One iconic EastEnders character made a shock comeback to the BBC soap, and fans are convinced she’s returned to ‘get back’ at another Walford resident over a crime that is two decades old
19:30, 04 Dec 2025Updated 20:35, 04 Dec 2025
EastEnders airs shock return
A legend of EastEnders history has made a shock return to Walford, and her sinister lurking has some convinced she’s back for revenge. Though the character has yet to speak, fans are sure she wants to “get back” at another Albert Square resident for a crime they helped commit 20 years ago.
In a cliffhanger airing on Thursday (4 December), Zoe Slater was chatting with Lauren Branning as she walked through the Square. Despite her increasing panic and vigilance about her stalker, she failed to notice that she was indeed being watched – by Sam Mitchell.
The Mitchell sister was seen watching Zoe from the shadows just before the duff duffs sounded. Fans were delighted and surprised to see Sam return, with one saying, “Sam is back! I’ve missed her,” and another adding that while they knew she was returning, they weren’t “expecting to see her today”.
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Sam Mitchell is back(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
But some thought the creepy way she was watching Zoe was a sure sign that she wants revenge on the Slater. 20 years ago, the two women were involved in the murder of Dirty Den Watts.
As Sam watched, Zoe, who had been sleeping with him, hit Den with a metal doorstop when he attacked his wife Chrissie. Zoe and Sam both ran out of the Vic and didn’t see him get back up and try to attack Chrissie again, nor did Zoe see Chrissie deliver the fatal blow.
Sam did, and struggled to keep it to herself. She eventually told a distraught Zoe that she was not actually the murderer. Too hurt by what has happened, Zoe left Walford. After she did, Chrissie was arrested for the murder and Sam had to go on the run from the police after helping to cover it up.
Though Sam has now got her life back together, fans are sure she wants revenge on Zoe, the only one of the three not to lose elements of her life after the Dirty Den ordeal.
One said they thought the way Sam lurked in the shadows was a sign she had been stalking Zoe: “I’m convinced it is [her] now after tonight’s Duff Duff! Also Sam has motive to get back at Zoe after all the Dirty Den stuff.” Another added: “Wow the Return of Sam Mitchell to get revenge on Zoe 20 years since Den’s death.”
Sam and Zoe have a murderous history(Image: BBC)
Actress Kim Metcalfe has explained how meeting Zoe again, rather than watching her from the shadows, will affect Sam: “Coming face-to-face with Zoe is triggering for Sam and brings up a whole series of memories that she’d much rather forget.”
Even if revenge has brought Sam back to Walford, this is not the only reason she has returned. Sam still has family on the Square – her brother Phil Mitchell lives there with his granddaughter, Lexi. Sam’s son Ricky Branning also resides on the Square, as does his daughter Charli Slater.
The BBC have also revealed that part of Sam’s storyline will involve a breast cancer scare. The Mitchell will find a lump and, after her own mother’s battle with cancer in 2016, becomes convinced it’s serious.
Actress Kim Medcalf shared: “This is the second time Sam has found a lump in her breast and 20 years ago, she felt very lucky that it wasn’t anything serious.
“This time Sam assumes it’s going to be a different outcome because of Peggy’s history. Sam feels like the same thing is going to happen to her and so she’s putting her head in the sand.”
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