EASTENDERS has revealed its new killer – in dark and harrowing scenes as his first victim dies after a year on screen without a single line.
The BBC soap last saw off a killer when Gray Atkins was exposed for murdering his wife Chantelle, Kush Kazemi and Tina Carter.
He was caught and sent to prison in 2022 bringing his reign of terror to an end.
But now a new killer has been unmasked in Walford as creepy Reiss Colwell murdered his comatose wife Debbie in cold blood in scenes available to watch now on iPlayer.
Actress Jenny Meier made her debut as Debbie more than a year ago in May 2023, and despite having appeared in multiple episodes she hasn’t had a single line.
Instead tonight her final appearance saw her character smothered to death by Reiss.
Viewers know Reiss has been stealing Debbie’s money for her care home fees to fund IVF with Sonia Fowler.
And with Sonia now pregnant, he has become obsessed with funding both their lives and Debbie’s care.
He managed to successfully scam Sharon Watts of £13k to pay Debbie’s backdated care home fees with a fake investment offer – but Phil Mitchell saw through him.
As Sharon overruled him and handed over the cash, Phil cornered Reiss and issued a chilling threat.
He told him that he knew he was scamming him and that if at any point in the future he clicked his fingers and Reiss couldn’t produce his money, then he’d kill him.
“If I’m right,” added Phil. “I’ll kill you.”
Reiss was terrified and left the club shaken, not realising that Sonia had visited Debbie and lied to the nurse calling herself family having made a decision to sell her million pound home to free up funds to pay for everything.
But before she went Sonia fluffed up Debbie’s pillows, handily leaving her DNA and potential fingerprints all over it.
Later Reiss went to see Debbie with a clear plan to kill her.
He told her: “If you were here, properly here, you’d want to help me. Being sentenced to this pitiful pointless half life.
“It’s not fair is it? You lingering on in here while me and Sonia lose everything.
“I’ve only got one chance Debbie and I know, I just know you’d tell me to take it. If you passed away, I could start again. I’ve lost you, I can’t lose Sonia and the baby as well.”
The Sun’s Soaps Editor Carl Greenwood fears EastEnders killer twist may be a huge mistake…
SOAPS always work best when there’s a raging killer on the loose – and now EastEnders are testing that theory.
When you think of iconic serial killers in soap – it’s always the ones that enjoy it that go down in history.
Corrie’s Richard Hillman and Pat Phelan, and Emmerdale’s delicious Meena Jutla – murders never seemed to be a chore for them.
Viewers like to watch people enjoying themselves – even if their favourite past time involves going through their neighbours like a knife through butter.
The least favourite killers are guilt-stricken murderers who blunder their way through killings wishing they hadn’t. It’s dull and not enjoyable as a viewer.
I fear creepy drip Reiss Colwell could be the latter. Especially if the soap falls into the trap only killing off inconsequential characters like Debbie.
So should he kill again – and we don’t know that he will – please, please let him enjoy it.
Otherwise we’re in for a bumpy road to the 40th when there’s so much promise.
Looking at her, Reiss lifted her head up, pulled her pillow away, kissed her on the forehead and then casually smothered her to death while sobbing.
A new killer has risen in Walford and if soap history has taught us anything – he will kill again and no-one will be safe.