EastEnders icon reveals tragic news in dramatic early BBC iPlayer release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Monday's episode of EastEnders, which airs tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) has arrived home to Albert Square in EastEnders — with some bad news.
She immediately ruffled feathers with brother Phil (Steve McFadden), who she hasn't seen since destroying his marriage to Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) and running off with his inheritance from their dear Aunt Sal (Anna Karen).
Having had a brief run-in with Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) — who accused her of being her tormenter — she walked into the Mitchell house and began raiding the safe.
Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) caught her in the act, but believed she was his adoptive daughter Clare (Gemma Bissix) and let her continue. He later described the woman he saw, and Phil assumed it was Nicola (Laura Doddington) who was responsible.
However, after challenging her, he spotted Sam across the Square.
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She darted off in the other direction, calling estranged son Ricky (Frankie Day) and summoning him to a meeting at McKlunky's.
There, she told him that she wanted to set him up for the future by putting the cash she'd stolen into a high interest rate bank account. Ricky longed for a proper relationship with his mother, but knew that it would likely never happen.
Just moments after their conversation, she ran off again and headed for the tube station. Ricky alerted his dad Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) to what had happened and he raced after her.
There, Sam opened up about why she had to come back - she believes she's dying.
As we know, a breast cancer storyline is set to play out over the next month, with Sam's friends and family urging her to seek medical attention after finding a lump.
Read more:
- EastEnders 2025 Christmas schedule confirmed by BBC - including festive episode timings
- EastEnders reveals Anthony Trueman's disturbing secret as Zoe Slater falls into his trap in BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders director reveals "eye-opening" experience crafting special Nigel Bates episode – and his incredible resilience to land the job
- EastEnders airs shock passion for Zoe Slater following intriguing tormenter twist in 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.
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