EastEnders star Michelle Ryan has called for another key co-star to return to the soap.

The actor recently made her own comeback to Walford as Zoe Slater after two decades away, and was asked in a recent interview who she'd like to see back next.

"I would like Kim [Medcalf] to come back, who played Sam [Mitchell]," Michelle told the Radio Times.

Fellow star – and on-screen mother Jessie Wallace (aka Kat Slater) – echoed in the same chat: "Oh yeah, she came back. Yeah, she's brilliant."

Sam was last on screen in 2024 and Kim returning to the role would no doubt be heartfelt for Michelle, who recently admitted her decision to return was inspired by meeting up with Kim and Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo).

kim medcalf as sam mitchell, eastenders
Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron//BBC

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"It all happened at the right time," she said back in June. "I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey and Kim.

"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 executive producer [in Ben Wadey].

zoe slater, alfie moon, eastenders
BBC

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"[He] 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," she added.

Michelle made a brief return in June, where it was revealed that Zoe had been staying in a flat with Stacey. The character will be back on a permanent basis soon.

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage


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