EastEnders' dramatic New Year's episodes finally reached their shocking conclusion tonight after shady conman Ray Kelly was killed off in a grisly woodland twist – but the biggest shock for fans came when it was revealed who was behind the killing.
The soap had been teasing explosive episodes and horror film-like twists in the build-up to Mel Owen's (Tamzin Outhwaite) wedding day revenge plot, and tonight's (January 4) double bill more than delivered when Hunter Owen (Charlie Winter) killed Ray (Seán Mahon) in a fit of anger.
The soap's first episode picked up after Ray had been arrested for bigamy, but while Hunter was reluctant to believe that he was guilty, after he saw his mum's bruises and Mel told him the truth, the teenager vowed to kill Ray the next time he saw him.
Although the first episode ended with Ray holding Hunter hostage in the boot of his car, by the end of the second episode the situation had changed drastically, and Hunter ended up killing his would-be stepdad after his and Mel's getaway went wrong.
Despite thinking they'd killed Ray after hitting him with the car, Ray made one final attempt to get the upper hand by choking Mel, only for Hunter to shoot him and get him out the picture for good.
And, considering this particular twist, many viewers couldn't help but notice that Hunter might be following in his dad Steve Owen's footsteps...
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And, as if all that wasn't enough for one night in Albert Square, tonight's episodes also brought the Slaters' complicated baby storyline to its bittersweet conclusion when Alfie (Shane Richie) agreed to return baby Cherry to her mum Hayley (Katie Jarvis) and leave Walford for good.
After kidnapping Cherry on Christmas Day, Alfie later returned to the Slater household and Kat (Jessie Wallace) offered him the chance to take the boys back to Spain with him – as long as he returned Cherry to Hayley.
Despite Stacey's best efforts at convincing Alfie to stay in Walford and be a dad to his kids, Alfie ultimately decided to return Cherry to Hayley and leave the city, letting Kat raise the boys in Walford without him.
"I just want you to know that all I've ever wanted is what's best for you," Alfie told Kat. "Kat, I don't want to be another person that takes things away from you.
"I want you to be a mum to our boys. I want you to be happy, Kat. I want you to be happy with our boys."
EastEnders airs on BBC One.
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