Albert Square is bracing for fireworks this Christmas as EastEnders brings back one of its most iconic faces. Sam Mitchell, played by Kim Medcalf, is officially returning to Walford — and her comeback will reignite one of the soap’s most infamous storylines.

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Two Former Accomplices Reunite After Two Decades

For the first time in over twenty years, Sam will come face to face with her ex-accomplice Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), as the women are forced to confront the deadly secret that once bonded them.

Fans will remember the night that changed EastEnders history — the shocking 2005 storyline where Dirty Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) was bludgeoned to death in self-defence. The murder, which pulled in over 14 million viewers, became one of the most-watched episodes in British TV history.

Zoe struck the fatal blow, but it was Sam who drunkenly unearthed Den’s body months later, leading to her arrest and a full-blown Mitchell family showdown. Alongside them was Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), who masterminded the cover-up by burying Den’s body under The Queen Vic floor.

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A Return Full of Secrets and Scars

Now, two decades later, Sam’s return promises to reopen old wounds. While Zoe has endured years of hardship and guilt, she’s never truly taken responsibility for her part in Den’s death. Sam, meanwhile, is carrying her own burdens — and it seems something, or someone, has drawn her back to Walford.

“Wherever Sam Mitchell goes, drama inevitably follows,” teased EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey. “With Zoe Slater back in the Square, only time will tell if there’s space for forgiveness between them, or whether battle lines will be drawn.”

Kim Medcalf echoed the excitement — and the chaos — that always comes with playing Sam:

“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. Sam causes drama wherever she goes, but she also has that vulnerable side, which I love to play.”

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A Mitchell Family in Crisis

Sam’s homecoming won’t be a warm one. Rumours suggest she returns with a “troubling situation” that forces her to seek help from the Mitchells — despite years of tension with Phil and Kat. As her family questions her motives, Sam’s emotional state hints that revenge may not be her only reason for coming home.

Her reunion with Zoe, however, will be far less forgiving. Decades of guilt, lies, and resentment threaten to boil over as the women are forced to confront what really happened in The Vic that night.

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Fan Reactions: “The Queen Is Back”

The news of Sam’s return has electrified fans online. Instagram comments flooded with excitement and nostalgia:

“The queen is back!” one user wrote.
Another added, “My jaw dropped — this Christmas is going to be legendary.”

Viewers are already speculating whether Sam’s comeback will end in reconciliation or revenge — and if Zoe can ever truly escape the ghost of Dirty Den.

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A Christmas to Remember in Walford

With EastEnders promising one of its most dramatic Christmases in years, the return of Sam Mitchell and Zoe Slater is set to shake the Square to its core. As old secrets resurface and family loyalties are tested, the shadow of Den Watts looms once again — proving that in Walford, the past never stays buried for long.