EastEnders legend Michelle Ryan teases next project ahead of Zoe Slater's explosive exit

"It's been a busy stretch."

Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater standing in the street in EastEnders.

BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

Published: Monday, 3 August 2026 at 1:00 pm

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EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan has teased her next project ahead of her character Zoe Slater’s exit.

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It was confirmed that the star would be leaving the BBC One soap last month - just one year on from her return to the series after a 20-year absence.

Now, the actress has updated fans on her next job, writing in a post on Instagram on Sunday (2 August): "Working on my next project this summer and looking forward to sharing more soon."

She continued: "It's been a busy stretch, so if you've written and are still waiting on a reply - they're on the way."

Ryan originally appeared on EastEnders between 2000 and 2005, but finally returned two decades later for a reunion with her estranged mother Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).

Zoe Slater wearing a multi-coloured cowboy hat for Walford Pride in a scene from EastEnders

Zoe Slater in EastEnders. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

The Sun reported in July that Zoe’s exit had already been filmed, and that the character is going to be killed off.

The publication added that Ryan quit after being refused time off filming commitments and that, while the show’s scriptwriters plotted her exit storyline, they decided to kill off the character.

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While we don’t know exactly when the actress will be departing from the soap, her exit will air later this year.

Read more:

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Authors

RadioTimes.com senior trends writer Molly Moss. She is sitting outside wearing a black top, holding a white teacup with a smily face on it to her mouth

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.

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