BBC confirm Westbrook return to EastEnders

The BBC has confirmed that original Sam Mitchell actress Danniella Westbrook will reprise her EastEnders role even though the role was recast in 2002 with actress Kim Medcalf taking over the role. Contains the BBC Press Release.

After much tabloid speculation, mainly from The Sun, the BBC has confirmed that Daniella Westbrook will reprise her role of Sam Mitchell in EastEnders. Westbrook played Sam Mitchell on/off for a decade before making her final appearance in the BBC One soap in 2000. However, that wasn’t the last we saw of the character because in 2002 the character was recast and actress Kim Medcalf took over the role until her departure in 2005. Now in a shock twist the character will once more return to Albert Square but with her original face – that of Danniella Westbrook.

BBC Press Release:

Danniella Westbrook is set to make a dramatic return to Walford almost 20 years since she first stepped out into Albert Square as Sam Mitchell in 1990. Although Danniella hasn’t appeared in BBC One’s EastEnders since 2000, her character Sam Mitchell was last seen on screen in 2005 (played by Kim Medcalf) before she bolted off to Brazil, a suspect in Dirty Den’s murder.

What is it that makes Sam decide to leave the land of sunshine and samba knowing she faces possible arrest as she lands back in Blighty? What will the regulars in the Queen Vic make of her reappearance? Who will welcome the original Mitchell Sister back with open arms? Who would rather see her board the first flight back to Rio?

“I’m really happy to be coming back, it feels just like coming home. I’m really looking forward to working with Barbara, Steve, Sid and Patsy and I’m over the moon to be working with the new boss Diederick Santer. I can’t wait to get the scripts to see what Sam Mitchell has been up to since she was last in the Square.” – Danniella Westbrook

“With all the turmoil facing the Mitchells this year, it feels like a great time to bring back Sam, the original Mitchell Sister. What will Ronnie and Roxy make of her? Will Peggy and Phil be pleased to see her? And will Ricky’s eternal devotion to Bianca be tested by the reappearance of his glamourous ex-wife. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Kim Medcalf for her great work playing Sam Mitchell for three years and welcome Danniella back to pick up the baton once again.” EastEnders Executive Producer, Diederick Santer