showdown

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.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

The I’m A Celebrity cast were split into pairs on Wednesday as they ‘went to war’ to battle it out for treats and food in camp, and the stars certainly took it seriously

A war was set on I’m a Celebrity as the latest episode saw the cast split into pairs, battling it out in new challenges.

Someone who took the battle very seriously was Vogue Williams, who took some savage swipes at her rival Kelly Brook. The duo had been paired up and faced tasks against each other.

Initially the stars took on ‘Mind Games’ where they had to race to be the first to eat a pig’s brain. It was pretty grim, while Vogue beat Kelly rather quickly.

Later on there was a rematch, and it’s then that Vogue hilariously took aim at Kelly. Telling her to leave, she advised her there was no point in her even being there, suggesting she was going to win once more.

Kelly said: “Fancy seeing you here!” Going head-to-head in a ‘Paint The Town’ challenge, the treat on offer was cheese and biscuits for their group. Kelly also laughed off Vogue’s suggestion that she should walk away, telling her co-star: “Listen, everyone loves an underdog Vogue, you know that.”

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Vogue wasn’t done with the put-downs though, as she told Kelly she “wasn’t good enough”. She said before this: “Me and Kelly used to be friends but not anymore.” Kelly quipped: “I’ve never seen you cry but I’m about to.”

Just before the battle commenced, Vogue said: “You’re good, you’re just not good enough.” Vogue managed to win the challenge for her group, leaving Kelly defeated once more.

It was all fun and games though as the jungle war continues across the week. After the task Vogue and Kelly laughed away and hugged it out to show there were no hard feelings.

Fans were a bit stunned though after hearing Kelly call Vogue “a b***h”. One fan posted: “Kelly calling Vogue a b***h?!?” Another fan said: “lowk getting tense between Vogue and Kelly.” Others were amused by the moment and the battle between the pair.

It comes as two of the jungle stars joked to hosts Ant and Dec that they were planning on stealing their jobs. Aitch and Angry Ginge took part in a trial in front of the hosts on Wednesday.

As they were about to get on with proceedings, the pair joked with the hosts about replacing them. Musician Aitch told them: “We’re coming for your jobs after this!”

Ant and Dec were rather amused by the claim, amid the pair being tipped to become the next big celeb duo once they leave the jungle.

Fans even suggested then they could be the new Ant and Dec, as others begged ITV to give the pair their own show. One fan said: “Aitch and Ginge could possibly be the new Ant & Dec.”

Another viewer posted: “Aitch & Ginge seriously need their own show.” A third fan agreed: “Dear ITV… please give Ginge and Aitch their own tv show… what a duo.”

A fourth fan commented: “Give Ginge & Aitch their own chat show,” as another said: “Aitch & Ginge could easily be the next Ant & Dec.” A final comment read: “Careful Ant and Dec, think Aitch and Ginge are the new comedy duo.”

I’m A Celebrity 2025 airs every night at 9PM on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

The United States’ Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick are arriving in Brussels on Monday for what is expected to be a tense showdown with EU trade ministers.

After months of recriminations on both sides of the Atlantic over the implementation of this summer’s trade deal, the EU and the US are now expected to confront their most contentious differences head-on.

Washington will press to fast-track the deal’s rollout while pushing the bloc to scrap EU legislation it considers unfair to US companies, while Brussels will seek additional exemptions from the 15% US tariffs on its exportsand warn its counterparts about the potential fallout of US investigations into European products.

Ahead of the meeting, EU diplomats said they expected the discussion to be “frank”.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and US president Donald Trump clinched a trade deal in July after weeks of negotiations in which the EU tried to minimise the impact of Washington’s newly aggressive trade agenda. In the end, von der Leyen was able to strike a deal that EU-produced goods arriving in the US would be taxed at a rate of 15% while Brussels lifted its duties on most US products.

Presented by the Commission as the most advantageous deal it could get, the agreement has been widely criticised across the EU. The European Parliament, which has to vote on the Commission’s proposal to remove tariffs on US goods, is set to amend the deal and is discussing a 18-month suspension clause.

The US is complaining that the EU’s legislative agenda is moving too slowly. EU lawmakers will vote on the text in January and they should agree on a common text with EU member states next March or April – a timescale radically longer than the Trump administration’s preference.

Greer raised the issue in a meeting with European Parliament president Roberta Metsola last Friday.

EU faces criticism “with good confidence”

The EU is ready to face US criticism “with good confidence” an EU diplomat said, noting that the legislative process in Brussels could have taken a lot longer.

“To my knowledge, the US administration has not taken its decisions through Congress, so it doesn’t take quite as long in the US,” another EU diplomat said, implyingthat the US trade agenda was mainly decided from the White House.

The EU plans to show unity by handing over a list of proposed exemptions to the 15% tariffs they hope to obtain from the Americans. The list includes products such as wines, spirits and pasta.

“American friends are very much aware of where the European Union would like to see tariff reductions,” the same EU diplomat said.

For the Commission, which has competence to negotiate with Washington, the list of exemptions “remains a priority,” according to its deputy chief spokesperson, Arianna Podesta.

The EU is also concerned about the future of its steel exports. The US already imposes 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium, and has extended them to some 407 derivatives. A consultation already underway may see further derivatives added to the list.

As EU diplomats see it, adding tariffs on steel derivatives would go against the whole “spirit” of this summer’s agreement. The same goes for investigations still open by Washington into products such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and medical devices.

EU investments will also be on the agenda. Greer and Lutnick will meet in the afternoon, EU business representatives with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.

The trade deal includes an EU pledge of €600 billion in investments in the US even though Brussels has no direct control over the private sector, which is the only force capable of actually delivering those investments.

Monday’s meetings will not be an easy task for the Europeans, as US pressure has been unrelenting since Donald Trump returned to the White House, with the president repeatedly threatening new tariffs or targeting EU legislation he deems too restrictive for US companies.

However, the EU has so far not looked intimidated, and is continuing to enforce the digital legislation that Trump and his administration have condemned.

In the last few weeks, Brussels has launched antitrust investigations against Amazon and Microsoft and hit Google with a €2.95 billion for abusing its dominant position in the advertising technology industry – moves that have not gone unnoticed in Washington.