EastEnders fans reckon a Slater legend is heading back to Walford – but with a twist.
Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, made her Walford debut back in 2000. As the youngest Slater sister, Zoe rocked up to Albert Square with the rest of the clan including Kat (Jessie Wallace).
And it’s fair to say Zoe had her fair share of big storylines. She had a fling with her mum’s ex and was also part of The Witches of Walford, which saw her team up with Chrissie Watts and Sam Mitchell to take revenge on Dirty Den.
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But it was in 2001, when the soap created one of its biggest and most iconic twists ever involving the Slater family. In scenes that are still imitated now, Zoe learned the horrifying truth about her parentage.
(Image: BBC)
Zoe found out that big sister Kat was actually her biological mother. It was then revealed that Kat was raped by her uncle Harry when she was 13, with her falling pregnant with Zoe.
The shock news resulted in the famous clip involving Zoe and Kat. Storming through the Square, Zoe told Kat: “You can’t tell me what to do, you ain’t my mother,” to which Kat screamed back: “Yes I am.” The scene has since been dubbed one of the UK’s all-time best moments.
(Image: BBC)
Sadly, in 2005, Zoe left the square and moved to Ibiza. Since then, she’s not been seen, and is rarely ever mentioned apart from in 2022 when it was revealed Zoe is back living in London.
Now, fans are convinced a Zoe Slater return is on the cards – but there’s a twist. Online, viewers reckon she could be heading back, but with the character undergoing a recast.
One fan on a Reddit thread said: “It’s nearly 20 years since Zoe was last in the square. A recast could definitely work. It would make sense for Zoe to be back. And also Little Mo.”
(Image: Press Association)
Someone else added: “I’m honestly shocked they’ve never brought Zoe back with a different actress. I know Michelle Ryan is iconic in the role, and it might not work like when they recast a different Michelle instead of Susan Tully, but it’s worth a go.”
A third wrote: “We know that Zoe is back living in London. Now, unless Michelle REALLY wants to return, then Zoe will need to be recast. It has been 17 years since she was last in the show, so there’s massive room to manoeuvre in who is cast. I hope we’d get a Zoe who has matured and that would tie into the idea I have for her.”
(Image: BBC)
Another mused: “l’ve been calling for a Zoe recast for YEARS!!! Michelle Ryan really was not that great and actor, she was totally carried by Jessie Wallace for the most part.
“A recast would be ideal not only so they could hopefully find a more evenly matched scene partner for Jessie (Kat/Zoe storyline always brings out the best Kat-acting) but also the character could be moulded in so many different ways since it’s literally been almost 20 years.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
