epic

EastEnders’ Sam Mitchell actress Kim Medcalf has discussed her return to the BBC soap, involving a worrying new health storyline and a long-awaited reunion with Zoe Slater

It’s been almost two years since Sam Mitchell last graced our screens, fleeing EastEnders after severing ties with brother Phil and the Mitchell clan. But Sam may need her family now more than ever, when she returns to Albert Square as part of an important and emotional new storyline.

Sam faces a breast cancer scare after she discovers a lump. It’s her late mother Peggy Mitchell’s own battle with the disease, and her death in 2016, that leaves Sam convinced it’s serious.

Actress Kim Medcalf shared: “This is the second time Sam has found a lump in her breast and 20 years ago, she felt very lucky that it wasn’t anything serious. This time Sam assumes it’s going to be a different outcome because of Peggy’s history. Sam feels like the same thing is going to happen to her and so she’s putting her head in the sand.”

Hiding her turmoil from her loved ones and refusing to be checked by a doctor, Sam instead begs her brother Phil for money. Viewers will recall that the pair aren’t currently on good terms, given last year her dramatic exit saw her expose his affair with Emma Harding to the entire Square.

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“She’s nervous, especially how things were left with Phil!” Kim revealed. “But then again, Sam’s not the kind of person who spends a lot of time thinking about the past, she lives in the moment.”

Kim teased that Nigel Bates, who revealed his devastating dementia diagnosis earlier this year, soon gets caught up in Sam’s scheming too. As Sam attempts to steal money from Phil’s safe, Nigel lets her, after sadly mistaking her for his daughter Clare.

Of course scheming Sam avoids correcting him, but it’s not long before her brother realises the truth. Sam will attempt to flee once more with the cash, before confiding in former flame Jack Branning, son Ricky’s dad, about her health secret.

Kim hopes this will lead to Sam seeking help, as she shares the importance of getting checked early. “We all need to encourage each other to regularly check our breasts because if you can catch breast cancer early enough, it can make a big difference to the prognosis and treatment,” Kim said. “To be given a storyline where I can play a small part in raising awareness is a real privilege. As a woman in my 50s, it’s something me and my friends talk about because we all know people affected by breast cancer and it feels very relevant and important.”

Of course Sam’s long-awaited return to the soap will also see an exciting reunion fans have been desperate for, between herself and Zoe Slater. The last time they were onscreen together back in 2005, the pair, joined by Chrissie Watts, were involved in the brutal murder of Dirty Den, who was buried under the floor of The Queen Vic.

Sam was sent to prison over the death, while the pair believed Zoe killed Den during their violent showdown. She was soon released though when Chrissie’s guilt was unearthed, while Zoe fled Albert Square until her own comeback earlier this year.

It’s safe to say Sam isn’t thrilled by the reunion, and it will open up some old wounds for both characters that they would rather remain closed. Kim explained: “Coming face-to-face with Zoe is triggering for Sam and brings up a whole series of memories that she’d much rather forget.”

It leads to Zoe wondering if Sam is behind her ongoing stalker ordeal, and a showdown ensues. “You can’t blame Zoe for suspecting Sam, they’ve got history!” admitted Kim. “They both shared this terrible experience that traumatised them in their own different ways.”

Kim confirms though that her character has nothing to do with Zoe’s torment. “Sam is adamant that she’s got her mind on other, far more important things. I think Zoe is convinced by Sam’s protests, but Kat isn’t quite so sure about her.”

Kim has loved the chance to work with Michelle Ryan, who plays Zoe, again two decades on from their iconic plot. “It has had us taking a trip down memory lane to remember where our characters were when we were last in the show, and what was going on in our lives in Walford,” Kim shared. “Having this chance to reminisce together has been lovely.”

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The beautiful national park boasts monkeys, jaguars and dense rainforest – and it may look familiar to Star Wars fans as it was a filming location in A New Hope

If you like monkeys as much as ancient history then Tikal National Park’s entrance fee may well just be the best £15 you spend on an adventure.

After around 10 minutes of walking with an umbrella in hand in the Guatemalan jungle, the forest opened up to the most important of 3,000 buildings spread over 16 square kilometres.

My imagination ran wild at each ruin we stumbled upon. I practically chanted ‘just one step after another’ as we trudged our way up an ancient pyramid for a view once reserved for Mayan royalty chasing the heavens. Whether it was taking the steps of the structure itself or an adjacent staircase fitted far more recently, the cardio to reward ratio was much the same – well worth it.

A bit further off the beaten track in Peten is Yaxha National Park, offering the same leg-burning pyramid climbs and awe-inspiring views with even fewer visitors for company. Close to the Belize border, Tikal and Yaxha are windows into the thriving cities of the Mayan people – a civilisation that stretched across central America, or as our guide Camillo called it, Meso-America.

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The respective sites date as far back as 900BC but most of the immense structures we saw in Tikal were built almost 2,000 years later making it the Mayan place to be. Then Tikal met its mysterious decline in the ninth century and the site was soon abandoned. Countless palaces and temples were swallowed up by jungle in the millennia that followed.

A government-backed expedition in 1848 set the wheels in motion to unearth the secrets and legends buried with the city in the forest floor.

The parks are now fascinating rainforests as rich in nature as they are history. A massive band of coatimundis fearlessly played around us on the ground as spider monkeys swung across some of the 200 tree species up above. More than a dozen jaguars even call Tikal home, our guide Camillo told us.

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I was quick to dismiss the Mayan belief that ascending such a structure brought their god-like rulers closer to their immortal peers in the sky. That was until I made the climb myself and I understood just how spiritual an experience such elevation must have been. Standing above a vast green canopy broken up only by the odd ancient tower was an otherworldly sight, amplified by the soundtrack of roaring howler monkeys.

Star Wars fans will recognise certain shots or Tikal from Episode IV: A New Hope as the UNESCO site set the scene for the Rebel Alliance base.

At the end of an hour’s rural drive from Flores, sheltered open-air gift shops and a model-sized version of the city welcome visitors, although rainy season meant the area felt eerily deserted.

To avoid the fleeting downpours we were caught up in, it is probably best to stick to the months between November and April…

For more information see visitguatemala.gt.

LOVEHOLIDAYS has kicked off its biggest ever Black Friday sale until midnight on December 2.

So if you’re planning a last-minute winter sun break or planning for a spectacular summer 2026 trip, you’re in luck, as there are huge savings on your next getaway.

loveholidays Black Friday deals

From classic Canary escapes to budget-friendly visits to Tunisia, these deals are delivering serious value for money.

The standout offer for would-be travellers is up to £550 off selected package holidays, based on bookings for four people.

On top of that, holidaymakers can get extra savings of up to £200 off bookings when using the code BFEXTRA at checkout, which is until 2 December.

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There’s also extra price cuts on flights and transfers, with deposits starting from as little as £19 per person.

If you spot something good for the dates you want, we’d recommend snapping it up, as winter sun at these prices rarely sticks around.

Prices are also expected to fall even further, so it’s worth checking the loveholidays website through Cyber weekend for new offers.

loveholidays Black Friday deals not to be missed

These are some of the top offers we found in the Black Friday sale to book between now and 2026

• Pebbles Resort St Paul’s Bay, Malta – Flights and room only, 2 people for 7 nights from £298 (was £335) – book here
• Ona Hollywood Mirage Tenerife, Canary Islands – Flights and room only, 2 people for 7 nights from £698 (was £749) – book here
• Be Live Collection Marrakech (Adults Only) Morrocco – Flights and all inclusive, 2 people for 7 nights from £1038 (was £1160) – book here
• Aska Lara Resort & Spa Antalya, Turkey – Flights and all inclusive, 2 people for 7 nights from £718 (was £775) – book here
• MGM Grand Las Vegas, USA – Flights and room only, 2 people for 7 nights from £569pp (£200 below peak price) – book here
• TRS Yucatan Hotel, Mexico – Flights and all inclusive, 2 people for 7 nights from £2778 (was £2962) – book here

Remember, some of these deals are last-minute for 2025, and many are deals for those who want to book ahead of the 2026 rush.

Head over to loveholidays to find the best Black Friday deals for you while they last.

THE LARGEST ice rink in the UK is opening today after receiving an ‘epic’ upgrade.

Skate Bournemouth has returned for the festive season, with the popular attraction receiving some major modifications before it launched for the winter period.

The updated rectangular rink measures up at 70 metres long – almost the same length as a Boeing 777, becoming the largest ice rink in the country.

The popular ice skating park, located in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens, returned to business on Wednesday (November 12).

Drone images show the sheer length of the stunning ice rink, which appeared draped in white, after extensive upgrade works took place.

Located in Bournemouth city centre, the skating park will offer student nights, toddler time and sessions for more experienced skaters – as it did in previous years.

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A spokesperson for Skate Bournemouth said: “Skaters and spectators alike are in for a treat, with a separate skate-hire marquee featuring its own toilets and queuing area, meaning gearing up is smooth and stress-free.”

The attraction also features a Moguls Alpine Bar, which offers a “stunning menu of festive cocktails, mulled drinks and hot chocolates”, according to their website.

Skate Bournemouth will remain open for customers until January 4, accommodating skaters through Christmas to the New Year.

Prices range between £13.50 for children and £16 for adults at the huge rink.

But while Bournemouth boasts the longest rink in the UK, punters closer to the capital looking for a similar experience benefit from a stunning ice rink that’s already opened its doors for winter.

Skate at Somerset House, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, returned to London on Wednesday, taking over the venue’s iconic courtyard.

The rink returned as part of the venue’s 25th birthday – and is one of the capital’s standout attractions during the winter experiences.

The venue offers a range of tasty food, drinks and music from DJ’s as part of the full experience.

Virgin Atlantic, who are the organisers behind the stunning rink, are also operating exclusive sessions and a lounge-inspired Clubhouse with rink-side views

HSBC UK are also running a vintage pop-up store on-site called Shelter Boutique.

The shop will be selling a hand-picked selection of pre-loved items, with all proceeds going to Shelter charity, helping tackle homelessness during the festive period.

Entry to Skate at Somerset House ranges between £15 to £28.50 for adults, and £10 for children, plus a one-off transaction fee of £2.95.

A man has slammed an ‘entitled’ couple for stealing his sun loungers at a holiday resort in the Caribbean, but while some people agree with his stance, others say he is part of the problem

A man has sparked a debate after sharing how he took revenge on an ‘entitled’ couple for stealing his sun loungers at a holiday resort. He explained how he and his wife were enjoying a well-earned vacation in the Caribbean after saving up for a week of relaxation.

He explained: “It wasn’t very crowded. We picked out a couple of nice loungers and spent most of the week there with no issues. Another couple showed up a few days before we were scheduled to leave. My wife caught them looking at us a few times over a couple of days.”

On their last morning at the resort, they noticed the couple’s belongings spread across their loungers.

While they wouldn’t have had an issue with this if the couple were sitting on them taking in the sun, the man explained how the couple “didn’t show up until noon”.

He said: “Later, after they arrived and we saw who it was, my wife said they stole our spot on purpose.

“Confirmed when my wife was in the water and saw then walk by me in our new, less awesome spot. They looked at me and started laughing.”

Before leaving the resort to fly home the next day, the man came up with a plan to teach them a lesson they’d never forget.

“We were leaving the next day,” he added. “We went down very early, spread fresh towels on the loungers, put fresh folded towels down, and left our leftover suntan lotion and our inflatable floats on the loungers.

“Hope they spent all day waiting to see who stole their spot.”

While some users praised him for his revenge, others say he’s “just as bad” because he tried to claim the same beds all week long.

Commenting on his post, one user said: “I don’t get it… you thought the loungers belonged to you for the whole week?”

Another user added: “Every resort and cruise ship needs to adopt the policy of not saving seats. If you get up to go jump in the pool for a bit and leave your belongings there, fine.

“But leaving a towel on a chair all day is silly, and I have seen some places that have signage saying that towels left on chairs like that will be taken by staff.”

A third user said: “People who think they own a spot at a hotel are the worst.”

One more user added: “They were the hotels loungers – for the hotels guests. First come, first served.

“If you want your personal loungers then pack them into your cases and take them with you.

“Then you intentionally left a bunch of junk and littered the place up. And now you’re bragging about it.”