a sibling rivalry, Dannii and Kylie, 56, remain a united force.

She played the rebellious Emma Jackson on the popular soap from 1989 to 1990, and credits the role for keeping her on the straight and narrow

'I was speaking with a friend recently and said: "I got a year of being in physical fights, throwing milkshakes over people, saying the most horrible things",' she told the publication

She added: 'I was compared to my sister, who's always had a completely different body shape our entire lives.

'I wasn't living up to her body. At the time, the only body shape that was accepted was slim.

'I was a square trying to fit into a hole. You read back now how nasty the comments were.'

Dannii went on to share her priority now is spending precious time with her family and only taking on work that's 'important' to her.

She is in a relationship with music producer Adrian Newman, and said giving birth to son Ethan, 14, in 2010 changed her focus.

She explained: 'I've spent my life travelling around the world, being away, missing birthdays, weddings, funerals.

'I'm really trying to find the balance now.

'You can’t have just the happiness without everything else. If you accept there’s light and dark, it’s all part of it.'

'I never had the Britney Spears shaving my hair off moment,' she said. 'I never had that and I really feel that year of just being getting that out of my system was incredible.'

Three decades after she left acting behind, the superstar is set to return to screens in the four-part murder mystery, The Imposter. Dannii is pictured with co-stars Jackie Woodburne and Kym Marsh 

Three decades after she left acting behind, the superstar is set to return to screens in the four-part murder mystery, The Imposter. 

The Aussie star will share the screen with former Coronation Street UK favourite Kym Marsh and Neighbours legend Jackie Woodburne. 

The anticipated drama will premiere on Channel Ten on Sunday 21 December. 

Hollyoaks 17th December 2025

 

Vale Rachael Carpani – McLeod’s Daughters and Home and Away actress passes away aged 45

 Following the sad passing of Australian actress Rachael Carpani on 7th December, we take a look back at her career.

Born on 24th August 1980 in Sydney, Rachael Anna-Marie Carpani grew up on a large property near Dural in the Sydney Hills district. Some years later, the family moved to North Sydney.

Growing up, Rachael would ride motorbikes in Sydney’s north-west, but it was a chance enrolment in a drama class that piqued her interest.

“I did a drama class three days a week after school because my mum wanted me to get involved with a few extracurricular activities,” Rachael told TV Week in 2005.

“I rally only ever did dance and ballet and refused to go anywhere near sport because I’m really not sporty at all.

“She was at her wits’ end and enrolled me in a drama class—I think to just stop me annoying her in the afternoon—and I just loved it.”

Rachael was soon signed by an acting agent who spotted her in one of her classes. At 14, she was asked to audition for Home and Away, but turned it down as she was in an academic family and school always came first.

“I started going for auditions but my parents were very insistent on me concentrating on school. They wouldn’t let me go for any full-time roles,” she told TV Week.

“They never really gave me a choice, which I’m grateful for now, but at the time I really didn’t think it was fair.”

In her final year of high school, she studied drama; her marks in which landed her in the top 10 percent of the state in her HSC.

Following her graduation, Rachael enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts, Media and Cultural Studies at Macquarie University, majoring in writing. During this time, she also studied performance.

Whilst studying, she made her first appearance on Home and Away, playing an uncredited commune resident in Episode 2150.

In 2000, Rachael was cast as Emily Martin in All Saints, a young woman who had been caught in a feud between her parents and her boyfriend and caught in the crossfire when she was injured by a knife.

Later that year, she played Miranda on Home and Away, a young waitress at the Bayside Diner.

It was 2001 when Rachael received her big break. During casting of a new female-led drama series for the Nine Network, Rachael was cast on McLeod’s Daughters.

Originally auditioning for bad girl Becky Howard, Rachael believed the producers thought she looked too sweet.

When she was offered the role, Rachael’s first reaction was “are you sure you’ve got the right person?”, adding that she was over the moon to learn that Sonia Todd would be playing her mother, Meg.

Rachael deferred university, and the rest was history.

Rachael played the much-loved Jodi Fountain (later McLeod). In her character breakdown, Jodi was described as “an exuberant 17-year-old who has ambitions to be rich and famous.”

The daughter of housekeeper Meg, Jodi had just finished high school and was looking at every option, but resigned to working on the farm until she knew what she wanted to do.

The breakdown added, “Jodi thinks working on Drover’s Run will be a real drag but what she will learn is love, loyalty and a lot about who she really is… even if she doesn’t become famous for a week or two.”

The character of Jodi ended up staying on Drovers Run for the next seven years. It was in the series’ third season that Rachael’s acting abilities were awarded with an outback wedding.

We wanted to do Rachael proud, she is one of the most wonderful people to work with, a true professional who never complains,” executive producer Susan Bower said of Rachael’s efforts at the time.

Speaking of her time on McLeod’s Daughters in 2004, Rachael told news.com.au “I feel a lot more confident with the role now. I was absolutely terrified for probably the whole first series and it wasn’t until after series two that I actually relaxed.”

The series not only made Rachael a household name in Australia and 194 countries around the world, but also saw her become the first break-out star when she was cast alongside Delta Goodrem in Hating Alison Ashley.

Following Bridie Carter’s departure from McLeod’s Daughters as Tess McLeod in 2006, Rachael took top billing alongside Simmone Jade Mackinnon, who played fiery Stevie Hall.

In May 2006, Rachael’s departure from McLeod’s Daughters was announced, with the actress signing on for a small part in the series’ seventh season to tie up her character’s arc.

Onscreen, determined to be with her long-term love interest Rob (Jonny Pasvolsky), Jodi agreed to go into witness protection, using a car bombing as a cover to begin a new life together.

However, when the series finished, Rachael reprised her role for one episode, revealing she and Rob were able to begin their lives again outside of police protection.

It was her final year on the show that also saw Rachael nominated not only for Most Popular Actress at the 2007 Logies, but also the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.

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Following her time on McLeod’s, Rachael took to the US and landed a role in a pilot, Law Dogs, opposite Janeane Garofalo in a legal drama. Speaking of her success was McLeod’s Daughters executive producer Karl Zwicky who touted the series’ best wishes to the Sydney Morning Herald in January 2007.

“She started as a very green actress with a lot of natural talent who has evolved into a consummate professional and a great character on the show.”

Whilst in the US, with then-partner and former McLeod’s co-star Matt Passmore, Rachael had a stint on crime drama The Glades.

She made appearances on several other series including NCIS: Los Angeles and Stalker. However, her most notable role was as series lead Chicago police officer Abby Kowalski on Against the Wall, a short-lived Lifetime drama series.

It was four years later in 2015 that she was cast as lead character Cathy Dollanganger in the Lifetime movies, If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday, the third and fourth instalments of the network’s adaptation of VC Andrews’ infamous book series Flowers in the Attic.

Over the next nine years, Rachael made several appearances in film and television, including Seven Network series 800 Words, and in 2024, appeared on Home and Away as Claudia Salini, a customer of Justin’s (James Stewart), who drove a wedge between him and his new wife, Leah (Ada Nicodemou).

Outside of television, Rachael was an active social media personality, often engaging with fans all around the world. Rachael used her platform to discuss issues facing women, such as endometriosis, an illness she battled with for some time, as well as domestic violence.

On a personal level, Rachael was an advocate of a dear friend Harrison James’ advocacy for child abuse survivors.

From a fan perspective, Rachael was generous with her time and more than happy to talk to her fans. Upon another friend Nicola finishing McLeod’s Daughters, Rachael sent a 15 minute long Cameo, talking about her time on the series, exuding warmth, vibrancy and genuine care for those who cared for her.

On 15th December 2025, Rachael’s sister Georgia shared the sad news of Rachael’s passing on her Instagram account.

“It is with great sadness that Tony and Gael Carpani announce that their beautiful daughter, beloved Australian actress Rachael Carpani, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness, in the early hours of Sunday 7th December,” Georgia’s post read.

“The funeral will be a private event, to be held on Friday 19th December with close family and friends. The family requests privacy at this very difficult time and will be making no further statements.”

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In the proceeding 24 hours, there has been an outpouring of grief for Rachael’s passing, and love for her family, including from several of Rachael’s former co-stars.

Bridie Carter posted on Instagram, “Rest In Peace our beautiful girl….the “baby” of our MD family…. We love you, we cherish you…..”.

Matt Passmore, who played Marcus on McLeod’s Daughters, echoed Bridie’s sentiments: “Farewell my friend All the love i have to the Carpanis, friends and family. The greatest gift you gave was knowing you”.

Marisa Ramirez, who played opposite Rachael in Against the Wall, posted, “Another gem, an actual unicorn taken from us away too soon. Rest in peace to my first partner in solving crime @rachcarpani“.

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My heart is like a river, my heart is like these hills,

They never change, I never change and I never will.

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Vale, Rachael. You will be missed.