EastEnders Slaters icon signals return to soap after long absence
EastEnders fans know that anything is possible at Christmas, with the annual festive special always delivering on surprise cameos and shocking deaths - and now fans are convinced that an iconic Slater will be returning to the soap. Michelle Ryan - who played Zoe Slater on the soap from 2000 until 2005 - excited EastEnders fans when she reunited with former co-star Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo).
In an Instagram post which showed the pair on a winter walk, Michelle wrote: "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 .The national grid reported a surge in electricity as all the kettles were clicked on after the credits. Such a heady hayday the early 2000’s were."
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The former soap star added that performing a scene written by EastEnders writer Tony Jordan was "like opening a present on Christmas Day". She continued: "You would check your pigeon hole where scripts and fan mail were placed and rush back to highlight the dialogue. I will always be grateful to John and Tony for my first big break on primetime TV. They were a winning combo."
Fans took to the comments to ask whether Michelle would return for the soap's 40th anniversary, with one writing: "Would you ever consider returning? U were sensational as Zoe! I’d love to see her make a return in time for the 40th!" Another said: "Zoe has always been my all time favourite character & would love to see you back in EastEnders soon. Hope you would do it again."
While on the soap, Michelle was involved in one of EastEnders' biggest storylines - which revealed that Zoe's sister Kat (Jessie Wallace) was actually her real mum. After Kat was raped by her uncle Harry (Michael Elphick), she fell pregnant with Zoe, who was raised by Kat's parents, Charlie and Viv.
Michelle often shared the screen with Kacey, who joined the EastEnders cast as Little Mo Mitchell in 2000 and left after six years. During her time on the show, Little Mo married Billy Mitchell, became pregnant with Freddie Slater after being raped by friend Graham Foster and later had an affair with her brother-in-law Alfie Moon.
Last year, Kacey broke her silence after Freddie was seen on the phone to his mum in an episode of the soap, with the star writing on X: "Apparently I’ve been on the blower..."
