Zoe Slater is an EastEnders icon. But cruel reaction to her return has left me fuming… everyone is missing key thing
WHEN Zoe Slater's mascara-smudged face appeared on my TV screen, I let out a little gasp.
Michelle Ryan's long-awaited EastEnders return can only mean more incredible, explosive storylines - 'You ain't my muvva!' is the greatest line in soap history - so what a shame her big moment was completely overshadowed.
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Zoe Slater returned to EastEnders, but vile trolls were quick to criticise
Credit: BBC
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Michelle Ryan's long-awaited return was overshadowed by cruel criticism about her appearance
Credit: PA
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Michelle, as Zoe, in the soap from 2000
Credit: BBC
I had seen all the rumours about her soap return on social media, and I even carefully studied the teaser clip...
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EastEnders star gets new role 18 years after BBC show exit
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South Wales Argus
24 minutes ago
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BBC EastEnders fans annoyed as characters gone for weeks
The BBC soap has been making headlines this week with the return of Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) heading back to Walford after 20 years. 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.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EastEnders star Michelle Ryan reveals 'emotional' secret cast reunion ahead of her shock return as Zoe Slater
EastEnders star Michelle Ryan has revealed she secretly reunited with the cast of the soap before her bombshell return as Zoe Slater. Fans were stunned on Monday when it was revealed that the actress, 40, had reprised her role on the BBC soap after a 20-year absence. Michelle's return had been kept a closely-guarded secret, with her return episode even held back from early release on BBC iPlayer. Speaking to Richard Arnold on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain, Michelle shared that she met up with some of the cast who play the Slater clan, before heading to set to film her return scenes. Admitting she had 'goosebumps' over her comeback, she said: 'I've always loved working with Jessie [Wallace]. 'We actually went for a cast dinner with the Slater family so that I would feel welcome with the new people that I didn't know. And seeing her, she got so emotional. 'And when she found out I had the job again she was screaming and I was just like, this just feels like coming home.' Michelle is set to appear in two more episodes of EastEnders this week, and will be back on the soap permanently later this year. Teasing what fans can expect from Zoe now she's back on the Square, she added: 'Brace yourself for what she's going to be like, she's troubled. That's great for an actress to play, that chaos. 'It has felt like I've never been away, it was seamless and it was easy, so I'm really lucky.' Michelle's surprise return to EastEnders aired in the closing moments of Monday's episode, as the soap's new showrunner Ben Wadey kicked off his tenure on the soap. Speaking on her return, she 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. '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. Speaking to Richard Arnold on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain , Michelle shared that she met up with some of the cast who play the Slater clan, before heading to set to film her return '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.' Since Zoe's exit from Walford 20 years ago, it's been revealed that she and Kat have become estranged. Teasing her character's reason to come back to Albert Square, Michelle added: 'I can't say too much as there is a lot of drama to come, but Zoe is a mess. 'She's not the girl that left Walford twenty years ago, and she's been really struggling on her own. 'She has her defences up, but this week you will see that she needs help, but whether she is willing to accept it is another story.' During her time on the show, Michelle was involved in one of EastEnders' biggest storylines with it revealed that Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) was in fact Zoe's mother and not her sister, with explosive scenes seeing her yell: 'You ain't my mother!', only for Kat to reply: 'Yes I am!' Back in 2001, EastEnders' leopard-print-loving Kat Slater, who had been sexually abused by her uncle, finally revealed to her 'sister' Zoe that she was, in fact, her mother. It remains one of the most famous and iconic moments in EastEnders' 40-year history - a scene that has been mimicked by soap fans worldwide.
