Zoe

TV legend Johnny Ball has revealed he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer.

The 87-year-old, who first found fame presenting Play School in 1967, was diagnosed in August 2022. 

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He then underwent three months of daily radiation treatment and is now in recovery.

He told The Mirror: “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2022 and, thankfully, after three months of daily radiation treatment, starting in the September, I’m through it, I’m fine.”

Johnny, who has regular annual checks, says he knows how fortunate he has been to survive.

He said: “My friend Harry Secombe didn’t survive it, Bob Monkhouse didn’t survive it. I’m 20 years younger than them and I am lucky, because now we can cure it.”

Britain’s Zoe Backstedt claimed a dominant victory in the under-23 time trial at the Road World Championships in Rwanda.

Backstedt, 20, took the winner’s rainbow jersey and gold medal, finishing one minute 51 seconds ahead of Viktoria Chladonova of Slovakia, with Italy’s Federica Venturelli third on a hilly 22.6km course around the capital Kigali.

The favourite for victory set a blistering pace in the final section of a course which consisted of two big climbs – the second being a punishing cobbled ascent which seemed to completely drain many competitors’ energy.

“It’s brutal climbing here, but I really like it,” said Backstedt afterwards. “The climb at the end – your legs are tired and you look up and you think ‘this one’s going to hurt’. It took so much energy out of your arms, legs and body on all of those bumps.”

Backstedt, who is from Wales, crossed the line and immediately had icy water poured over the back of her neck as she gasped for breath in hot and humid conditions, with temperatures about 26C.

This is the first time the Road Worlds, which began in 1921, have been held in Africa.

Backstedt, who rides for the Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto team, is the daughter of Swede and 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus, and sister of Elynor who competes for UAE-ADQ.

The men’s U23 time trial will take place on Monday afternoon.

HARRY Styles takes the next step in his romance with Zoe Kravitz. 

The Sun revealed last month the pop star, 31, and actress, 36, were dating and now insiders say they are inseparable. 

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As they left Newark airport in New Jersey this week, Harry wore jeans and Zoe was in all black.

Friends said they were invited to singer Charli XCX’s second wedding in Sicily today. 

The popstar first sparked romance rumours with Zoe last month when they were seen together in Rome.

The One Direction hitmaker, who was then spotted looking loved up with his partner in NYC last week, has now suggested they’re getting very serious very quickly.

Harry was seen enjoying a lunch date with Zoe where he met her music star father Lenny in New York‘s West Village.

They put on a united front, holding hands as they entered the Sant Ambroeus venue before Lenny, 61, arrived solo.

The Ain’t Over Til It’s Over hitmaker donned a red sleeveless top and skintight jeans, with a black back thrown across his body.

He pulled on a pair of sunglasses as he strode through the streets to the venue, ready to meet his daughter’s new love.

Meanwhile Caught Stealing star Zoe cut a chic figure in a black vest and matching silk skirt.

She left her hair in a natural style flowing over her shoulders while also opting for a pair of shades.

The Batman movie alum walked hand in hand with Night Changes vocalist Harry, who kept a serious expression ahead of the family get-together.

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EastEnders viewers think they know who Zoe Slater was talking about when she told mum Kat Moon ‘he’s alive’, after a flashback twist in the latest episode on the BBC soap

Viewers of EastEnders think they know who Zoe Slater is running from, and who she realised “is alive”.

The character made the comment in a recent episode after being shot by mistake. Zoe assumed someone was after her and that they had fired the gun, before flashbacks revealed some of her huge secrets.

Zoe told her mum Kat that someone was “still alive”, clearly shocked as if she’d thought they were dead. Then on Thursday we saw a deadly twist air involving Zoe and Max Branning, as their connection was finally explained.

We learned Zoe was trying to track down the son she’d abandoned at a hospital shortly after giving birth in 2006, with it revealed his twin sister had died. Zoe didn’t think she could look after him and asked for him to be adopted, before she fled.

READ MORE: EastEnders fans ‘know’ who father of Zoe’s babies is – and it’s not MaxREAD MORE: Zoe Slater’s twin shock as EastEnders reveals character’s tragic past in flashback episode

Years later and prior to her Walford return, Zoe met Max in Ibiza and the pair got close. She told Max about hiring a Private Investigator, explaining her debts.

She managed to track down an old neighbour of the family who adopted her son, and was told that if she gave him £5,000 she’d get some answers. Max wasn’t sure and thought something wasn’t right, but Zoe said he was the real deal and the neighbour would talk for the right price.

After an incident left him possibly dead though, Max and Zoe fled and parted ways. Now, fans think it’s this neighbour or even the Private Investigator that she was talking about when she said “he’s alive”.

So did she mean the man, the neighbour, that she thought she’d murdered by accident? Some fans questioned if it was the neighbour or the PI, or even a past character who is believed to have died.

One viewer said on social media: “Is this the guy who Zoe was refering to last night when she said ‘He’s still alive’ or could this have been referring to Max?” meaning the man who attacked Zoe. Believing it was the PI Zoe had attacked, when it was the neighbour, a fan added: “So is the enemy possibly the PI as we don’t know he is dead.”

As for the past character, a theory read: “‘He’s still alive’ is Vincent. Vincent is Ravi’s supplier. Zoe worked for him and owes him a lot of money. Vincent drives Howie out. This storyline ties the Slaters, the Foxes, and the Panesars.”

It comes as fans questioned if Zoe was tied into Ravi Gulati and Nicola Mitchell’s drug storyline, also featuring other characters. It was the constant references to Ibiza and her recent dash Barcelona that left fans wondering if she was linked to some other characters.

So is Zoe involved with their dodgy dealings? Fans certainly think so, taking to social media to share their theories. One fan said: “I think Zoe is the one that is behind the drugs thing with Ravi to get money to look for her son?”

Another fan theorised: “I’m convinced he’s part of Ravi’s drug storyline,” while a third fan recalled Nicola mentioning Ibiza recently. On Thursday we found out how Zoe met Max, and who she may have been running from.

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 .

Zoe Slater was heard commenting that someone was ‘alive’ as if they were meant to be dead in a scene on EastEnders on Wednesday night, as she was left fighting for her life

Fans believe a dead EastEnders character may be about to come back to life in a twist linked to Zoe Slater.

Zoe, played by Michelle Ryan, panicked that someone was out to get her as she was shot in explosive scenes on Wednesday night. She had no idea she had accidentally been shot after Jack Branning and Ravi Gulati fought over a gun.

Fearing she was in danger, she admitted to her mum Kat Moon that someone was after her and seemed shocked when she said the words “he’s still alive”. She didn’t specify who she was referring to before she lost consciousness.

Now fans think it’s someone from the show’s past and that they could be about to make a shocking return. One theory was that she was talking about Paul Trueman, who was killed off on the BBC soap in 2004.

READ MORE: Max Branning makes dramatic EastEnders return in shock Zoe Slater twistREAD MORE: EastEnders fans ‘rumble’ Max’s link to Zoe – and he’s not the father of her baby

Another theory was it was about Dennis Rickman, who died in 2005. Some fans wondered if it was a living character, but Zoe wrongly assumed they were dead – with Ross Marshall named, as well as Max Branning.

Fans also questioned if Zoe’s biological father Harry Slater, who raped Zoe’s mother Kat Moon when she was 13 years old, was the one who was “still alive”. Fans took to X with their theories.

One fan said: “Who’s still alive? What if Dennis Rickman or Paul Trueman is alive and Zoe knows them?” Another fan said: “Who was Zoe looking at in the pub? She clearly saw someone. And she told Kat ‘he’s still alive’.

“Was it Joel? Was it Ross? Was it Oscar, then did she click Max was alive because he looks so much like Oscar??” Another fan posted: “Zoe said ‘He’s still alive,” when talking to Kat in the ambulance. It’s either her twin brother, or (((drum roll))) Harry Slater didn’t die in 2018!”

More will be revealed in upcoming episodes. It come as fans learned Zoe had given birth to twins in 2006, while until that flashback episode no one knew about it.

It seemed that sadly one of the twins died after childbirth, while Zoe left the little boy and fled the hospital, wanting him to be adopted. Now, fans think the father of the babies could be Den Watts.

Zoe slept with Den amid a storyline with her partner Dennis, Den’s son, and it was thought she had an abortion. Now fans think she was still pregnant and that the twins are Den’s children.

Taking to X one fan said: “If anything it’s Den’s baby.” Another said: “Wait is Dirty den the dad.” A third fan posted: “Zoe Slater is the mother of twins by Den Watts, and one of them is dead.” Another added: “No way she had Den’s baby???? No way right????” A further post read: “Is that Den’s baby?.”

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 .

Michelle Ryan’s Zoe Slater is at the centre of many iconic moments on Albert Square

Zoe Slater is officially back in Walford. Michelle Ryan and her iconic character returned to EastEnders permanently this week and her storyline is already of to a dramatic start, complete with dark secrets, arguments outside the Vic and a shocking shooting.

The character’s return was hotly anticipated by fans ever since she briefly appeared in three episodes earlier this year. Her reunion with mum Kat Slater aired on Tuesday night (2 September) and fans have flocked to the internet to share their theories around where her storyline might go.

Zoe is fan favourite on EastEnders thanks to her involvement in many of the show’s iconic moments and characters. Here we take a look at her past, from her reason for leaving Walford to one of the show’s most quoted arguments…

Arriving in Walford

Twenty five years ago, The Slater family first burst onto the BBC soap. A teenage Zoe moved to Albert Square with her sisters, Kat, Lynne and Little Mo, father Charlie and grandmother Mo Harris.

Later, her cousin Stacey would arrive and become one the core members of the family, but at the start, Zoe was the youngest Slater and described by the BBC as “bolshy and defiant”. Though her family had just moved to Walford, she was intent on getting away and joining her Uncle Harry in Spain – something Kat was not willing to let happen.

Finding out who her mother is

Less than a year after she arrived, Zoe wanted to leave Walford to join Harry Slater, her uncle, in Spain. Her sister Kat is not willing to let that happen and orders Zoe not to go.

In a fight outside the Vic, Zoe yells the first half of one EastEnders’ most iconic quotes: “You can’t tell me what to do, you ain’t my mother!”

“Yes, I am!” Kat responds.

She explains that she was 13 when she had Zoe and that she got pregnant after being raped by Harry. The argument leads Kat to attempt suicide, and Zoe, unable to process what she’s learned, runs away.

The twist has affected Kat for the rest of her time on the show and even led to a spin-off called Kat & Alfie: Redwater, in which she goes looking for Luke, her long-lost son and Zoe’s twin brother.

During her first time away from Walford, Zoe is found on the streets by Roxy Drake, a pimp who forces her into sex work. Thankfully, Kat tracks her daughter down and is able to take her home after head-butting Roxy.

Love triangle with Kat

Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed a weird look Zoe gave to Anthony Trueman when she entered the Vic on Tuesday’s episode. This is because the two used to be in a relationship.

But Zoe is not the only Slater that Anthony has been involved with. In fact, before he dated her, Anthony was dating Kat. Zoe disowned Kat for disapproving of the relationship but when Anthony reveals that he’s still in love with Kat, the relationship ends and Zoe runs away again.

Sleeping with Den Watts

When Zoe returns again, she starts to date Dennis Rickman, the son of iconic EastEnders villain Den Watts. The relationship with Dennis was doomed from the start, as unbeknownst to Zoe, he was in love with his adoptive sister, Sharon Watts.

On Christmas Day 2005, Zoe learns of Dennis and Sharon’s affair and plan to run away together. Den convinces Zoe that the only way to keep Dennis is to say she is pregnant, as Sharon is believed to be infertile.

The plan works but Dennis refuses to sleep with Zoe again and she becomes desperate to get pregnant for real. At his suggestion, Zoe resorts to sleeping with Den.

After Dennis catches his girlfriend and his father in bed together, and realises Zoe wasn’t pregnant, he leaves to be with Sharon. But not before informing Den’s wife Chrissie of his affair with Zoe.

READ MORE: Shop Stacey Solomon’s exact drawers that are ‘perfect’ for adding warmth to a bedroom

Her involvement in Den’s murder

Zoe does get pregnant by Den and a vengeful Chrissie convinces her to terminate the pregnancy and team up to exact revenge on Den. Joined by Sam Mitchell, the three hatch a plan to reveal everything he has done to his beloved daughter Sharon.

Upon learning of the way Den used her infertility against her, Sharon disowns him. When Den realised this was Chrissie’s plan, he attacks her and a distressed Zoe panics and hits him with a metal doorstop. Den collapses and Zoe believes she has killed him.

But, after she leaves, Den wakes up and grabs Chrissie who hits him with the same doorstop. Zoe is led to believe she is the murderer, but is eventually told the truth by Sam. When she learns what really happened, Zoe punches Chrissie and decides to leave Walford.

Leaving Walford

Before this year, the last time Zoe was seen on EastEnders was when she was leaving for Ibiza after finding out she wasn’t responsible for Den Watts’ murder. At the tube station, Zoe tearfully called Kat to say goodbye.

Kat races to meet Zoe at the station and gives her the hospital bracelet she had as a baby. Zoe replied: “I love you, Mum.”

The two parted on good terms, and Zoe wasn’t seen again on screen until this year, when she was revealed to be staying with Stacey Slater. However, as proven by her frosty reunion with Kat, something must have changed.

In 2015, Kat tells Mo and Stacey that she was planning to save some money to visit Zoe in Spain, but Mo tells Stacey that Zoe does not want to see Kat. Mo tries to contact Zoe to change her mind, but she refuses and tells Kat that she wants to move on from her and Walford. Kat then visits the convent where she gave birth to Zoe and finds out about her son, Luke.

Return to Walford

Zoe’s return to EastEnders got fully underway in the most recent episodes of the soap and fans have many theories about what she has been up to in the two decades since she left. Some have suggested she may be the real mother of Joel Marshall, one of the show’s current villains.

Others have guessed she is secretly be married to another returning favourite, Max Branning. If so, she would be the second Slater to be involved with him, as Stacey has been romantically linked to Max several times, including when she was still dating his son, Bradley.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Jess Breach, who is one score away from 50 international tries, retains her spot after two tries against the USA, as does impressive outside centre Megan Jones.

Jones is joined by Gloucester-Hartpury’s Jade Shekells in the midfield, with Emma Sing named at full-back.

In the forwards, lock Lilli Ives Campion and flanker Abi Burton are set for World Cup debuts after being named to start.

Maddie Feaunati starts at number eight against the nation her father Zak played for 13 times.

Prop Mackenzie Carson could make her first appearance from the bench after being injured in this year’s Six Nations.

World Rugby women’s player of the year Ellie Kildunne, who starred with two tries against the United States, is included on a strong bench that includes last week’s starting half-backs Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison.

Samoa, who are fully amateur and ranked 15th in the world, lost their opening game 73-0 to Australia.

Given England played two different teams across this year’s Women’s Six Nations and still won a fourth consecutive Grand Slam, they are likely to record a big scoreline despite the wholesale changes.

A bonus-point victory will put Mitchell’s side in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.

There’s less than a week to go before the ‘mother of all reunions’ on EastEnders, as Kat and Zoe come face to face for the first time in two years – as they tease what’s to come

With just a week to go until the ‘mother of all reunions’, Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan joined The One Show live from Albert Square on Wednesday night, to give EastEnders fans a teaser of what they can expect.

Spoilers have revealed that Kat and Zoe will finally come face-to-face next week for the first time in two decades, months after Zoe made her brief return to Albert Square.

At the time, Alfie and Stacey were the only ones who had been in contact with her and had tried to do all that they could to keep the secret from Kat. However, the two couldn’t keep the secret for long as news got to both Tommy and Jean this week. Tonight, the guilt got too much for Alfie, as he confessed all…

READ MORE: EastEnders fans ‘convinced’ Cindy and Anthony will have scandalous affair after ‘clue’READ MORE: EastEnders horror as resident ‘fights for life’ after shock shooting on the Square

Kat was left stunned as the episode came to an end, and now the secret’s out, EastEnders fans only have to wait a few days until the highly anticipated reunion next week. The BBC soap aren’t giving too much away, but JB Gill managed to get some details out of Michelle and Jessie during his trip to Albert Square…

Revealing what viewers can expect from her major return next week, Michelle said: “Zoe is at the lowest point that we’ve ever known her to be. Disappeared 20 years ago, and we’re seeing that she’s struggled a lot. So, she’s desperate, she comes back, and even despite herself, she knows that she needs her family.

“And I think that’s where Kat is such a huge part. The mother-daughter dynamic is the best thing that you can play,” Michelle continued.

“But we still play it in a way as sisters, because we grew up as sisters,” Jessie added. “Well, the characters grew up as sisters, but there are elements of, ‘I am your mother!'” she laughed. “But that’s there, that’s sort of underlying.”

Digging for even more details, the JLS star asked the duo whether the reunion would be explosive, or pain sailing – but of course, we knew the answer.

“Oh come on! It’s EastEnders, what do you think?!” Jessie laughed. “Carnage. Complete carnage,” Michelle added.

As Jessie mentioned, Kat and Zoe grew up as ‘sisters’ until October 2001, where Kat accidentally revealed the truth during an argument, creating the iconic – “You’re not my mother!” line.

The pair have had a tumultuous relationship ever since – but with Zoe now heading back to Albert Square, can Kat have the mother daughter relationship with Zoe that she’s always wanted?

It’s not the only dramatic moment happening next week in the BBC soap, as one residents life is set to hang in the balance after a shock shooting. But who is it?

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 .

MOLLY-Mae Hague’s sister Zoe seems to have forgiven Tommy Fury as he recovers from his alcohol misuse.

Fans of the former Love Island couple saw how Zoe warned her younger sister from reuniting with Tommy after their split last year.

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Molly-Mae gave people a raw view into her split from the boxer, and the reasons behind it in her Amazon Prime docuseries Behind It All.

The influencer explained Tommy’s alcohol use played a big role in their split, and Zoe is seen warning Molly-Mae from getting back together with him in a tense exchange.

But the famous couple have rekindled their romance and continue to parent their daughter Bambi, two, together.

Now, it seems Zoe and Tommy’s relationship has improved after Molly-Mae showed them working out in the same gym with Bambi in tow.

She took to her Instagram stories to film Zoe showing her niece how to do a burpee on the gym floor.

In Molly-Mae’s next story, Tommy is running on a treadmill as Bambi looks on sceptically.

“I think she may feel the same about the gym as I do,” she captioned a close-up photo of Bambi’s face.

The three adults then went for a stroll in the town they were in, where Zoe and Bambi watched a local artist do some painting and the Tommy held his daughter on his shoulders.

Tommy and Molly-Mae recently confirmed they were an item again after splitting last August.

They are now working hard to put past cheating allegations and Tommy’s alcohol-fuelled partying problems behind them.

Molly-Mae recently opened up to fans about the real reason Tommy doesn’t appear frequently on her vlog – like he used to prior to their split.

The influencer addressed criticism levelled at Tommy by some fans who accused him of being an absent dad.

In hurtful comments, they claimed that Molly’s sister Zoe, 28, is more of a father figure due to her regular appearance in the videos.

Ex Love Island star Molly explained: “I’ve seen so many comments saying ‘Zoe is more the dad’ I only vlog when I am not with Tommy, I am with Tommy literally 80 per ceent of the week and he is with Bambi the majority of the week.

Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury – Reunion Clues

MOLLY-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury are on holiday in Dubai after splitting in August. Yet have they dropped clues about their reunion before?

“But I vlog when we are here and he is at his because it’s just something that I am not ready to like open up with yet and like flinging the camera around like when we’re a family.

“I just think like we’re not there yet and still figuring out life and living situations. I’m not ready to vlog like we used to.”

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BBC Radio 2’s presenter switch-up has seen the channel lose half a million weekly listeners.

Back in December, former Radio 1 broadcaster Scott Mills, 51, was revealed as Zoe Ball’s replacement as she took a break from the plum presenting spot.

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At the time Zoe, 54 – who had been absent from a handful of shows due to issues off air – told how December 20 would be her last early-morning programme after six years as she chose to “focus on family.”

Listeners were quick to spot three clues she was set to up sticks, including a family tragedy.

She has since returned to the BBC Radio 2 fold with The Zoe Ball Show, which airs every Saturday.

Yet between April and June 2025 the station has lost half a million listeners compared to figures from three months earlier.

Scott took over in January 2025.

Between January and March 2025, 13.11million listeners tuned into the station overall.

Yet during the most recent time period reviewed, this dropped to 12.62million.

Specifically for the Breakfast Show, figures marked 6.45million average weekly listeners from January to March.

Yet between April and June, this has dropped to 6.22million.

ALL CHANGE

Zoe’s last BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show was on Friday, December 20 – with “plenty of fun and shenanigans” ahead of Christmas.

Yet at the time, Zoe said she would remain on BBC Radio 2.

She said: “After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family.”

Telling her listeners about her decision, she said: “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.

Zoe Ball’s career so far

Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.

She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.

The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.

After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.

In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.

But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.

Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.

The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.

As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.

In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.

In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.

In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.

She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.

After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe announced she was quitting her role on BBC Two in May 2021.

Zoe’s journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.

After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.

In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and he personally announced that Zoe would take over his popular slot. She started presenting the breakfast show on 14 January 2019.

“We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.”

She added she would also miss her colleagues, saying they were “like family to me”.

The early morning presenter added: “But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest.

“You know I love you all to bits.”

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Michelle Ryan has been spotted back filming on the EastEnders set for the first time just weeks after her character Zoe Slater made a surprise return to the soap

Michelle Ryan has been spotted back on the set of EastEnders for the first time since making her surprise return to the BBC soap just weeks ago.

Viewers were left in shock when Zoe made her return to the soap after 20 years, although she scarpered once again after a close run in with her mother Kat. During her brief stint earlier this month, Zoe was seen away from the Square in Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner‘s) flat as Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) came to help.

Zoe then fled to Barcelona after a close run in with her mother Kat, as she revealed she was hiding a big secret that everyone would “hate her” for if they found out. Currently, Alfie is in Barcelona to try and bring Zoe back. It’s known Zoe will be returning to the Square later this year, with the first pictures of the star on set released.

In the pictures, Michelle could be seen filming on set with Sonny Kendall, who plays Kat Slater’s (Jessie Wallace) son, Tommy Moon. Zoe has never met her half-brother Tommy, but from the pictures, it looks like their first meeting could be happening very soon. As well as Tommy, Zoe also has half brothers Bert and Ernie, who she’s also yet to meet.

Fans can expect drama to go down when Zoe eventually does reunite with her mum Kat. The pair had a turbulent relationship, with which included revelations about Kat’s past and the truth about Zoe’s parentage. Despite a reconciliation, the pair’s relationship became fractured again and they now remained estranged.

However, Alfie hopes to bring the two back together by bringing Zoe back from Barcelona, although we could see dramatic scenes if his plan backfires. Keeping Zoe’s return a secret from his wife, Alfie told Kat he was off to Australia, as his brother Spencer needed help.

Kat is already becoming suspicious, as she was heard telling Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) that she hadn’t spoken to Alfie since he left – and Spencer had been acting weird when she called.

Prior to Alfie leaving, Kat was heard telling him that their relationship would be over for good if she found out he was lying about his whereabouts. Will Kat be able to forgive him? And how will her reunion with her daughter Zoe go down?

Zoe’s return marked the first episode for new Executive producer Ben Wadey, but it’s not the only legendary return we’ll be seeing. This week, it was announced that Karen Henthorn would be reprising her role as Julie Bates, as Nigel’s dementia gets progressively worse.

Speaking on Michelle Ryan’s return to the soap, Wadey said: “Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as although we haven’t seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.

“I was absolutely delighted when Michelle agreed to return, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back to Walford. Whilst I can’t say too much at this stage, Zoe’s return is just one of the many exciting storylines we have planned.”

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 .

Alfie Moon is currently hiding a big secret from his wife Kat in EastEnders, but next week his lie is set to be exposed – leading up to a return for Zoe Slater

It’s set to be another huge week in EastEnders next week, as Alfie’s huge lie is exposed. Just days after his third marriage to Kat, Alfie revealed he was off to Australia to see Spencer – starting their marriage off on a huge lie.

Viewers however, know he’s headed off to Barcelona to try and find Zoe Slater, after she left Stacey’s London flat following a close run in with her mother, Kat. We know Zoe will be back to reprise her role full-time, but with recent events – it looks like we could be seeing her on screen soon.

Kat seems to be catching on to the lie, as she this week, she revealed she hadn’t spoken to Alfie, and Spencer was acting shifty when she called.

Now, spoilers for next week reveal his lie is set to be rumbled. Stacey Slater returns when Kat expresses her upset about recent events. Stacey covers that she hasn’t heard from Alfie – but Jean later accidentally exposes her when she reveals Stacey took a call from Alfie in the morning.

A furious Kat once again rings her brother-in-law Spencer to demand answers, and it then becomes apparent that Alfie isn’t in Australia after all.

Of course, Kat heads off to confront Stacey about the huge lie – but will she find out the truth?

Earlier this month, Michelle Ryan left EastEnders fans stunned when she made her shock return as Zoe Slater after two decades away from Albert Square. Michelle featured in two episodes in Stacey’s flat before heading off to Barcelona – but it’s been confirmed it’s not the last we’ll see of her.

It’s been released that Zoe will be making a permanent return back to the soap, in scenes airing later in the summer. Those who have been keeping an eye on Michelle’s Instagram story will know the star has already started filming.

We know the soaps film around 6-8 weeks in advance, which means we can expect to see Zoe onscreen around that time frame, in late summer.

Not much has been given away about how Zoe’s return will go down, but it’s safe to say she’ll be bumping into her mother Kat Slater at some point.

Zoe’s return marked new executive producer Ben Wadey’s first episode in charge, as he teased exciting things to come for the character.

Speaking on the huge moment, he said: “Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as although we haven’t seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.

“I was absolutely delighted when Michelle agreed to return, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back to Walford. Whilst I can’t say too much at this stage, Zoe’s return is just one of the many exciting storylines we have planned.”

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 .

EastEnders viewers will be treated to huge episodes in the coming weeks, with Zoe Slater actress Michelle Ryan promising ‘high stakes’ after a big night shoot this week

Zoe Slater will feature in “high stakes” scenes on EastEnders in a couple of months time.

Michelle Ryan returned to the BBC soap on Monday night, reprising the role after 20 years. Zoe is in “a mess” with more set to be revealed about her return and what’s gone on with her in the past two decades.

But with her on screen for a few episodes this week it’s been revealed that she will be back full-time in the summer. Now, we’ve got a glimpse at some of the big scenes ahead for the character when she heads back to the show.

Michelle took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to confirm that on Monday evening she and the cast filmed a night shoot. Most night shoots seem to be around huge and dramatic episodes.

While she gave nothing away, she did tease fans can expect big scenes ahead and “high stakes”. She addressed the “new block of episodes” filmed this week, that will likely air in six to eight weeks time, as she returns in the summer.

She spilled in a post online: “Ahh coffee, much needed after the night shoot last night. So excited for this new block of episodes, I can’t reveal anything but wow.

READ MORE: Zoe Slater makes dramatic EastEnders return after 20 years as Michelle Ryan reprises role

“High stakes. I’m carrying around the scripts to prep, new lilac pages. Well done to the writers, who have knocked it out of the park!” Viewers were left reacting to the post, excited for what was ahead.

Commenting under the post, one fan said: “Getting so excited! You and Jessie in them scenes are going to be amazing can’t wait!” Another wrote: “Can’t wait for what’s in store in the months ahead!!!”

A third fan said: “So excited to see what’s going to happen so happy your back!” while a fourth commented: “I am literally so excited for what’s to come for Zoe and I’m equally excited for you Michelle.” It comes amid the mystery surrounding Zoe’s return with her seemingly hiding something.

Michelle teased what fans could expect from the return, hinting that Zoe could be in a bad way. She spilled: “I can’t say too much as there is a lot of drama to come, but Zoe is a mess. She’s not the girl that left Walford twenty years ago, and she’s been really struggling on her own.

“She has her defences up, but this week you will see that she needs help, but whether she is willing to accept it is another story.” So what help does Zoe need, and can her family help her?

According to the soap, Zoe carries twenty years of deep-rooted resentment towards her mum. She’s not even met her other siblings including Tommy and the twins, while it’s not known if her own twin brother Dermott will be addressed.

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.

It turns out Zoe Saldaña was more than just emotionally drained after tearfully accepting her supporting actress Oscar for “Emilia Pérez” at this year’s Academy Awards — she was also worn out physically.

The 46-year-old actor explained Wednesday on the ABC talk show “Live With Kelly and Mark” how she had been fighting a cold and felt fully exhausted immediately following one of her career-defining moments.

“I collapsed right after. I lost my voice within an hour after I won the award,” she said. “I couldn’t stand on those heels that I had. All I wanted to do was crawl in bed and maybe cry. I don’t know why, I just needed to cry.”

The “Avatar” star noted that up until that point her body was running on all cylinders for months on end during awards season.

“Your body is running on pure adrenaline so you know that your immune system is in optimal condition, but once you tell your body that it’s over, then everything sort of collapses,” Saldaña said.

The Oscar victory capped an impressive awards season run for the “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor, having won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG and Critics’ Choice awards for her role as Mexico City attorney Rita Castro in “Emilia Pérez.”

While her performance was almost universally celebrated and well-regarded, the film as a whole was heavily criticized for its incomplete and offensive portrayals of transgender issues and the lack of consideration taken in depicting Mexico.

LGBTQ+ media advocacy group GLAAD declared the film is “Not Good Trans Representation.” The organization did not nominate “Emilia Pérez” for any GLAAD Media Awards.

Although physically and emotionally exhausted, Saldaña managed to make some attention-grabbing statements in the Oscars press room after a Mexican journalist noted that the movie’s presentation of Mexico was “really hurtful for us Mexicans.”

“First of all, I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended,” Saldaña said in the defense of the film. “That was never our intention. We spoke and came from a place of love, and I will stand by that.”

She went on to further disagree with the Mexican journalist’s point of view regarding the centrality and importance of Mexico in the 13-time Oscar nominated movie.

“For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women,” Saldaña explained. “And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day, but trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find the most authentic voices.”

Outside of the issues within the film, much of the main cast and crew of the movie was bogged down by mostly self-inflicted negative press.

Actor Karla Sofía Gascón faced backlash in January after Canadian writer Sarah Hagi resurfaced tweets dating from 2016 to 2023 that spoke negatively of Muslims’ clothing, language and culture in her home country of Spain. Additionally, Gascón caught heat for resurfaced comments about the 2020 killing of George Floyd, the ensuing racial reckoning, the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19-era Academy Awards ceremony in 2021.

Gascón later apologized for her previous online remarks and deactivated her X account.

The film’s director Jacques Audiard spoke openly on record about how little he prepped to portray Mexico and denigrated the Spanish language during his press tour.

When asked by a Mexican journalist at a red carpet event about how much he had to study up on Mexico and Mexican culture to prepare for the movie, Audiard gave a telling answer.

“No, I didn’t study that much. What I needed to know, I already knew a little about,” the filmmaker said. “It was more about capturing the little details and we came a lot to Mexico to see actors, to see locations, to see the decorations and so on.”

Speaking with the French outlet Konbini, Audiard spoke down on the Spanish language, saying, “Spanish is a language of modest countries, of developing countries, of the poor and migrants.”

Audiard later apologized for his comments after the movie received backlash from Mexican audiences.

Selena Gomez, who played a pivotal supporting role in the film, was criticized for her proficiency in Spanish. Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez was among those who called out Gomez’s performance and Spanish language ability.

Gomez has previously said her Spanish fluency waned after she started working in television at age 7. She responded to the criticism on social media, saying, “I did the best I could with the time I was given. Doesn’t take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.” Derbez later apologized.

EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders actor Shane Richie has hinted at a major new storyline on the cards for Alfie Moon and Kat Slater amid a wedding for the pair, with the reports Zoe Slater is returning

Alfie Moon actor Shane Richie may have shared hints at the rumoured EastEnders return of Zoe Slater. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror at The British Soap Awards 2025, the Walford legend revealed there were huge scenes on the way. He promised a massive new storyline that would top the soap’s 40th anniversary.

Not only that, but he revealed the storyline would run for months, continuing into next year. He remained coy over what and who the storyline involved, but teased “fireworks”.

He hinted it would involve Alfie and Kat, amid reports Kat’s daughter Zoe will finally make her return to the show after decades. Michelle Ryan is tipped to reprise her role for the first time since 2005, so perhaps this is what Shane was referring to.

Teasing all, Shane revealed new producer Ben Wadey had huge things planned for the show. The actor told us: “He has told me some things. I said let me sit down.

“There’s fireworks, there’s Kat and Alfie. There is a story that is about to kick in, which will carry on through to after Christmas. Honestly it’s a big story. If you thought the 40th was big wait until you see this story. That’s all I’m saying.”

READ MORE: EastEnders’ Michelle Collins confirms break from BBC soap for ‘strange’ new role

Shane also told us about his hopes for a Spencer Moon return. Spencer was mentioned recently on the show after his partner Vicki Fowler made her own comeback after more than 20 years away.

Now, Shane is hoping Alfie will be reunited with his brother but maybe not too soon. He explained: “I would like him to come back. One of my sons keeps in touch with Christopher [Parker], but he’s a lawyer now.

“He flies between LA and London. I would love to think that one day they might bring back Spencer, but so much is going on at the moment. Alfie could probably do without that.”

It comes amid The Sun reporting that Michelle Ryan would be reprising her role as Zoe, while the BBC soap have yet to confirm the news. According to the publication, a source claimed it was “the perfect moment” for the return and the timing “felt right”.

They 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.” It comes after other returns being teased in the coming weeks and months.

Max Branning has been teased to make a comeback, as well as his son Oscar Branning. When asked by The Mirror about this, EastEnders cast members including Jacqueline Jossa and Scott Maslen declined to comment.

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 .