EastEnders is one of the UK’s most popular soaps, alongside Hollyoaks, and is known for packing a dramatic punch. Sometimes the lives of its stars attract just as much attention as the plotlines themselves, and this is certainly the case when it comes to Kim Medcalf, who has played the iconic Sam Mitchell on-and-off for years.
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Kim, now 50, originally starred on the BBC show from 2002 to 2005 before returning again two years ago. She went on to take a break before returning once again towards the end of 2023. However, her character made an explosive departure yesterday, on Thursday 18 January. This has had fans speculating over potential behind-the-scenes drama, but the real reason for Sam (and Kim)’s departure is actually very simple.
The real reason Kim Medcalf left
Fans were shocked to see Sam’s unexpected departure on their screens yesterday, but it has since been revealed that actress Kim’s return to the soap was always intended to be short and sweet. Her character stormed out of Watford after having blackmailed her brother Phil into giving her the inheritance she was rightly entitled to. How did she get him to hand over the cash? By threatening to reveal his cheating, of course! In the end, she took the cash and outed him anyway. Quite the dramatic exit.
Speaking about her return to the soap, Kim said:
It's been brilliant, as always! It was perfect timing for me and worked really well that Sam was coming back for another short stint.
Kim reckons the drama of Sam’s exit was very fitting:
That's the beauty of this character – I love that she comes in, disrupts things, and then leaves the debris behind her.
So there we have it: Sam’s departure was planned, and Kim was down to have another go at stirring up trouble on camera.
Drama over sharing the part
However, there is some past drama behind the part of Sam. Let us explain. Kim played Sam from 2002-2005 before Danniella Westbrook reprised the role in 2009. Danniella claims she had no idea that Kim was set to replace her this time around as Sam, and threatened to sue the soap for making this brutal casting decision without keeping her in the loop.
Danniella said that the BBC soap would be hearing from her ‘legal team’ in a post on X and even took the time to add a salty note for Kim:
Wishing Kym the best of luck at @BBCEastEnders yet again this poor woman has to recreate a Samantha Mitchell as close to my last two recent come backs on the square go smash it darling..x
As you can see, the drama doesn’t necessarily stay on the screen when it comes to EastEnders!
Read more:
⋙ BBC's Charles Hanson faces domestic abuse charges: Who is his wife Rebecca Ludlam?
Sources used:
DailyMail: Iconic EastEnders star leaves the soap just months after returning with their final scenes already broadcast
Metro: Is Sam Mitchell leaving EastEnders?
