EastEnders Icon to Return to Albert Square After 20 Years

EastEnders star Michelle Ryan is reportedly set to return to Albert Square 20 years after quitting the BBC soap.

The actress, 41, portrayed Zoe Slater between 2000 and 2005, before leaving for a new life in Ibiza after wrongly believing she killed Den Watts.

During her time on the show, Michelle was involved in one of EastEnders’ biggest storylines with it revealed that Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) was in fact Zoe’s mother and not her sister, with explosive scenes seeing her yell: ‘You ain’t my mother!’, only for Kat to reply: ‘Yes I am!’

And now it’s said that Michelle will return to the show that catapulted her to fame, with the star believing now is the ‘perfect’ time to make her long-awaited comeback. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses have repeatedly reached out to Michelle over the years, but the timing has never been quite right.

‘People are still talking about her character, so it’s a real coup to bring her back.’

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They added: ‘She feels like now is the perfect moment — and there was an exciting script on the table.’

MailOnline have contacted EastEnders representatives who declined to comment. 

After leaving EastEnders, Michelle headed over to the US after landing the lead role in series Bionic Woman. 

It comes after MailOnline revealed in February that, despite multiple attempts from bosses over the years, Michelle has refused to return to EastEnders – turning them down every time they’ve asked. 

Back in 2001, EastEnders’ leopard-print-loving Kat Slater, who had been sexually abused by her uncle, finally revealed to her ‘sister’ Zoe that she was, in fact, her mother. 

It remains one of the most famous and iconic moments in EastEnders’ 40-year history – a scene that has been mimicked by soap fans worldwide.

The unforgettable storyline catapulted Michelle, then 16, to superstardom, and in 2005, she walked away from Walford for the final time, five years after arriving in EastEnders with the rest of the Slater clan.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Bosses reached out to Michelle several times over the years, they would love to have her back. For example, as the soap was approaching its big 30th anniversary, it was a gentle approach asking if she would consider a return in the lead up to it all.

‘This was at the very early stages of their plans but Michelle refused and there was a lot of disappointment amongst bosses. 

‘It’s always been quite baffling why she wouldn’t want to reprise a character who is still very much adored by the fans. It’s been 20 years since she left Albert Square but still people are talking about her character.’

In the lead up to the soap’s 40th a number of former characters came back including Grant Mitchell, Bianca Jackson, Chrissie Watts, David Wicks, Nigel Bates, Mickey Miller and even Angie Watts but there was no Zoe. 

Michelle admitted at the time of quitting that she ‘got quite bored in the end’ playing Zoe, telling the Bristol Evening Post: ‘Doing the same thing day in, day out. It’s just so boring. I like to jump from different things.’

‘I always saw EastEnders as an apprenticeship. I always wanted to go on and do different things. I have some really good friends from that show but the door is closed.

‘I’ve always taken chances. I think that’s how you progress – by stepping out and doing different things.

‘I really do like my freedom and jumping from job to job. I just want to work with people I admire and respect, wherever that be – big budget, low budget, leading role, supporting role.’

After leaving the show 20 years ago, the star almost cracked America after landing the leading role in the re-imagining of the popular seventies TV show Bionic Woman, though the show was cancelled after just one season.

Since then the British star has appeared in several independent films, including 4.3.2.1. and Cockneys vs Zombies.

She has also had guest roles in BBC shows Merlin, Doctor Who and Death In Paradise.

Her most recent acting film appearance was in Frankenstein: Legacy where she starred as Lady Charlotte, in addition to 2025’s Finding My Voice in which she layed Lisa Kendall.