Michelle Ryan has sent her fans wild with pleas for her to return to EastEnders, after she reunited with her former co-star, Kim Medcalf.
The actress, 40, shot to fame as Zoe Slater on the soap back in 2000, first appearing in the role at just 16 years old.
She eventually departed Albert Square in 2005, following the explosive Witches of Walford storyline with Chrissie Watts and Sam Mitchell, played by Kim, where they plotted revenge against villain Dirty Den.
And two decades later, Michelle and Kim, 50, enjoyed a festive reunion together, with Michelle revealing the pair hadn’t seen each other for five years.
She took to her Instagram on Tuesday to share a selfie of the duo together, both looking as thought they had not aged a day.
Captioning the shot, Michelle gushed: ‘Kim and I on a pre Christmas catch up. We hadn’t seen each other in five years. As easy company as ever.’
Michelle Ryan has sent her fans wild with pleas for her to return to EastEnders , after she reunited with her former co-star, Kim Medcalf
The actress, 40, shot to fame as Zoe Slater on the soap back in 2000, first appearing in the role at just 16 years old (pictured)
She eventually departed Albert Square in 2005, following the explosive Witches of Walford storyline with Chrissie Watts and Sam Mitchell, played by Kim, where they plotted revenge against villain Dirty Den (trio pictured)
Her fans were thrilled by the unexpected reunion and couldn’t help but beg for the pair to return to EastEnders together, while praising them for their memorable performances.
Taking to the comments, they wrote: ‘We want Zoe & Sam back’; ‘It’s time you came back to Walford. Bring Kim back with you.’
‘Please come back to Eastenders we need you both & Tracy Ann’; ‘Two of the finest Actors to have graced Albert Square ♥️’.
‘Back to the good old days ❤️ the 00s’; ‘You both need to come back to the show that would be incredible !!!’
‘I put a bet on zoe slater coming back to at my local.. will it pay?’; ‘Great you are both still in contact with each other. Hope you did not try and meet up in the Queen Vic’.
‘Nice two of three of those from that night in Queen Vic 2005 reunited.’; ‘I wish she told you about what really happened to Den, maybe you wouldn’t have jetted off’.
Hopes that Michelle could reprise her role as Zoe come after Kim recently made a return to Walford in 2022 after almost 17 years, but once again departed the role in January.
While Tracy-Ann Oberman also recently came back to the soap as the infamous Chrissie, for a brief stint in September this year.
And two decades later, Michelle and Kim, 50, enjoyed a festive reunion together, with Michelle revealing the pair hadn’t seen each other for five years
Her fans were thrilled by the unexpected reunion and couldn’t help but beg for the pair to return to EastEnders together, while praising them for their memorable performances
Hopes that Michelle could reprise her role as Zoe come after Kim recently made a return to Walford in 2022 after almost 17 years, but once again departed the role in January (pictured 2023)
While Tracy-Ann Oberman also recently came back to the soap as the infamous Chrissie, for a brief stint in September this year (pictured)
Michelle was part of many dramatic storylines as part of Albert Square’s most explosive family, and starred in one of the soap’s most iconic scenes.
Alongside Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater, Michelle was part of the famous ‘You ain’t my mother!’ moment, where Zoe discovered Kat was her real mum.
In 2013, the 2001 scene was named the greatest soap storyline of all time and has begun a viral meme in recent years, often quoted on TikTok and even on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
Unfortunately for fans, Michelle has dashed hopes she could return to the soap and has even called for Zoe to be recast with a different actress taking up the role.
Speaking to Bang Showbiz in 2017, she said: ‘It was my decision to leave. I spent five years there, and I wouldn’t have stayed beyond that time. I think that was very much my choice.
‘I know they’re probably thinking, “Well, would you like to come back?” but I think the best thing would be if they recast the role. It’s not part of my life anymore but I feel it would be the right thing to recast the role.
‘Zoe is such a great character and there’s such untapped territory there and there will be some actress out there that’s desperate for that break and I would say give that actress that break because it’s just the best learning curve working there.’
Michelle was part of many dramatic storylines and starred in one of the soap’s most iconic scenes alongside Jessie Wallace, as Kat Slater (pictured together in 2005)
Unfortunately for fans, Michelle has dashed hopes she could return to the soap and has even called for Zoe to be recast with a different actress taking up the role (pictured in 2007)
After leaving the show, Michelle almost cracked America after landing the leading role in the re-imagining of popular seventies TV show Bionic Woman, though the show was cancelled in 2007 after just one season (pictured on show)
She added: ‘I had such a good time doing it, and it was such an incredible opportunity. I won’t be going back but if they’re waiting on that character – I know she’s very popular – I think give that unknown actress a break, because it’s such a great thing to be part of EastEnders.’
Michelle also admitted 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.’
While she insisted ‘the door is closed’ to the Daily Record, explaining: ‘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, Michelle almost cracked America after landing the leading role in the re-imagining of popular seventies TV show Bionic Woman, though the show was cancelled in 2007 after just one season.
Since then the British star has appeared in a number of independent films, including 4.3.2.1. and Cockneys vs Zombies, and has had guest roles in BBC shows Merlin and Doctor Who.
