Unannounced departure of renowned character from EastEnders aired in early BBC iPlayer release
Walford bids farewell to yet another cherished character.
For the Thursday, January 18, 2024, episode of EastEnders, which airs at 7.30 p.m. on BBC One and is available at 6 a.m. on BBC iPlayer, there is a spoiler warning.
An emotional, unexpected departure was seen on EastEnders in Thursday’s early release.
After cunning Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) found out her bully brother Phil (Steve McFadden) had cheated on wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) before their wedding with Lola’s mother Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit), the BBC One soap opera’s turbulent week for the Mitchells continued.
At his and Kat’s birthday celebration, Sam revealed Phil’s secret to a packed Queen Vic pub after Phil refused to cave in to his threats of blackmail to obtain her portion of the money bequeathed to her by their late Aunt Sal (the late Anna Karen).
In the aftermath, Sam found herself abandoned by the Mitchell clan and the majority of the Square, while Kat and Phil’s marriage broke down.
After this, Sam got into a fight with Phil, who rejected her, and she decided to leave Walford once more. But not before robbing Peggy’s nightclub in the middle of saying farewell to her pal Zack Hudson (James Farrar) and sending money to her son Ricky Branning (Frankie Day).
And with that, a heartbroken Sam went to the tube station in Walford East and left town again.
Is this Sam Mitchell’s final appearance in EastEnders?
Has Sam Mitchell permanently departed EastEnders? Exit explanation for Kim Medcalf
Indeed, the events in the Thursday, January 18, 2024, episode of EastEnders included Kim Medcalf’s farewell appearance as Sam Mitchell.
As far as RadioTimes.com is aware, Kim Medcalf’s filming for BBC One’s Sam Mitchell is now complete.
However, Sam’s future return is still very much possible because the door is still open. Chris Clenshaw, the executive producer, had already alluded to Sam’s recurrent status.
In our winter preview, Clenshaw said: “I think Sam is such a great character that can just turn up at the Mitchells’, cause mayhem, leave them to sort out the mess every time, and then go on her way.”
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