EastEnders is no stranger to shocking twists and jaw-dropping revelations, but the latest 

drama surrounding Shireen Bashar’s death has fans buzzing with their own theories — and many are convinced that Teddy Mitchell isn’t the real killer after all. During Wednesday’s explosive episode (March 12), now streaming on BBC iPlayer, Nicola Mitchell (played by 

Laura Doddington) stunned viewers by accusing her ex-husband Teddy of being responsible 

for the tragic death of their son Harry Mitchell’s (Elijah Holloway) girlfriend, Shireen. The accusation came as part of a tangled web of secrets, lies, and betrayal, with a secret paternity storyline unfolding alongside the murder claims.

At the heart of the chaos is Nicola’s desperate attempt to hide the truth about her teenage son Barney Mitchell’s (Lewis Bridgeman) biological father. It’s not Teddy — it’s Zack Hudson (James Farrar), a secret Nicola has kept buried for years. The revelation holds even more weight because Zack is the half-brother of Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), who, in a scandalous twist, had previously cheated on Teddy with his own cousin, Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp).

The drama reached a boiling point when Barney — unaware of the damage his words would cause — accidentally exposed Sharon’s infidelity to Teddy. As Sharon tried to talk things through with Teddy, admitting to her past mistake with Grant, Teddy was visibly shaken. But his anger escalated even further when Nicola entered the scene, clearly panicked. While she feared the truth about Barney’s paternity might come to light, Teddy instead lashed out at her for knowing about Sharon’s betrayal and keeping it from him.

Emotions spiraled out of control when Zack arrived and confronted Teddy, calling him a “bully” with “little man syndrome.” The confrontation turned violent when Teddy, fueled by rage, punched Zack to the ground and followed up with a vicious kick — an action that left everyone stunned. The fight only stopped when a distressed Barney begged Teddy to stop, forcing him to apologize and walk away. Nicola rushed to comfort Barney, while Sharon tended to Zack’s injuries, urging him to stay with her for his safety.

Sharon, however, pleaded with Zack not to tell Barney the truth about his paternity, fearing the fallout could put the teenager in danger. Zack refused to listen — but before he could leave, Nicola showed up and overheard their conversation. Realizing Sharon now knew everything, Nicola panicked. She warned that if Teddy found out, they would all be in serious trouble.

Nicola’s warning took a chilling turn as she revealed a darker side to Teddy — a side she claimed only she had truly seen. She described the man she once fell in love with as a vicious and dangerous person, suggesting the violence Zack experienced was just a glimpse of what Teddy was capable of. Her fear became even more palpable when she credited Barney as the reason Teddy had changed, insisting that if Teddy were to lose Barney, he might revert to his old, violent self.

The most shocking moment came when Nicola made her biggest claim yet: that Teddy was responsible for Shireen’s death. She painted a terrifying picture, warning Sharon and Zack to keep the truth buried or risk ending up like Shireen.

However, fans aren’t buying Nicola’s story — and social media erupted with speculation. Many viewers are beginning to suspect Nicola herself may be hiding something far more sinister.

One fan wrote, “I think Nicola killed Harry’s ex.” Another chimed in, “Did Teddy really do that to Shireen, or was it Nicola?” A third viewer suggested a more complex cover-up, posting, “I’m not convinced Teddy is a killer. Maybe one of Nicola’s contacts were involved, and she had to cover it up.”

Theories continue to swirl, with some fans speculating that Nicola’s accusations might be a desperate attempt to frame Teddy, especially now that her carefully guarded paternity secret is dangerously close to unraveling. Could Nicola be manipulating everyone to protect herself — or even Barney? Is she projecting her guilt onto Teddy, knowing his history of violence makes him an easy scapegoat?

Alternatively, some viewers believe Nicola’s fear is genuine — but that the real culprit might be someone else entirely. If Nicola didn’t kill Shireen, could someone from her past be involved? Perhaps an old acquaintance or a buried secret from her own life is coming back to haunt her.

As the tension builds in Albert Square, one thing is clear: Nicola’s story is riddled with half-truths and unanswered questions. Whether she’s protecting her family, covering up her own dark past, or telling the truth about Teddy remains to be seen — but one way or another, the truth about Shireen’s death is bound to surface.

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