BBC EastEnders fans ‘rumble’ identity of Christmas killer as they spot easily missed clues

EastEnders fans are convinced they have cracked the mystery of the upcoming Christmas death that has been teased since the flash forward episode in February – and they think Harriet Thorpe’s character, Elaine Peacock, is central to the murder.

Soap fans have been scrambling for clues on the long-running BBC teatime drama since February when a flash forward showed six characters gathered around a dead body. Sharon Watts, Denise Fox, Suki Panesar, Stacey Slater, Linda Carter and Kathy Beale – played by Letitia Dean, Diane Parish, Balvinder Sopal, Lacey Turner, Kellie Bright and Gillian Taylforth respectively – have been at the centre of speculation after their characters were shown gathered together in the Queen Vic while discussing the death.

But now Elaine is being singled out by some fans as the main suspect after she returned to EastEnders this year and fans think it will be her who kills the unidentified victim. Viewers are convinced that fellow recent returnee Dean Wicks, played by Matt Di Angelo, will be the one who meets his end.

In 2004, Dean raped Linda and fans think Elaine will bump him off in revenge nearly 10 years later as he escaped justice before. Fans think she would also be present at the scene of the flash-forward scene as she lives in the Queen Vic with Linda. Elaine has been there for Linda in the wake of Mick’s disappearance, moving into the Queen Vic alongside George Knight and his daughters to help the struggling landlady.

And the matriarch has taken a number of steps to show the lengths she will go to to support her daughter – including rallying the Walford locals in the pub to throw their weight behind Linda after Dean’s shocking return last week. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans have been sharing their theory that Elaine could go even further in a bid to protect Linda.

One fan who was convinced they’d cracked the case wrote: “You know I’m done. Except for the Christmas murder which is set to be the best thing ever. Sharon, Linda, Denise, Kathy, Suki, and Stacey are set to kill a man on Christmas Day. But who? I say Elaine has Dean “a chip of the old block” killed over the head with a bust!”

Another added: “EastEnders Christmas – Who gets killed. Victim: – Dean Wicks. Attacker: – Elaine Peacock. Item Used: – Queen Vic Bust. Motive: – Protect George Knight (fighting Dean Wicks) and revenge for her daughter Linda (who was r*ped by Dean Wicks).” The popular theory found more support with another X user writing: “THEORY! Dean is the body. Killer is Elaine or George. How is he killed: whacked round the head with a stool.” And yet another tweeted: “Prediction. Elaine kills Dean on Christmas Day #EastEnders”.

A recent trailer to highlight the upcoming Christmas episode also showed Linda scrubbing the floor of the Vic – which may hint she will try to wash away all evidence of the murder and cover both her own tracks and those of her mother. The trailer also showed Linda wearing the same outfit as the Christmas flash forward scene, suggesting she will be taking action in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

Dean is far from the only character that fans have speculated could be killed off in scenes set to air on Christmas Day. Keanu Taylor, played by Danny Walters, is also a top choice as he is expected to marry Sharon – and the flash forward showed her looking chillingly emotionless while wearing a wedding dress.

Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, has also been a suggested suspect as he has had a years long on-off romance with Sharon. While the characters Jack Branning, Rocky Cotton, Ravi Gulati, Ryan Malloy and Nish Panesar have all been floated by fans as possible victims.