Zoe

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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HARRY Styles and Zoe Kravitz have sparked engagement rumours after she was spotted sporting a ring on THAT finger.

The One Direction superstar and the movie actress have been dating since August, with The Sun exclusively revealing their romance.

And now things seem to have progressed with the pair walking arm in arm on a romantic outing in Rome.

Zoe wrapped up warm in a grey coat, grey cardigan, white trousers and a black headscarf – while all eyes were drawn to the gold ring on her finger.

Meanwhile Harry wore a stylish beige trench coat with a black hat, jumper and trousers.

Back in August The Sun revealed how Harry and Zoe had begun dating casually – after years of friendship.

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A source added: “It’s super-casual and there are no labels right now.

“Harry and Zoe both have a lot on but they have a connection and there is a spark there. 

“You can never say never.”

Zoe has been single since October 2024, when she and fellow actor Channing Tatum called off their engagement after three years.

And Harry has not had a long-term romance since his split from Canadian actress Taylor Russell in May last year after 14 months of dating.

Harry has dated some of the most high-profile women on the planet including Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner and Olivia Wilde.

There were claims Harry and Zoe’s relationship was a potential showmance by bitter followers.

The fact Zoe’s new movie Caught Stealing premiered in August and Harry’s long-awaited fourth album is set for release within six-months, was not lost on some of their followers.

But insiders close to the couple hit back in September, revealing it couldn’t be further from that if they tried – and in fact the romance runs a lot deeper.

They told The Sun: “There’s been lots of talk that Zoe is just with Harry to promote her new movie and he’s using her for his upcoming album, but what most people don’t know is that they have been friends for years.

“It may seem strange from the outside and like it’s moving way too fast, but you have to remember they are building their romance off of years of friendship – so they do feel super comfortable with each other.

“They’ve skipped the awkward getting to know you stage and have jumped straight in.”

The pair have been inseparable – travelling to New York and Rome in recent months.

And in an unusual move for both the stars they have ended up being photographed a lot – they haven’t shied away from the camera like they would usually do – and we can reveal why.

Our insider explained: “Harry is a very private man – it’s no secret he’s dated lots of people but it’s not always so public. 

“If he wanted to, Harry knows exactly how to keep things underwraps.

“He’s been in this industry a long time and he knows how his fanbase reacts to things. 

“He doesn’t take introducing the world to a new girlfriend lightly. 

“He has thought long and hard about it but he’s prepared for the backlash because he thinks Zoe is the real deal.

“It’s never easy for someone to date Harry and they’ve definitely chatted about what it will be like – and Zoe is fully on board. 

“It’s not just a fling and them happily being snapped really shows that.”

The pair were also seen enjoying a lunch with Zoe’s music superstar father Lenny in New York’s West Village.

According to reports there as talk during the lunch that Harry was going to meet Zoe’s aunties to get the final seal of approval.

Rock star Lenny, 61, is said to have been impressed with the Watermelon Sugar singer. 

“Friends of Lenny say he is very protective of Zoe, but it really seemed like he enjoyed meeting Harry,” a source told People.

“From what people could tell, he thought Harry was polite, down to earth and genuinely interested in getting to know the family.

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“Lenny has always wanted Zoe to be with someone who respects her, and it looked like he felt Harry does. 

“They were laughing a lot at lunch, and it came across that Lenny appreciated Harry’s sense of humour. He likes when someone can keep things light.”

ZOE Ball has moved a new man into her home – a mystery “lodger” who has “won more awards” than she has.

The Radio 2 presenter hinted at a new romance on her Dig It podcast, two years after her split from construction worker Michael Reed.

Zoe, 53, revealed her new living arrangements to co-host Jo Whiley when discussing Christmas gifts.

She said: “I’ve got this thing that I bought online, which is sort of like you hold the handle and it’s loads and loads of different bits of wood and you whack your legs and your underarms with it.

“It really helps circulation. I think it’s quite good for lymphatic drainage.

“I bought loads of them for people for Christmas …”

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Zoe continued: “I remember the first time the lodger walked in and saw me doing it, and just sort of turned on his heels.”

When Jo asked if the lodger was “still around,” Zoe replied: “He’s still here at the moment. He’s still lodging.”

Zoe did not reveal the man’s identity, but said he has “won loads of awards.”

Speaking about her own accolades, she said: “I did get a Sony and it was given to me by Marianne Faithfull. I was well chuffed.

“And I think Caner of the Year for something I can’t remember. 

“We won a BAFTA for the last ever Live and Kicking, which was amazing. But I don’t even have a copy of it …

“Yeah, the lodger has won loads of awards…”

The Sun has reached out to Zoe’s reps for clarification on whether the relationship is romantic or platonic.

Zoe’s ex-husband, DJ Norman Cook – better known as Fatboy Slim – recently spoke about their continued close friendship. 

The pair were married for 18 years before splitting in 2016 and share two children, Woody, 24, and Nelly, 15.

The DJ, 62, recently described Zoe as his “soulmate” while promoting his new photo book reflecting on his music career. 

“Zoe is a very kind, thoughtful person and she just had this way of checking my ego, like ‘We are still human beings. 

“We are still nice to people,’” he told The Sun.

He said Zoe helped him navigate fame in the 1990s: “In the 90s, I was having too much fun to think about the next day. 

“It became a whirlwind, but Zoe helped me through it as she knew that level of fame before. 

“It was nice to have a soulmate in there with you.”

Zoe’s last public relationship was with construction worker Michael Reed. 

The pair dated for five years before splitting in 2023. 

At the time, The Sun reported she had asked him to move out of her £2 million Sussex home after the relationship began to break down.

A source said: “Zoe is gutted but she’s better off without Michael. This is a relief to many of her friends, who think she has done the right thing.”

Before Michael, Zoe dated cameraman Billy Yates, who tragically died by suicide in 2017 after a battle with depression.

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Zoe sold her countryside pile and moved closer to her ex Fatboy Slim last year.

The fan-favourite broadcaster previously lived there with her ex Michael yet it appeared she was eager for a fresh start.

Zoe called time on her relationship with the model in May 2023 after five and a half years together – with pals at the time saying they had “run their course”.

A source revealed she then traded in life in her rural Sussex home – complete with a swimming pool and tennis courts – for the more “lively” surroundings of Brighton and Hove.

Zoe sold up after the sad death of her beloved mum.

Also in her podcast with fellow BBC Radio 2 anchor Jo, Zoe revealed the heartbreaking impact of her loss.

She told her pal on the podcast last month: “I couldn’t work.

“I was on the floor in the kitchen. I couldn’t, I couldn’t move

“I had a proper emotional breakdown, you know, I haven’t really talked about it actually.

“But it was, yeah, it was brutal.

“I had an amazing doctor who turned up at my door with coffee and bagels and said, ‘so, we need to get you some help’, and he was wonderful.”

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She admitted the process of grief was ongoing.

Zoe told how she struggled particularly on the anniversary of her mum’s death and said there was “a lot of crying and pain” that “still has to come out.”

MOLLY-MAE Hague’s sister Zoe has shown off her and husband Danny Rae’s new home.

After tying the knot last summer, the loved-up couple have been living at Love Island star Molly-Mae‘s £3.5 million Cheshire mansion in the interval between searching for and owning their own home.

But now Zoe and Danny have finally settled into their perfect pad, and they couldn’t wait to share some of the interior details with their followers.

Over the weekend, Zoe posted happy snaps with her man, literally floating on air.

Danny picked her up inside of their new kitchen, decked out with zigzag wooden flooring and white cabinetry, in celebration of the move.

She’s smiling from ear to ear, one palm stretched out to the ceiling in a white longsleeve.

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“Our happy home,” the duo simply captioned the blissful snap, excited for what’s yet to come.

Fans of Zoe couldn’t be happier for her either, and rushed to the comment’s section to send their well wishes.

“So happy for you both, new era!,” said one user.

Others chimed in with similar sentiments, gushing: “Congratulations!,” “SO so happy for you guys, enjoy every single moment,” and “exciting times ahead”.

But no one was happier for them than Zoe’s sister Molly-Mae who couldn’t help adding a comment of her own.

“Wooohoooo!!!! So happy for you guys…. But gonna miss you both so much.”

“Miss you already,” Zoe quipped back, followed by a red love heart.

Husband Danny posted a photo of his own on his socials: a snap of the home gym he’s “always dreamed of” in their new place.

“You get that home gym you’ve always dreamed of,” he said, showing off a treadmill, sets of weights, an exercise bike and more.

The couple are known to work out together and have even frequented HYROX intense training events.

Just before the couple’s move out of Molly’s home, Molly had been reflecting on whether she wants to expand her family and give her daughter Bambi – who she shares with boxer and Tommy Fury – a sibling.

She described how close her and Zoe are, and worried Bambi would miss out if she chose not to have another child soon.

“I’ve never had any regrets about starting a family young, but if I could go back and maybe go again, would I have waited a few more years? Potentially,” the star said, speaking on the pressure she feels to have a second child soon.

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Meanwhile Zoe appears to be happily settling into her new home, adding a video of herself making a healthy breakfast yesterday to her social media feed.