EastEnders: Fans Might have Figured out the Secret Identity of Tommy Moon’s Online Friend

EastEnders fans are in for a shock as the mystery surrounding Tommy Moon’s (Sonny Kendall) online friend, ‘Matt,’ takes a dramatic turn. After returning home from months in foster care, Tommy’s life seemed to be on the mend, but his relationship with his mysterious new friend is raising alarm bells, especially for his concerned mother, Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace).

Tommy Moon's Violent past on EastEnders

Tommy’s troubled past, which saw him lash out violently at his mother and siblings, left Kat struggling to accept her son back into the family. After his return, Kat found it difficult to adjust, worried about Tommy’s behaviour and his newfound online friendship.

Last week, Tommy’s anger flared when he learned his game console had been taken away, preventing him from speaking to his friend and further highlighting the tensions at home. In Monday's episode, viewers saw Kat’s unease grow as she continued to fret about Tommy being around his younger twin brothers, Bert and Ernie.

After a heartfelt conversation with Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), Kat attempted to rebuild her relationship with Tommy. However, things took another turn when Big Mo Harris (Laila Morse) left Tommy alone with the twins, resulting in Kat discovering her children unsupervised.

Sensing his mother’s mistrust, Tommy walked out, but the tension eased when he opened up about how his online friend had been supporting him and promised he had changed. As a reward, Tommy was given a new console and returned to his gaming, chatting once again with ‘Matt.’

Who is Tommy Moon's Mystery Friend?

However, fans have been speculating wildly about who exactly ‘Matt’ is, with many theories emerging online. The most chilling of all? That ‘Matt’ might not be a stranger at all – but instead, could be none other than Kat’s long-lost son, Dermott Dolan (played by Ciaran McMenamin), from the EastEnders spin-off Kat and Alfie: Redwater.

In 2017, Redwater introduced viewers to Kat’s secret son, Luke, who had grown up to be a homicidal priest known as Dermott. The storyline ended with Dermott attempting to drown his mother, leaving his fate uncertain. Could it be that Dermott, or ‘DerMATT,’ is now behind the screen, posing as Tommy’s online friend?

Fans on social media have quickly connected the dots, with some suggesting that Dermott might be using a fake identity to reach out to his half-brother, Tommy. One user theorized, "Maybe I'm reaching but hear me out... Dermott or perhaps DerMATT! This angel act Tommy is putting on has this guy written all over it. #EastEnders." Another added, “What if the person Tommy’s talking to is Kat’s son from Redwater? #EastEnders.”

However, other fans think it might be Joey Branning, who appeared in the show from 2012 to 2013. Joey is the son of Derek Branning and brother to Alice Branning. Other theories about the person include an unknown identity trying to groom Tommy, while another one insists that it's not a person at all and is instead an AI chatbot.

With EastEnders continuing to keep fans on the edge of their seats, this twist could lead to explosive consequences for the Slater family. As Kat learns the truth about Tommy’s online friend, the mystery deepens – and it seems the drama is only just beginning. Could the return of Dermott mean even more danger for Kat, Tommy, and their family?

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30 pm GMT on BBC One, with episodes available to stream first on BBC iPlayer from 6 am GMT.