Let’s start with the obvious: Archie Mitchell was a walking, talking reason to commit a crime. He had everyone on his hit list just by existing. He faked his daughter Ronnie’s baby’s death, blackmailed his niece Roxy, and tried to marry his daughter’s fiancé for money. Seriously, the guy made Ebenezer Scrooge look like a cuddly puppy.
And don’t even get me started on what he did to poor Stacey Slater. Archie raped her on the night of her wedding to his nephew Bradley. It was a sick, predatory act that left Stacey traumatized and, in a devastating twist, led to her being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back for a lot of fans.
The Top Suspects (And Their Very Good Excuses)
So, on Christmas Day, the whole square is a suspect. We’ve got Ronnie, the grieving daughter who was inches away from catching her happy ending. Roxy, his niece who he treated like a puppet. Peggy, his ex-wife who took the infamous bust of the Queen to the face that same night. And let’s not forget Bradley, the gutless husband who knew about the rape but kept quiet.
Even Jack Branning had a pop—Archie was trying to steal his bride (Ronnie, again). And Ian Beale? Oh, Ian was just lurking around, probably thinking about profit margins. It was like a game of Clue where every character was holding a candlestick in the conservatory. The tension? Absolutely chef's kiss.
EastEnders’ most shocking Christmas Day episodes - surprise returns to
