EASTENDERS star Michelle Ryan is returning to the soap – but did you spot these four clues hinting at her comeback.
The Sun revealed Michelle, 41, will be reprising her role as Zoe Slater this year – after two decades away.
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A source said: “Bosses have repeatedly reached out to Michelle over the years, but the timing has never been quite right.
“People are still talking about her character, so it’s a real coup to bring her back.
“She feels like now is the perfect moment — and there was an exciting script on the table.”
Michelle starred in the BBC soap from 2000 until eventually bowing out in 2005.
Listed below are some clues pointing to the star’s Albert Square return.
On-screen ‘cameo’
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Zoe may have left Walford two decades ago, but many of her family members still live in the area.
Earlier this year, fans began speculating a possible comeback after the soap featured a shot focusing on a photo frame shot of the Slater sisters on Kat’s mantlepiece.
Speaking on Reddit, one viewer wrote: “Tonight was a dead giveaway — the way the camera focused directly on Michelle Ryan in that framed Slater photo, that’s no accident.
“She’s totally coming back this week. That was a deliberate teaser.”
They added: “I suppose a red herring is possible, but for the love of God EE, please don’t let us down on this one as well and not do it after all this.”
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“It’s way overdue. We haven’t had Little Mo back, we haven’t had Carol back, we’ve got to have Zoe.”
Co-star reunions
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Michelle has previously caught up with ex-EastEnders castmates – although they no longer work together on the BBC soap.
One example was her reunion with Kacey Ainsworth, who played Zoe’s aunt Little Mo.
Sharing a snap of the two, Michelle penned, in part: “Just got back from a lovely dog walk with my friend Kacey.
“We worked together many moons ago (no pun intended) on Eastenders as sisters. Part of the Slater family.
“Our boss John Yorke took a real risk putting a family of women in the show and it paid off as on one week when Zoe found out that Kat was her mother viewers tuned into the BBC for 19, 18, 20 and 21 million per episode plus the omnibus.”
One fan commented: “I’d love to see Zoe back on The Square, even if it was just a short time. I wonder if she’d actually get on with Stacey now.”
Another remarked: “Would you not just come back? It would be epic!”
While a third wrote: “Enjoyed seeing Zoe again in Classic Eastenders episodes recently, be nice to see you back in show someday.”
Meanwhile, Michelle also caught up with actress Kim Medcalf, who has played Sam Mitchell across two stints.
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Michelle posted their comeback selfie onto her Instagram grid page as she sent soap fans into a frenzy.
She captioned the snap: “Kim and I on a pre Christmas catch up. We hadn’t seen each other in five years. As easy company as ever.”
40th Anniversary celebration
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Although Zoe didn’t return on-screen for the soap’s 40th anniversary, Michelle paid homage to her time in EastEnders.
She made a rare post on Instagram celebrating her time on Eastenders, reposting shots from her official photoshoot when joining the series.
“I was just sent these two photos from the square that were taken when I was 17/18, that’s early 2000’s!” she wrote.
“They were actually never used for cards to be signed (although I’m being told that some people have them, I didn’t realise).”
“Wishing everyone on the square a very Happy 40th Birthday! What an achievement for a show to run for that long!,” she said.
“Many great memories. Congratulations to everyone (Don’t read into the song chosen, it’s playing in the cafe).”
Co-stars discuss return on podcast
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Fans aren’t the only ones who wanted Zoe to return – some of Michelle’s former co-stars voiced their interest in this happening.
Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, welcomed Jessie Wallace, aka Kat Slater, to her podcast We Started Here.
Speaking in the episode, Lacey said: “The Kat and Zoe [storyline]… I’d love it if she came back. Would you?”
To which Jessie replied: “I think it’d be great. I think it would be lovely.
“Can we make that happen? Wouldn’t it be great?”
Fans made reference to these comments under Michelle’s post, as she wrote: “It came up on a feed, very proud of Lacey having her own podcast. Lovely of Jessie to say.”
Kat Moon’s EastEnders Timeline
Kat Slater burst onto the Square in 2000 as feisty Kat Slater, played by Jessie Wallace. She is the eldest sister of the Slater family. She soon makes a big name for herself. She is a loud and brash character who is renowned for her leopard print skimpy outfits and loads of red lipstick. She has played the ‘tart with a heart’ character but has also had an epic love story with Alfie. Here is a rundown of her greatest soap storylines.
