EastEnders backlash as fans are united in devastation over major star’s exit

She’s only been back three months! (Picture: BBC)

We waited patiently for seven months, viewers asking repeatedly when the comeback would be, so when Kim Medcalf finally reappeared in EastEnders as Queen Sam Mitchell, the relief was widespread.

After she was chucked mercilessly out of a van by goons, she ended up in that familiar cycle of being in trouble abroad and needing exasperated and unloving brother Phil (Steve McFadden) to sort things ahhht.

When that carousel was complete, hopes were high that our Mitchell favourite would have something meaty ahead – so it has gone down like a lead balloon that not three months on, she has quit the Square again.

Having discovered Phil’s dalliance with Patsy Kensit’s very own Emma Harding, Sam had information to finally have the upper hand on her pushy sibling.

Electrifying the screen as the heaviest hitter during Aunt Sal’s poignant funeral episodes, Kim had the fanbase cheering as she rediscovered Sam’s edge.

While Sam’s approach drew a little criticism, outing Phil’s affair publicly empowered her beautifully- even if it was at the expense of a dumbfounded Kat (Jessie Wallace).

So it was a sombre moment when, after being basically told by Phil that she was unworthy, gutless and irrelevant (cheers, bro!), Sam left the Square (and son Ricky – again!) behind, after being driven out.

EastEnders without Sam is always a slightly less fun place and so, already fans are yearning for her back, and sharing their distaste that she is even leaving in the first place.

Well, the campaign starts here to get her back – she has consistently been a fan favourite after the wildly popular decision to bring her back with Kim in the role once more.

Even Kim herself is keen to revisit her, tweeting that she ‘hopes it’s not forever.’

She went on to tell us: ‘It’s been brilliant, as always! It was perfect timing for me and worked really well that Sam was coming back for another short stint.

‘That’s the beauty of this character – I love that she comes in, disrupts things, and then leaves the debris behind her.

She comes, she stirs, she leaves (Picture: BBC)

‘This time, she’s been chucked out the back of a van, taken £100k from Phil to pay back a drug dealer and then blown up his marriage to Kat!

‘There’s a lot of drama with Sam, and it’s never plain sailing. Hopefully, she’ll be back again sometime for another stint of causing chaos.’

Reflecting on her journey with the character (so far, guys, it’s not over, okay?), the actress, who took over the role from Danniella Westbrook, continued: ‘I love playing Sam because she is so liberated. Sam just says what she sees; not many of us do that because you’d cause chaos!

‘I don’t think she is hugely devious. Instead, she’s kneejerk in the moment. Sam doesn’t have that filter others have, and that’s fantastic to play. I respect her honesty.

‘The writers have been great in showing her vulnerability, too. Sam is truly gutted when she is saying goodbye to Ricky. She’s also had great moments with Zack, where she’s been his ally through the HIV storyline.

‘So, we’ve seen that there are vulnerable and caring sides to Sam, but she just doesn’t take any nonsense, and she’s not massively diplomatic.’

On working with soap icons Steve McFadden and Jessie Wallace, she added: It’s been so good! Any time you get a chance to work with them, you feel thrilled.

‘I said to Jessie the other day that working opposite her immediately elevates any scene because she’s so brilliant.

‘Steve is amazing and has been doing this for such a long time. When I’m doing a scene with him, I feel like he is my brother because it feels so real.’

The only way we will forgive a goodbye from Sam is if she comes back soon.

Please don’t keep us waiting!

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Yet again, a very popular cast member has said goodbye and viewers are unimpressed.