EastEnders viewers are clamouring for Zoe Slater’s return to the heart of Walford as the popular Slater clan is set to toast 25 years on the beloved BBC soap
Michelle Ryan, who played the memorable Zoe Slater from 2000 to 2005, has found herself the subject of fervent fan requests for a comeback throughout the past two decades.
Ryan was at the centre of an unforgettable EastEnders revelation when Kat Slater (played by Jessie Wallace) dropped the bombshell that she was actually Zoe’s birth mother.
Among her significant plotlines was Zoe’s tumultuous relationship with Dennis Rickman (portrayed by Nigel Harman), which crumbled under the strain of his ties with her adoptive sister Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
The storyline that had viewers on edge featured Zoe mistakenly believing she’d been responsible for Den Watts’s (Leslie Grantham) demise at the Queen Vic.
It soon emerged that Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) had seen Chrissie (Tracy-Ann Oberman) deal the fatal blow with Pauline Fowler’s (Wendy Richard) canine-themed doorstop.
The true circumstances surrounding the incident finally came to light, leading to Chrissie’s attempt to abscond abroad and somewhat clearing Sam and Zoe’s names.
Calls for Zoe’s emergence among fans come amid news that Stacey Slater actress Lacey Turner would be taking an “extended break” from the Square.
Soap boss Kate Oates, Head of Continuing Drama, has also hinted at the whispers of another iconic figure re-entering the scenes in Albert Square.
After EastEnders scooped the prize for Best Soap and Continuing Drama at the 2025 BAFTA TV Awards, Kate spilled the beans in the winners’ press conference: “If you like a return, I don’t think you’re going to be disappointed, because there’s potentially one on the cards.”
Kate also dangled a carrot for the soap enthusiasts, revealing to Radio Times: “There are some really big stories coming up and if it’s a return you’re after, then you might be interested in what’s on the horizon.”
Excited fans have taken to Reddit, swapping guesses about who’s next to pop back into Albert Square, with one suggesting: “I reckon they’ve finally convinced Zoe’s actress for the rumoured Slater week in September (to mark 25 years).”
Another fan gushed in response: “Oh that would be amazing”, and an additional view from a third was: “I’d be pretty delighted with that outcome tbh!”
One viewer expressed: “With Zoe I think it’s time they just recast if Michelle Ryan doesn’t want to come back”.
On platform X, the chat about potential returns continued with one saying: “With Stacey gone, it’s perfect timing for a full time return for Sam or Zoe. There’s gonna be a huge Slater shaped hole on the Square #Eastenders.”