Walford is set for a explosive festive season as one of its most legendary characters makes a dramatic comeback. Kim Medcalf is returning to EastEnders as Sam Mitchell this Christmas, bringing the fiery Mitchell sister back to Albert Square after a two-year absence.
A Festive Homecoming
The 51-year-old actress will reprise her role as Phil and Grant Mitchell's strong-willed sister for what's being described as a "short stint" during the holiday period. Medcalf expressed her excitement about returning to the iconic BBC soap, particularly during the dramatic Christmas season.
"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 revealed. "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."
Old Rivals, New Tensions
Sam's return to Walford comes at a particularly tense time, with her former enemy and accomplice Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) now living back on the Square. The two women share a dark history connected to the murder of original Queen Victoria pub landlord Den Watts in February 2005.
The killing, which marked the 20th anniversary of EastEnders, implicated Sam, Zoe and actual killer Chrissie Watts. The women had sought revenge against Den after he dragged Zoe into a blackmail scheme and tricked Sam into having sex.
During a confrontation at the Queen Vic, Den assaulted Chrissie, leading Zoe to strike him on the head with a doorstop. When Sam and Zoe left, believing Den dead, he regained consciousness and grabbed Chrissie's leg - prompting her to bludgeon him to death.
Unfinished Business
Sam witnessed Chrissie murdering Den but was framed for the crime herself, fleeing the country on bail before eventually being cleared. Chrissie confessed to the murder and was imprisoned in December 2005, though she was released on early parole in September 2024.
As Sam and Zoe come face-to-face for the first time in over two decades, viewers will be left wondering whether they can put their troubled past behind them or if Sam will seek revenge against her former accomplice.
EastEnders Executive Producer Ben Wadey welcomed Kim's return, stating: "I'm delighted to welcome Kim Medcalf back to EastEnders for a short stint later this year. 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."
