While we’re apparently no closer to finding out who Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) stalker is in EastEnders, we’ve seemingly found out who it isn’t, as Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) appears to have ruled herself out of the mystery.
Zoe recently departed her home in the Queen Vic after her accusations against little brother Tommy (Sonny Kendall) finally pushed mum Kat (Jessie Wallace) over the edge. Exhausted and broken at the constant stream of chaos Zoe’s bringing into their lives, she asked her daughter to leave, supported by husband Alfie (Shane Richie).
With ex-fling Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) playing her knight in shining armour, she fled into his open arms, but as secrets within the Trueman family began to explode at Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson) engagement party.
When Zoe learned that Anthony’s ex-wife had filed a restraining order against him, she was naturally horrified and in the words of an absolutely sozzled Kim: ‘blocked him on everything’.
Meanwhile, Sam returned on a mission, and, as she set off for big brother Phil’s (Steve McFadden) house (or, more specifically, his safe), she passed her former frenemy.
Zoe was spooked after clapping eyes on Sam for the first time in twenty years. Long-time fans of the show will remember that they formed two thirds of a triumvirate with Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), dedicated to ensuring the downfall of Dirty Den Watts (Leslie Grantham).
As the story reached a dark (and incredibly entertaining) crescendo, Zoe struck Den with Pauline Fowler’s (Wendy Richard) dog-shaped doorstop after he maniacally began bashing Chrissie’s head against a fruit machine. While Zoe believed she’d struck the killing blow, Sam knew different, having witnessed Den spring back to life and grab Chrissie, who finished him off with another blow from the deadly doggy.
Both Sam and Chrissie allowed Zoe to believe she’d dealt the final strike, with Sam using the information to blackmail her co-conspirator to hand the Queen Vic over to her. Though the police eventually nailed Chrissie for the crime, Zoe departed to Spain, with her and Sam parting on bad terms.
Zoe, convinced that Sam’s reappearance was linked to her current stalking hell, cornered her co-conspirator and began to press her on whether or not she was behind her torment.
As they traded barbs, Sam scoffed at the suggestion that she’d come back from Spain for the utterly banal reason of terrorising Zoe. While Zoe was determined that Sam’s actions and demeanour hinted at an ulterior motive, Sam didn’t deny it, though made it clear that she was back for her son, Ricky Branning (Frankie Day) and hot nothing to do with what’s been happening to Zoe.
Looks like our Zo’, and us, are back to square one, doesn’t it?
Sam quickly brushed off the spat, with her bag full of stolen cash. After an entertaining clash with Kat and a near-miss with Phil, she phoned Ricky and arranged to meet him at McClunky’s.
Sam’s hard face crumbled in the presence of her son as she admitted her faults and apologised for not being the mother he needed or deserved. She promised to use the cash she’d taken from Phil to help him get a ‘leg up’ in life, as Ricky wondered why she was talking to him as if it was the last time she’d see him.
Ricky’s dad, Jack (Scott Maslen) found them and provided Sam with her third spat of the day. As she rushed off, determined to catch a flight back to Spain, Ricky lamented at how weird the interaction was to his dad.
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Stephen Patterson, Metro’s deputy soaps editor.
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Finding Sam in the tube station, Jack started in on her again. Accusing her of repeating her (many) previous past mistakes and speculating that the reason for her return is that she’s found herself in trouble.
Sam stood silently as he railed at her, finally stopping him when, with tears in her eyes, she announced that she’d found a lump and she was dying.
Duff duff, indeed…
