EastEnders is known for bringing characters back from the dead, but Tamzin Outhwaite has firmly ruled out a return as Mel Owen. The actress, who played the tragic character from 1998 to 2002 and again from 2018 to 2019, appeared on Lorraine this week and was asked if she would ever reprise the role.
No Chance of Resurrection
Mel met her end in a dramatic storyline where she was hit by a lorry during a confrontation with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). Outhwaite made it clear that the character's death was definitive. 'I don't think Mel can come back,' she said. 'We saw the body in the bag and the zip go over her face, so I don't think that's a possibility.'
While other soaps like Hollyoaks have had characters survive being zipped in a body bag, Outhwaite dismissed the idea for Mel. When Lorraine suggested an evil twin storyline, a trope Hollyoaks used with Patrick and Jez Blake, Outhwaite laughed and said, 'I actually have thought about her having an evil twin! Or even just a nicer twin, or a mentally stable twin would be good!'
Moving On to the West End
Outhwaite is currently starring in Abigail's Party, a play by Mike Leigh that is heading to the West End. She described her character as 'grotesque' and 'despicable', comparing her to someone 'picking the legs off a spider with a smile on her face'. The play also features Omar Malik, known for playing Shaq Qureshi in Hollyoaks.
Reflecting on Mel's Death
Speaking to Metro previously, Outhwaite admitted she was initially devastated by Mel's death. 'At the time, I was quite devastated that she was killed off, because you mourn a character like that,' she said. 'But now, I just wouldn't be taking so many risks, and it makes me feel comfortable that it's not possible to go back. I definitely had the feeling before of 'oh, it would be nice to go back as an older character'. So yeah, I was really quite sad at the time, and now I'm actually really happy about it.'
