An iconic EastEnders character made a stunning and dramatic return to Albert Square in tonight's episode, throwing a major twist into the ongoing and sinister stalking plot surrounding Zoe Slater.
A Tense History Resurfaces
Fans of the BBC One soap have watched with growing concern in recent weeks as Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, has been tormented by a series of alarming messages from an anonymous stalker. The mystery took a shocking turn at the end of the latest episode, which is already available to stream on BBC iPlayer, with the unexpected comeback of Sam Mitchell, portrayed by Kim Medcalf.
Long-time viewers will instantly recall the deeply tense and complicated history between Zoe and Sam. Their lives became irrevocably entangled two decades ago in the aftermath of the murder of notorious landlord Den Watts back in 2005. Alongside Den's wife and actual killer, Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), the trio conspired to cover up the crime.
After Chrissie struck the fatal blow, they buried Den's body under the floor of The Queen Vic's cellar, while Sam attempted to blackmail Chrissie. This led to Chrissie framing Sam for the murder, though she was later cleared by her brothers, Phil and Grant Mitchell. Zoe, however, never faced justice for her part in the cover-up.
A Return Shrouded in Mystery
Sam's return comes at a moment of high drama for Zoe. Earlier in the episode, after another emotional outburst, Zoe's mother Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) asked her to move out of The Vic. Seeking solace, Zoe turned to her ex-partner, Dr. Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey), only to have local mechanic Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson) reveal that Anthony has a restraining order from his ex-wife.
As a distressed Zoe confided in her new friend Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) about this bombshell, a figure in high heels was seen entering the Square. The camera revealed it to be Sam Mitchell, who watched Zoe and Lauren intently from a distance as they walked away, immediately fuelling speculation that she could be the source of the stalker messages.
Fan Reaction and Future Drama
Viewers took to social media platform X to express their excitement and theories. One fan wrote, "Welcome back @KimMedcalf8, looking amazing as always and a very important storyline coming up for Sam." Another simply stated, "Sam is back! I've missed her #EastEnders," while a third pondered the central question: "But is she Zoe's stalker? Or not? I'm still convinced she could be."
The actress Kim Medcalf was officially confirmed last month to be reprising her role as Sam for a short stint. Speaking about her return, Medcalf said, "It's such a joy to be asked to come back to EastEnders, especially as it's the festive period and you know there will always be plenty of fireworks." She added, "I love the character of Sam, she always causes drama wherever she goes, but she also has that vulnerable side too, which is great to play."
EastEnders Executive Producer Ben Wadey teased the impending conflict, stating, "It's no secret that wherever Sam Mitchell goes, drama inevitably follows, and with ex-accomplice Zoe Slater back in the Square, only time will tell if there is space for forgiveness between the pair, or whether battle lines will be drawn." It has also been revealed that Sam will be diagnosed with breast cancer in a major Christmas storyline, promising high-stakes drama in the weeks ahead.
EastEnders airs on BBC One and all episodes are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
