Michelle Ryan is leaving EastEnders, just one year on from her much-anticipated comeback.
The Zoe Slater actress originally appeared in the BBC One soap between 2000 and 2005, though finally staged a return two decades later for a huge reunion with estranged mother Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).
A spokesperson told Radio Times tonight (Saturday 11 July): “We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future.
“However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers.”
The Sun reports that her exit, which has apparently already been filmed, will result in tragedy – as the character is tipped to be killed off. The publication also alleges that Ryan quit after being refused time off from filming commitments, and while the story team plotted her departure, they decided that Zoe would die.
After some brief appearances in June last year, Ryan reprised the role on a full time basis in August. Just days after her arrival, Zoe was shot in the abdomen after being caught in the crossfire of a fight between Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
She lay unconscious on the floor of the Queen Vic, and a flashback revealed that during her absence, she gave birth to twins.
Zoe believed that her daughter was stillborn, and a five month search for her missing son ensued. In a desperate attempt to pay a private investigator, she lied to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) about the babies’ paternity, saying that their father was her ex-husband Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman). This war will be reignited next week.
At Christmas, mysterious newcomer Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) revealed herself to Zoe’s long-lost daughter. It was also confirmed that she had been working with Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) to torment her mum.
Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) was exposed as the twins’ father, and a vicious argument ensued. He knocked Zoe unconscious before lunging towards Jasmine – an act that would prove fatal when she clobbered him over the head with a salt lamp.
Zoe handed herself in to protect Jasmine, though Kat managed to force her granddaughter to come clean. Jasmine ended up behind bars, forcing her brother Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan) to emerge from the shadows.
The siblings have had a difficult time bonding with their birth families, with Jasmine siding with the Slaters and Josh with the Trueman clan.
Now it seems that the clock may be ticking for the pair to form a bond with their mother, if she does indeed have an untimely demise.
Read more:
- EastEnders confirms Hollyoaks favourite cast as new detective for major Branning storyline
- 7 EastEnders spoilers for next week: Joel Marshall is back in Walford – and so is Sharon Watts with news for Phil Mitchell
- EastEnders legend teases “dangerous” dynamic between Max Branning and Cindy Beale
- EastEnders boss teases “emotional” Denise Fox scenes from blood cancer storyline after 20 years on the show
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