EastEnders spoilers follow.
Michelle Ryan may have made a sensational return to EastEnders last year as she reprised her role as Zoe Slater, but it will be a short comeback, as the actor is confirmed to have left the BBC soap.
As per The Sun, Ryan has already filmed her final scenes, with her departure set to air later this year. In further shocking news, it has been reported that it will be a permanent exit, with the character set to be killed off.
BBC
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“We can confirm that Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year,” a BBC spokesperson told Digital Spy. “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.”
Regarding the surprise exit, which comes just over a year after Ryan’s comeback, our EastEnders source said: “Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time.
“With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square. But, as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet.”
Ryan debuted as the iconic character in September 2000, with the figure being part of a classic storyline as she was revealed to be Kat Slater’s daughter. The actor left the soap in 2005, before making an unannounced return in June 2025.
Ryan, who has also appeared in Bionic Woman and Merlin, said of her return: “It all happened at the right time. I’d already been thinking about a return because I’d met up with Kacey [Ainsworth] and Kim [Medcalf].”
“We were reminiscing our fond memories of the show, and I’d also joined social media and saw that there was still a lot of love for the character,” she added. “It feels like [I’m] coming home. After doing my first few scenes, it was like I’d never been away.”
BBC
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Since her return to Walford, Zoe has been embroiled in several dramatic storylines, with Jasmine Fisher and Josh Goodwin revealed to be her children. The father was Anthony Trueman, who was killed over the festive period by Jasmine.
The developments come after the BBC soap announced a new casting, with former Hollyoaks star Matthew James-Bailey set to arrive soon. The actor, who played Ethan Williams on the Channel 4 series, will play DC Craig Ingram in a new storyline.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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