Michelle Ryan returns as Zoe Slater after 20 12 months hole

Actress Michelle Ryan has returned to play Zoe Slater in EastEnders after being away from the cleaning soap for 20 years.

In response to Barb, 2.2 million individuals watched her shock look on the BBC One cleaning soap, which unusually had not been made accessible on iPlayer earlier within the day.

The character is greatest remembered for the 2001 cliffhanger during which she screamed at her sister Kat Slater “you ain’t my mom!” who fired again with the enduring twist: “Sure I’m.”

Ryan described returning to the present as feeling “like coming house”.

Ryan was revealed to viewers on the finish of the episode, making a dramatic reunion with step-father Alfie Moon and cousin Stacey Slater simply earlier than the credit.

It’s the first episode produced by the present’s new government producer Ben Wadey who mentioned the character was on his wish-list of returnees earlier than getting into the position.

He mentioned: “I used to be completely delighted when Michelle agreed to return, and I am thrilled to welcome her again to Walford.”

Though it was the second most watched programme in its time slot, a barely bigger viewers had tuned in to each Emmerdale and Coronation Road on ITV.

The viewing figures don’t embody catch-up viewing or individuals who watched the episode on tablets, telephones or different sensible units.

After leaving the cleaning soap in 2005, Ryan made appearances in BBC One exhibits Merlin, Physician Who and Jekyll.

She was additionally forged because the lead in a remake of the Nineteen Seventies programme The Bionic Lady, which was cancelled by US broadcaster NBC after eight episodes.

The actress revealed that the invitation to return to Elstree Studios arrived at a time she had been reflecting on her time on the BBC cleaning soap with previous castmates.

She mentioned: “All of it occurred on the proper time. I would already been enthusiastic about a return as a result of I would met up with Kacey Ainsworth and Kim Medcalf and we have been reminiscing our fond reminiscences of the present.

“It simply so occurred that on the identical time, EastEnders had introduced a brand new Exec who was eager to discover the potential of a return as he was such a large fan of Zoe and the Slaters.

“I am unable to say an excessive amount of as there may be plenty of drama to come back, however Zoe is a multitude. She’s not the woman that left Walford twenty years in the past, and she or he’s been actually struggling on her personal.”