Latest news with #Slaters
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Shock exit for ANOTHER EastEnders character as he risks marriage to flee abroad
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS has waved goodbye to another character in a shock exit in today's episode. The BBC soap has only just seen returnee Zoe Slater leave three days after her comeback - and now another member of the family is off to find her. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Alfie is off to track Zoe down without Kat knowing Credit: BBC 2 Kat is trusting Alfie to go to Australia - and she has no idea he's lying to her Credit: BBC With Stacey telling Alfie that Zoe has done a moonlight flit to Barcelona on her credit cards, he came up with a plan. Telling her not to cancel them, he said they could track where she was with it and find her to bring her home for a reunion with her mum Kat. But with Alfie unable to tell Kat where he was really going, instead he lied and claimed he was going to Australia to see his brother Spencer who was struggling. And it's EastEnders, it's likely that Kat will discover his lies and jump to the wrong conclusion, putting their marriage at risk. It comes just a day after Zoe fled to Barcelona, after her brief return scenes. The BBC soap has confirmed that Michelle will return later this summer for a permanent comeback. EastEnders new boss, Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: 'Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as, although we haven't seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.' Speaking on her return to the BBC soap, Michelle said: 'It feels like coming home. 'After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away. 'It all happened at the right time. EastEnders drops huge clue that Zoe Slater has a secret child before shock exit 'I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I'd also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character. 'It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back. 'When I was pitched the storylines, and when I read the scripts, I knew it was the right decision.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
EastEnders' Jessie Wallace breaks down in tears over Zoe Slater's return
Jessie Wallace plays Kat Slater, Zoe Slater's mum on the BBC soap. The actress said that Michelle Ryan's return as Zoe has felt like having a reunion with a real life daughter EastEnders Kat Slater star Jessie Wallace has revealed she was overcome with emotion after discovering that Michelle Ryan was returning to the soap as her on-screen daughter, Zoe Slater, two decades after her dramatic exit from Albert Square. In a behind-the-scenes video shared by the official EastEnders Instagram page, Jessie admitted she cried when she learned Michelle was reprising the iconic role. She said: "So, Michelle is back after 20 years. I've missed her tremendously, I've missed her, working with her, the whole Kat and Zoe thing, you know, going back to, 'You ain't my mother,' 'Yes I am.' "And when I found out Michelle was coming back, I cried. And then when we met up, I cried because I've missed you." Michelle, now 41, originally left EastEnders in 2005 when her character Zoe fled to Ibiza to escape the fallout of Dirty Den's murder. In one of the soap's most memorable twists, it was revealed that Zoe was not Kat's sister, as she had believed, but her daughter. Kat gave birth to her when she was just 13, after being assaulted by her uncle Harry. Zoe's return on Monday night (June 16) came as a shock to viewers. She unexpectedly reappeared in a flat shared with her estranged cousin Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and it wasn't long before her destitution started to come to light when she admitted she had stolen Stacey's credit card and claimed was being hunted by Spanish loan sharks. Zoe's former stepdad Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) made a surprise appearance at the flat, which led to a shock reunion as he came face to face with Zoe for the first time in years. Wallace, who last starred alongside Ryan in 2005, said having Michelle back on set was like reuniting with family. "Michelle's gone off and done great things, and I've gone off and done other things, but I always come back because I love it here. I feel like it's my home. And now Michelle's back it's like having my daughter back again," she gushed. For Ryan, the return also came with some nerves. "I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to retain all the dialogue, and then after like the first day, I was like, 'This is easy, it just feels comfortable,'" she explained. In a conversation with the BBC, Michelle opened up about how the timing of her comeback felt right. She said: "It all happened at the right time. I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I'd also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character. "It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back. "When Ben pitched me the storylines, and when I read the scripts, I knew it was the right decision. It feels like coming home. After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away."
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
BBC EastEnders fans annoyed as characters gone for weeks
But some viewers have been discussing their thoughts about other recent storylines around Albert Square. EastEnders fans 'annoyed' over 'disappearing' characters Slaters, bickering, and Alfie caught slap bang in the middle. Welcome back Zoe! #EastEnders tonight at 7:30pm on @BBCOne and on @BBCiPlayer — BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) June 17, 2025 It comes as someone asked on Reddit: 'Why does EE keep doing this a storyline starts heating up and then next episode the characters are just gone for weeks.' They added: 'Just recently we've had the Lauren, Peter and Jimmy storyline, which was heating up, just for them to not be shown in around 2-3 weeks. 'The same with Zack and Barney and also Jean finding out about Kathy and Harvey, just for her to be randomly gone in the next episode, and there's more that I've not mentioned. 'Am I the only one that gets annoyed with how they are doing it?' This person replied to the r/eastenders subreddit post: 'I'm always surprised when they return because it's been so long.. 'oh yes! This story'. Emmerdale is doing it too.' EastEnders' Top 5 Villains A third wrote: 'This has always annoyed me. I assume it's to keep everyone on the edge of their seat and keep them watching to see the end of the story I guess to keep viewership up.' Some argued it was due to the style of ex-executive producer Chris Clenshaw and hope new boss Ben Wadey 'puts a stop to it', while others said it was simply due to the format of 'block storytelling' and is something most soaps do, and have done for years. As one viewer shared: 'Block storytelling? Deffo not a Clenshaw thing - it's been going on for years (to some degree or another) and it'll only stay that way whilst we have such a big cast lol.' Another agreed: 'Nope. That's the nature of soaps. They can't have the same characters on all the time. I'm sure you can find something else to worry about.' Recommended reading: However, it seems Reddit profiles were also in favour of the move, as they explained: 'I prefer the block storytelling to be honest. 'I think it keeps it fresh by telling stories properly instead of churning them out half baked Coronation Street style.' Have you been "annoyed" by EastEnders characters "disappearing" recently during big storylines, or do you agree it's just the way British soaps work? Let us know in the comments below.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
EastEnders fans work out the ‘real reason' Zoe Slater is back as she returns to Walford after 20 years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS fans reckon they've worked out the real reason behind Zoe Slater's shock comeback. The iconic character made her dramatic return to Walford after two decades away, but viewers are already speculating there's a hidden agenda behind the familiar face resurfacing. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 EastEnders fans reckon Zoe Slater's shock return ain't about Kat - but all about a bombshell link to troublemaker Joel Marshall Credit: PA 2 Joel's secrets are beginning to unravel - but who is his real mum? Credit: BBC Zoe, played by Michelle Ryan, is back but some viewers are convinced she's not here for a cosy family catch-up. Instead, they think she's got unfinished business with Ross and stepson Joel, who rocked up alongside Vicki Fowler earlier this year for Martin Fowler's funeral. Since landing on the Square, teen Joel has been ruffling feathers - and while fans have uncovered a string of his dark secrets, one mystery remains... who's his real mum? Now, viewers reckon Zoe could be hiding the ultimate bombshell. Taking to the Instagram, one fan wrote: "We reckon she's Joel's mum!" Another added: "Omg it will be crazy if she is acc Joel's biological mum!" A third penned: "You ain't my mother' to be recreated with Zoe & Joel, I predict." Viewers will see Zoe in two further episodes this week - but she will be on board full-time this summer. Speaking on her return to the BBC soap, Michelle said: 'It feels like coming home. 'After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away. EastEnders' Michelle Ryan reveals emotional secret reunion with soap cast before Zoe Slater's bombshell return 'It all happened at the right time. 'I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I'd also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character. 'It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back. 'When I was pitched the storylines, and when I read the scripts, I knew it was the right decision.' EastEnders new boss, Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: 'Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as, although we haven't seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.'
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders fans work out the ‘real reason' Zoe Slater is back as she returns to Walford after 20 years
EASTENDERS fans reckon they've worked out the real reason behind Zoe Slater's shock comeback. The iconic character made her dramatic return to Walford after two decades away, but viewers are already speculating there's a hidden agenda behind the familiar face resurfacing. 2 2 Zoe, played by Michelle Ryan, is back but some viewers are convinced she's not here for a cosy family catch-up. Instead, they think she's got unfinished business with Ross and stepson Joel, who rocked up alongside Vicki Fowler earlier this year for Martin Fowler's funeral. Since landing on the Square, teen Joel has been ruffling feathers - and while fans have uncovered a string of his dark secrets, one mystery remains... who's his real mum? Now, viewers reckon Zoe could be hiding the ultimate bombshell. A third penned: "You ain't my mother' to be recreated with Zoe & Joel, I predict." Viewers will see Zoe in two further episodes this week - but she will be on board full-time this summer. Speaking on her return to the BBC soap, Michelle said: 'It feels like coming home. 'After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away. EastEnders' Michelle Ryan reveals emotional secret reunion with soap cast before Zoe Slater's bombshell return 'It all happened at the right time. ' I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I'd also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character. 'It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back. 'When I was pitched the storylines, and when I read the scripts, I knew it was the right decision.' EastEnders new boss, Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: 'Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as, although we haven't seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.' Soap's most harrowing teen storylines We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. Belle Dingle's schizophrenia in Emmerdale - Belle's (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral. The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma's voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being. Hannah Ashworth's anorexia in Hollyoaks - Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body. As Hannah's condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life. Bethany Platt's grooming ordeal in Coronation Street - Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie's darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator. The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her. Whitney Dean's abuse from Tony in EastEnders - Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca's boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him. On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.
