EastEnders airs big Sam Mitchell twist in early BBC iPlayer release - what does it mean for her future?
Warning: Contains spoilers for Thursday's episode of EastEnders, which airs at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
Whenever Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) returns to EastEnders, she seamlessly slots back into the drama like she's never been away.
The character returned at the beginning of December after almost two years away, initially attempting to scam vulnerable Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), who believed she was his step-daughter Clare (Gemma Bissix).
Sam later built bridges with brother Phil (Steve McFadden) following their earlier falling out, and confided in ex-lover Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) about her breast cancer diagnosis.
Ahead of undergoing a lumpectomy operation, she eventually told their son Ricky (Frankie Day) about her diagnosis. Sam has since been told that she needs to undergo radiotherapy treatment, which she intended to receive at her home in Spain.
However, in today's episode, she came to the realisation that being in Walford meant she was able to develop a relationship with Ricky and granddaughter Charli.
During an emotional farewell with the Brannings and Charli's mum Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), Sam said it felt wrong to be leaving and wished she could stay. Denise Fox (Diane Parish) proposed that she stick around and complete her treatment in London, and suddenly everything seemed to fall into place.
There was no reason for her to leave after all, and Sam would be sticking around.
But how long will she be in Albert Square?
Is Sam Mitchell staying in EastEnders for good?
In November, executive producer Ben Wadey said he was "delighted" to welcome Medcalf back to EastEnders for a "short stint".
During this time, she's not only faced her medical issues, but has also found a crucial place in Zoe Slater's (Michelle Ryan) feud with Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) - reuniting the trio of women that were all present on the night of Dirty Den's (Leslie Grantham) death.
We also know that there'll be a busy few months ahead for the Mitchell clan amid Nigel's worsening young-onset dementia.
Sam's brother Grant (Ross Kemp) has been confirmed to return for an extended period to coincide with the story, and also to finally meet estranged son Mark Fowler (Stephen Aaron-Sipple).
Will we see the Mitchell siblings together for the first time since matriarch Peggy's (Barbara Windsor) funeral in 2016?
Read more:
- 4 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock Branning pregnancy and Callum Highway is blackmailed
- EastEnders star reveals Chrissie Watts's Jasmine Fisher fears ahead of explosive week
- EastEnders' Kat Moon and Vicki Fowler make risky move to secure Zoe's freedom in BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders reveals Mark Fowler Jr's secret and surprise connection to Walford local in BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
