Samantha Ann "Sam" Mitchell (previously
Butcher and
Hunter) is a
fictional characterA character is the representation of a person in a narrative or dramatic work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr through its Latin transcription character, the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its...
from the
BBC One
soap operaA soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on television or radio. The name "soap opera" stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEndersEastEnders is a long-running, popular and award-winning television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985...
. She appeared intermittently between 1990 and 2005 and returned in 2009. The third member of the Mitchell family to be introduced, Sam entered as a 15 year old school girl in July 1990, and was initially played by
Danniella WestbrookDanniella Westbrook is an English actress and television presenter. She is known for being the original actress to play Samantha Mitchell in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1990–1993, 1995–1996, 1999–2000 and 2009 onwards. Away from EastEnders she has presented various shows, and was...
. Westbrook quit in 1993, but was reintroduced from 1995–1996 and from 1999–2000. In both her 1996 and 2000 exits, Sam was written out earlier than the producers intended due to off-screen controversies surrounding Westbrook and her
cocaineCocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant...
addiction. In 2002, the character was reintroduced for a fourth time, but the role was recast to another actress,
Kim MedcalfKim Louise Medcalf is an English actress who has made occasional appearances as a singer, best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders from 2002 to 2005, before Danniella Westbrook took the role back.-Biography:Born in a shed, London, Medcalf...
. Medcalf left the role in 2005. In an interview with
Paul O'GradyPaul James O'Grady MBE is a BAFTA-award winning English comedian of television, radio and stage. He achieved initial fame as the creator of comic drag character Lily Savage, a vampish scouser known as the "Birkenhead Bombshell"...
, Medcalf said she would never say never to another comeback. However, it was confirmed in April 2009 that Danniella Westbrook would return to the show to reprise her role as Sam. Sam is due to leave the soap at the end of the year, confirmed on
Digital SpyDigital Spy is a British entertainment and media website, noted for its forums. According to comScore figures, it is the fourth largest British entertainment website with 2.1 million unique users on its news site...
and the official
EastEndersEastEnders is a long-running, popular and award-winning television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985...
website.
Portrayed as headstrong, flirty and manipulative, early storylines featuring Sam concentrated on her teen elopment to the character
Ricky ButcherRichard Francis "Ricky" Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running, male protagonists to feature in EastEnders...
. She went on to feature in storylines about topless modelling, various family crises, relationships, feuds, and a short-lived second marriage to
Andy HunterAndrew "Andy" Hunter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael Higgs.-Creation and development:Higgs auditioned for the role in April 2003 and won the part of EastEnders new "bad guy", who made his first appearance in July that year as a member of the gangster...
. Her exit storyline in 2005 was the culmination of a high-profile storyline that saw the character wrongly imprisoned for
Den WattsDennis "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well-known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den"....
' murder. In the on-screen events, Sam was cleared of murder and released, but she fled the country to escape another prison sentence for perverting the course of justice. Speaking on the official website of
EastEnders, Westbrook stated that her contract means that she will only stay on the show for a short period of time, to wrap up the storyline she is currently involved in, before adding that she does not know about next year.
Casting
The character Sam Mitchell was introduced in July 1990 by EastEnders executive producer
Michael FergusonMichael Ferguson is a British script writer, television director and television producer. Ferguson has been described as a “long term champion of realistic popular drama”. Ferguson was executive producer of the BBC soap opera, EastEnders between 1989 and 1991...
as the young sister of the Mitchell brothers,
PhilPhillip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(
Steve McFaddenSteve McFadden is an English actor who is well-known for his starring role as cockney Phil Mitchell in the British BBC TV drama EastEnders, since 1990.-Early life:...
) and
GrantGrant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. He first appeared in 1990 until 1999, then in 2005 and 2006....
(
Ross KempRoss Kemp is a BAFTA award-winning English actor, author and journalist, who rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders...
). Sam was one of several characters introduced by the producer in the summer of 1990. Others included
Eddie RoyleEddie Royle is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael Melia from 1990 until 1991.-History:Eddie arrived in Walford in July 1990, as the new landlord of the Queen Vic pub, which he bought from Frank Butcher. He was a serious minded landlord, far different...
(
Michael MeliaMichael Melia is an established British actor best known for his work on television.Melia was born in Berkshire and attended St. Mary's College, Twickenham, the oldest Roman Catholic college in England. Before taking up acting he was a teacher. At one stage he ran a bar in Spain and thought about...
), and three generations of the
TavernierCelestine Tavernier is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Leroy Golding.Celestine was a strict disciplinarian and a devout Christian and he expected everyone in his family to show similar dedication to the church and abide by his rules at all times...
family.
As the casting team had successfully cast the actors who were playing Sam's brothers, they already knew what facial attributes they needed for Sam to create a similar family resemblance. Producer
Corinne HollingworthCorinne Hollingworth is a British television producer and executive, best known for her contributions to British soap operas, including BBC's EastEnders and five's Family Affairs...
has commented, "we'd decided on Steve [McFadden] and Ross [Kemp] and we knew the sort of round, open face we needed. We saw Danniella (Westbrook) first and liked her, then saw some others, but came back to her." The actress, a graduate of the Sylvia Young Theatre School, had already appeared in the soap aged 11, as an extra who rollerskated across the soap's fictional setting of
Albert SquareAlbert Square is the fictional location of the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. It is ostensibly located in the equally fictional London borough of Walford in London's East End. The square's design was based on the real life Fassett Square in the East End, and was given the name Albert Square...
in front of the characters
DenDennis "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well-known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den"....
and
Angie WattsAngela "Angie" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Anita Dobson from the first episode of the show until 1988 when the actress decided to quit and the character was written out....
. At the time, Westbrook's local paper ran a story on her with the punchline, "who knows, one day she might be the show's star". Eighty girls auditioned for the part of Sam, but these eighty were eventually whittled down to four. On her final casting callback, Westbrook bumped into actors
Michelle GayleMichelle Gayle is an English actress and singer. Gayle had success as a pop singer in the 1990s. She achieved seven Top 40 singles in the UK Singles Chart, her two biggest hits to date being "Sweetness" and "Do You Know"...
and
Sid OwenSidwell Owen is an English actor, most famous for playing the role of Ricky Butcher in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he appeared in from 1988 until 2000, 2002 until 2004 and then again from March 2008.Prior to his role in EastEnders he had a small role in the film Revolution in 1985, in...
, who were already on the EastEnders cast as
Hattie TavernierHattie Tavernier is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders between 1990 and 1994, played by Michelle Gayle. Hattie and her family were introduced in July 1990 by producer Michael Ferguson...
and
Ricky ButcherRichard Francis "Ricky" Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running, male protagonists to feature in EastEnders...
respectively. Westbrook already knew Gayle, whose character was to be Sam's screen best friend, and she introduced her to Owen, whose character was scripted to be Sam's boyfriend. According to Westbrook, she liked Owen right from the start and was amused by his response of "You're a bit of allright. You can be Sam!". On Westbrook's last audition, she and the other hopefuls were forced to stand for a lengthy period in front of a panel of the show's producers, directors and writers while they continuously compared images of the auditionees to images of Kemp and McFadden, looking for a resemblance. Westbrook was given the part. She has commented, "they told me they were looking for someone bright and bubbly, who could be the sister of Phil and Grant, and my round face fitted." In the character's first scene, Sam walked past Ricky Butcher and gave him a "flirty backward glance", causing him to walk into a lamp-post. Westbrook was initially given a three month contract with the soap, but half way through her contract the producers extended it as they felt "the character of Sam had gelled well with the others and they wanted to include her in more storylines".
Westbrook has said that the cast and crew became like a second family to her, with the roles in the soap mirroring their relationships off-screen. In her autobiography she comments, "Sid [Owen] and I became very close [...] we were as thick as thieves. When we weren't shooting together we'd hang out [...] Once Sid and I got so bored hanging around on set that we decided to take the milk float for a spin around Albert Square, but Sid drove it too fast and turned it over [...] we couldn't stop laughing, but the producers didn't seem to share our amusement. We were seriously told off that day." She has described other actors like Michelle Gayle,
Letitia DeanLetitia Dean is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon Watts in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, who was one of the serial's original characters. Dean was part of the original cast in 1985 and remained in the series until 1995...
,
Adam WoodyattAdam Brinley Woodyatt is an English actor and media personality, best known for his role as Ian Beale in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders, and is the only member of the original cast who appeared in the very first episode in 1985 to still work on the show today.-Early life:A native of...
and
Nick BerryNick Berry is a British television actor and musician.-Career:Berry started acting at the age of eight. After attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London he played minor parts on television, film, and stage before he got his big break playing Simon 'Wicksy' Wicks in the popular BBC soap...
like brothers and sisters, and has said she was very close to older cast members such as
June BrownJune Muriel Brown, MBE is a British actress, best known for her role as the busy-body, chain-smoking gossip Dot Cotton in the long running British soap opera EastEnders and for making other high profile television appearances on shows such as Doctor Who, Coronation Street, Minder, The Bill and...
,
Wendy RichardWendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
,
Mike ReidMichael Reid was an English comedian and character actor, hailing from Hackney in East London, who is best remembered for playing the role of Frank Butcher in EastEnders and hosting the popular children's TV show Runaround...
and
Gillian TaylforthGillian Taylforth is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Kathy Mitchell on the BBC soap opera, EastEnders and as Jackie Pascoe-Webb on ITV's Footballers Wives , but more recently as Sgt...
. She has also revealed that her off-screen relationship with actors McFadden and Kemp mirrored her character's on-screen one: "In the soap they were my older brothers, always looking out for me, making sure I didn't get into trouble, and off set they were exactly the same."
Personality and characterisation
The character has been described by Hilary Kingsley, author the EastEnders Handbook, as a "tease [...] a pretty girl who thinks she can get anything she wants, thanks to her own brand of sexy wheedling." She adds that Sam is "a lot sharper than her brothers [...] and contrives to do just what she wants in the face of their attempts to stand in for their dead father [...] Sam loves excitement and doesn't frighten easily. She's a user, able to get almost anyone to do what she wants." Kate Lock, author of EastEnders Who's Who, has described Sam as "Headstrong, streetwise and pretty [...] a chip off the old Mitchell block, though her methods of manipulation are marginally more subtle than [her brothers]. One bat of a sooty eyelash is enough to charm most men into submission and she can wind doting mum Peggy round her little finger [...] [when] she returned to the Square [in 1999], Sam had lost her kittenish cuteness and hardened up, becoming more EastEnd moll than Barbie doll."
Describing the character in 2002, actress
Kim MedcalfKim Louise Medcalf is an English actress who has made occasional appearances as a singer, best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders from 2002 to 2005, before Danniella Westbrook took the role back.-Biography:Born in a shed, London, Medcalf...
said, "She’s always looking for something to brighten up her day — to either play a trick on someone, or flirt with them, or just to cause a bit of mischief. Sam’s a colourful and fun character as she’s had such a past." She added in 2003, "She wears her heart on her sleeve. She so wants to settle down that she doesn't select men well. She goes for people too quickly. She likes the danger aspect — the thrill of the chase. She loves guys with a dangerous edge [...] She's had a tough upbringing. She didn't know her dad and her older brothers bossed her around. She needed to find herself and has done it by being independent and going away. She's headstrong and has a definite independent streak." She has added that Sam has a problem with women, as she "finds it quite hard to relate".
When Westbrook regained the role in 2009, she compared the differences between how she plays the character and how Medcalf played the character: "When Kim was playing Sam she was quite hard, but [the Sam who returns in 2009] is more the Sam I've always played. She's bright, colourful, flirtatious - and trouble. The only difference is she's more tanned, more blonde and more wrinkled!".
1990–1993: Teen elopement
During her first stint in the soap, the character was involved in various high-profile storylines surrounding her teen elopement to
Ricky ButcherRichard Francis "Ricky" Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running, male protagonists to feature in EastEnders...
(
Sid OwenSidwell Owen is an English actor, most famous for playing the role of Ricky Butcher in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he appeared in from 1988 until 2000, 2002 until 2004 and then again from March 2008.Prior to his role in EastEnders he had a small role in the film Revolution in 1985, in...
). Westbrook has said that within days of her first appearance, the interest in the character was "phenomenal": "The public couldn't get enough of the simmering relationship between Ricky and Sam and the show was inundated with calls from the press [...] [Sam and Ricky] were involved in a plotline about under-age sex, so the press swooped in on that."
To the anger of her family, Sam persuaded Ricky to elope to Gretna Green in July 1991. The week's worth of episodes focusing on their marriage were filmed on-location and have been described by former EastEnders scriptwriter,
Colin BrakeColin Brake is an English television writer and script editor best known for his work for the BBC on programs such as Bugs and EastEnders. He has also written spin-offs from the BBC series Doctor Who...
, as a "farce-like chase round the country". Written by Debbie Cook, the storyline saw Ricky and Sam's families, including Sam's mother
PeggyMargaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared in the series on 30 April 1991. Peggy was at this time seen on a recurring basis over several weeks...
(
Jo WarneJo Warne is a British actress, who played the original Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, making her first appearance on 30 April 1991. She appeared in ten EastEnders episodes between April and July 1991, as part of Sam and Ricky's teen elopement storyline...
; introduced specifically for this plotline) attempting to stop the couple getting married. The storyline climaxed in a registry office wedding, but despite the Scottish setting, the recording of the episodes took place in
HertfordshireHertfordshire , abbreviated Herts, is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford....
. Later in the month, Sam and Ricky had a more official "grand church blessing" with their families in attendance. The Butchers' blessing was screened in the same episode as the funeral of another character,
Charlie CottonCharles "Charlie" Cotton is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Christopher Hancock. Charlie was a semi-regular character, introduced in March 1986 as the estranged husband of Dot Cotton. He appeared in stints until producers made the decision to kill the...
.
The marriage was portrayed as problematic, frought with interference from their families, lack of money, and Ricky's jealousy of Sam's partying and modelling career, including a topless photo shoot. The serial made use of Sam's appearance in various storylines, including a "Miss Queen Vic"
public houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises in countries and regions of British influence. Although the terms often have different connotations, there is little definitive difference between pubs, bars,...
competition in an episode that aired in April 1992 — despite the Mitchell brothers attempts' to fix the competition, the honest winner was Sam. Written by
Tony JordanTony Jordan is a British television writer. He is listed as the number 1 television screen writer in the UK by Broadcast magazine and among British Broadcastings Top 20 in The Stage ....
, Colin Brake describes it as one of 1992's most memorable episodes. However, off-screen Westbrook was battling with various problems in her personal life (including a highly publicised drug addiction), and in 1993 she left the soap, although she maintains that her addiction did not affect her work at this time.
On-screen, Sam's marriage to Ricky ended following an affair with a yuppie named Clive (
Sean GallagherSean Gallagher is a British actor. From 1992 he has appeared in many television series and films.In 2006 he played the part of Chip in the second new series of Doctor Who opposite David Tennant in the episode "New Earth"...
), and she took a job on a cruise ship. Commenting on her initial departure, Westbrook has said, "My contract was up for renewal and I thought it was time for me to move on [...] As much as I enjoyed being in EastEnders [...] I was also well aware of the fact that I was in danger of being type-cast forever if I carried on playing Sam. The producers didn't have a problem with me leaving. It was felt that my character had done as much as she could in the space of three years, anyway. During that time Sam had, after all, been involved in a story about under-age sex, run off to Gretna Green to marry Ricky, been evicted from her home, become a squatter, tried her luck as a topless model, fought on a regular basis with Grant and Phil, and gone through a marriage break-up. I think we all agreed that the poor girl was in need of a break [...] In January 1993 I filmed my final scenes and Sam Mitchell, in true EastEnders style, waved goodbye to Albert Square from the back of a London taxi cab [...] Although the producers agreed that it was the right time for my character to move on, they wanted to keep the door open for her to return at a later date, as they knew how popular the Mitchell family were with viewers. I was really pleased that they decided not to kill the character off".
1995–1996: Reintroduction and axing
In 1995, following a spell in a drug rehab clinic, which first alerted the public to her drug problem, Westbrook was reintroduced into EastEnders by executive producer Corinne Hollingworth. She has commented, "the call from the producers couldn't have come at a more opportune moment for me. The soap was suffering from poor ratings and so they decided, as they normally do, to bring some familiar faces back onto the Square. The producers were aware of my addiction by now [...] but they had also read that I was now clean [...] once I assured them that I was well [...] they invited me back for another year." The character's "dramatic" return to EastEnders began when her screen brothers traced Sam to Spain and she ended up in bed with "bad boy"
David WicksDavid Wicks is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael French.-Background:David is the son of Pat Evans and her first husband Pete Beale. Pat and Pete split up when David and his brother Simon were young and Pat remarried to Brian Wicks, who adopted both...
(Michael French). Several cast changes had occurred since Westbrook had last been in the soap, including a recast of her screen mother Peggy, who was now played by
Barbara WindsorBarbara Windsor, MBE is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders; she is now considered by many to be something of a British national institution.-Early life:Born in Shoreditch, London in 1937, Windsor was the only...
. As well as her former friends, Westbrook has revealed that she became particularly close to Windsor, who she says "instantly took me under her wing", and
Martine McCutcheonMartine McCutcheon is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. McCutcheon had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan in the early 1990s; however, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders that made her a household name in the UK...
, who played
Tiffany RaymondTiffany Dawn "Tiff" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Martine McCutcheon. The character was created by the writer, Tony Jordan.-Storylines:...
.
Though Westbrook initially enjoyed her time back at the soap, she was unable to keep her working life and private life separate. Off-screen, her partying and drug-use (both in and out of work) began to affect her performance. Her cast mates attempted to curtail the problem. Actors such as Wendy Richard and Mike Reid requested that Westbrook's dressing room be situated near theirs and away from the younger cast, because they could see she was "vulnerable". They attempted to talk to her about her drug problem, but Westbrook ignored their concerns and continued using. She has revealed that she became so affected by cocaine that she would continuously mess up her lines, had to do take after take, was constantly late and needed prompts, and spontaneously fell asleep, once even passing out while she stood at the top of the Queen Vic stairs during filming, and was only saved from harming herself by Ross Kemp who caught her in his arms. She has commented, "When I watch re-runs of those scenes now I can't believe how out of it I look." Many of the newer, younger cast members began to shun her, laughing at her and throwing peanuts at her during filming every time she attempted to deliver her lines. Eventually, the producers tired of Westbrook. She has revealed: "the producers now had serious doubts about my future on the soap. I was proving to be a liability. My behaviour was interfering with the schedule. It was interfering with other cast members' work. There were days when I just didn't bother showing up for work at all. The dilemma they faced was what to do with me. They had only just written [Sam] back into the soap; now, within months, they were having to write her out of it all over again. They felt bad about getting rid of me, too. I could tell they felt responsible for me but of course ultimately there wasn't much they could do to help [...] Within a couple of weeks I was called into a meeting and told very politely that they were going to let me go early and terminate my contract. They would, they explained, gradually write my character out of the scripts again, which would take a couple of months to do."
In February 1996, Westbrook's axing was reported in the press. According to press reports, producers had tired of her off-screen antics and were angered that she had appeared on the
Channel 4Channel 4 is a UK public-service television broadcaster which began working on November 2, 1982. Although commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station owned now and operated by the Channel Four Television...
chat show,
The Girlie ShowThe Girlie Show was a 1990s Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom. Its presenters were Sarah Cawood, Claire Gorham, American Model Rachel Williams, and in her first presenting job, Sara Cox...
, and had given away the outcome of a storyline she was involved with, a love-triangle between Sam, Ricky and his new girlfriend
Bianca JacksonBianca Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Patsy Palmer. The character was introduced by executive producer Leonard Lewis and appeared initially from 1993 to 1999, when Palmer opted to leave. In 2002 executive producer John Yorke brought the character...
(
Patsy PalmerPatsy Palmer is an English actress and television personality. Palmer made an early television appearance on the children's drama show Grange Hill, but is best-known for playing Bianca Jackson in the popular British television soap opera EastEnders...
). The character departed for Spain in March 1996 after falling for a Spanish tourist. Westbrook has since commented, "The producers were very nice about it all. Rather than killing [Sam] off they sent her to Spain, once again leaving the door open for her to return [...] There was no official line as to why I was leaving, and when the announcement was made [...] they were kind enough to let me say in interviews that I was going because I wanted 'a change of direction'. 'Hopefully, one day I'll return to the show', I told journalists".
1999–2000: Second reintroduction and axing
In November 1998, Westbrook revealed to
Hello!Hello! is a weekly magazine specialising in celebrity news and gossip, published in Britain. Hello! sells editions in Britain, Republic of Ireland, India, UAE, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, Thailand, Greece, Canada, and since 2007 Serbia....
magazine that she was "desperate" to return to EastEnders, because she was in need of the money. According to Westbrook, actors
Mike ReidMichael Reid was an English comedian and character actor, hailing from Hackney in East London, who is best remembered for playing the role of Frank Butcher in EastEnders and hosting the popular children's TV show Runaround...
and
Barbara WindsorBarbara Windsor, MBE is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders; she is now considered by many to be something of a British national institution.-Early life:Born in Shoreditch, London in 1937, Windsor was the only...
who both appeared as
FrankFrancis Aloysius "Frank" Butcher is a fictional character from the popular British soap opera EastEnders, played by the late Mike Reid. Frank made his first appearance on-screen as a guest character in 1987 but, due to a positive viewer reception, he was reintroduced in 1988 as a regular. Reid took...
and Peggy Butcher were keen to have her back on the cast too. Her plea came at a time when executive producer Matthew Robinson had already considered bringing Sam back, but because of Westbrook's past problems, he wanted to recast the role to another actress. However, the BBC's "Controller of Continuing Drama Series",
Mal YoungMal Young is a British television producer and executive producer.-Background:His initial career was in the Graphic Design industry, and it was not until the age of 27 that he began working in television, on the acclaimed Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.Working on the show for nearly a decade, he...
, thought they were judging Westbrook unfairly, believing a lot of the stories printed about her in the tabloid press. On his say so, Westbrook was offered another contract to reprise the role of Sam. In May 1999, Westbrook said, "It's my dream come true. Sam is a great character and I'm thrilled to be given another chance to play her. The storyline is excellent and I think it's safe to say there'll be a few family fireworks once I'm back in town." Executive producer Matthew Robinson said, "We are delighted to be welcoming back the popular character of Sam Butcher to the Square for storylines that are certain to intrigue our viewers."
The character made her return on-screen in the summer of 1999 and was involved in the storyline relating to actor Ross Kemp's departure, and romances with her brothers' enemies
Beppe di MarcoBeppe di Marco is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael Greco.Beppe was his family's pride and joy, so it was a big shock to them when he was fired from the police force for attempting to frame local hardman Grant Mitchell...
(
Michael GrecoMichael Greco was born in 1970, and is an English actor and poker player. He was educated in Surrey, England at Reigate College. Internet rumours claim he was born in Dunbar, Scotland, but Greco himself states that this is false, and that he grew up in London...
) and
Steve OwenSteven Richard "Steve" Owen is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Martin Kemp.-Saskia's killing:...
(Martin Kemp). Despite Westbrook's claims that her close friend Mike Reid had backed her decision to return, he and other EastEnders actors later publicly denounced the BBC's decision in a documentary about Westbrook, as they had first hand experience of Westbrook's addiction on set and were concerned for her welfare. It was reported that Westbrook underwent constant drug tests to keep her job, but at this time, her excessive use of cocaine had completely eroded away her nasal septum. In order to hide this from the audience, she was only filmed in ways that would keep her septum hidden from view. However, Westbrook's drug-use continued, and following more press speculation about her private life, the BBC announced in January 2000 that she was being axed from the soap once again. A BBC spokesman said: "Danniella Westbrook's contract has not been renewed. Her character Sam Mitchell will move to north London, leaving the door open for her to return in the future." Westbrook added: "I will always love working on EastEnders
, especially with the cast. Sam's departure to north London gives me the chance to explore more opportunities." Speaking to London's radio station Capital 95.8, Westbrook denied she had been sacked, saying she decided to leave because she was getting married and she wanted to spend time with her husband. She added, "I'll maybe go back to EastEnders in six months, so it's an amicable split."
Westbrook did not return and made her final appearance as Sam on 24 January 2000. She has since confessed that her drug taking was the reason why she was written out. In her autobiography she comments, "I wasn't fired this time, but let's just say when they gave me the opportunity to walk I took it. I was no longer interested in acting and that had become blatantly obvious to everyone on set. The soap was now being shown four times a week and it was impossible to balance the workload with my addiction [...] Not only had [cocaine] destroyed my nose, but it was about to destroy my career again as well [...] The producers were tiring of my behaviour [...] When I did leave the production at the end of 1999 it was in fact a fairly mutual decision. I admit that had I begged the producers to let me stay this time I doubt if they would have allowed me to. But I was happy to go [...] Looking back to that point now it fills me with shame that I could have behaved in that way and let down so many people". Following her axing, Westbrook's eroded nasal septum was revealed to the public by the press, after she was photographed at the 2000
British Soap AwardsThe British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event began in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events are held at the BBC Television Centre, in London. The soap operas nominated for awards are...
.
Recast
In 2001, executive producer
John YorkeJohn Yorke is currently the Controller of BBC Drama Production.He attended Newcastle University. He joined the BBC in the late 1980s, working initially in radio as a studio manager and then as a producer on BBC Radio 5....
decided to reintroduce the character once again. The decision was made to recast the role to another actress,
Kim MedcalfKim Louise Medcalf is an English actress who has made occasional appearances as a singer, best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders from 2002 to 2005, before Danniella Westbrook took the role back.-Biography:Born in a shed, London, Medcalf...
. During the audition process, EastEnders
have said that they had to keep the part they were casting for "top secret", meaning auditionees were not told about the part they were auditioning for until their actual interview. In the documentary, EastEnders Revealed - A Year In The Life Of Sam Mitchell, Medcalf has explained the audition process: "They kind of sat me down and said 'actually we haven't been 100% truthful here, this [audition] is not for...a new character at all, it's for the part of Sam Mitchell. Do you know who she is?' and I said, 'yes of course I do!' [...] Because my attitude was so laid back, it helped me a lot." Producer Paul Annett has revealed: "I saw [Kim Medcalf] along with two other actresses that had been short-listed, and I think almost immediately I knew that she was the right one." Medcalf was an inexperienced actress, and her casting has been described as a "big risk" because of this. Annett has commented, "she'd done...no television, secondly, she was coming into an immensely popular and beloved show, and the third thing was that she was taking over a role played by Danniella Westbrook...for [a decade]." Medcalf revealed that she had reservations about taking on a role that was associated with another actress: "I said 'that's going to be hard' [...] but they said 'we think we can do it, we're going to write it in quite cleverly, and part of it will be that we meet Sam away from Walford'." She added, "It was scary finding out I'd be taking over someone else's character because you wonder whether the public will accept it. I loved the show so I just decided to go for it". Commenting on Medcalf's casting, Sam's original actress Danniella Westbrook said, "I wish her all the luck in the world. It's a great part and I'm sure she'll be great."
The character was reintroduced in January 2002 in a set of episodes filmed on-location in Spain. In the storyline, Sam's mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor) had flown to Spain for the supposed funeral of her former husband and Sam's former father-in-law, Frank Butcher. Here she found Sam, who was working as a table dancer in a nightclub; Peggy brought Sam back to Walford. Annett has praised Medcalf's introduction, saying she was confident and that Barbara Windsor found her impressive.
2002–2005: Men and business
Sam's return to Walford saw her reignite an affair with her former, now married lover Steve Owen (Martin Kemp), who was embroiled in a feud with her brother Phil. Medcalf has revealed that she was extremely nervous when she was informed that she would have to enact love scenes with Kemp, who aside from his part in EastEnders, was renowned to viewers as a member of the 1980s pop band
Spandau BalletSpandau Ballet is a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles and four Top Ten albums in...
. Speaking about the characters' affair, Medcalf has said, "Steve Owen basically made a play for her because he was using her to get back at Phil. He knew that Phil would hate it [as] they were rivals. But then, in her defence, he was a charmer, and he managed to keep it all from his wife. He just played the game very well." The relationship ended in "tragedy" when Steve, in an attempt to kidnap Phil's daughter Louise, was killed in a road accident. Medcalf has suggested that Sam was "devastated" by Steve's death: "She fell for [his game] hook, line and sinker. She really believed that he was going to be the man." She subsequently moved on to her former lover Beppe di Marco, but according to Medcalf, that relationship finished because Beppe "thought [Sam] was a bit full on [...] she was so deperate for a relationship that I think it just scared [Beppe]." Another fling followed with abusive
Trevor MorganTrevor Morgan is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Alex Ferns. He first appeared in December 2000, and became a regular cast member the following summer, after moving into Albert Square with his wife Little Mo.-History:...
, played by
Alex FernsAlex Ferns is a Scottish actor, best known for his EastEnders role as Trevor Morgan, "Britain's most-hated soap villain."...
. According to Ferns, the relationship started because Trevor wanted to make his wife,
Little MoMaureen "Little Mo" Mitchell is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Kacey Ainsworth.Named after her loud, wayward grandmother, Little Mo couldn't have been more opposite...
(
Kacey AinsworthKacey Ainsworth is an English actress, best known for playing the long-suffering Little Mo in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
) jealous. In the storyline, the romance ended when Trevor's true aggressive self emerged.
In 2004, the character was romantically paired with gangster
Andy HunterAndrew "Andy" Hunter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael Higgs.-Creation and development:Higgs auditioned for the role in April 2003 and won the part of EastEnders new "bad guy", who made his first appearance in July that year as a member of the gangster...
, played by
Michael HiggsMichael Higgs is a British actor best known for prominent roles in two long-running television series: Eddie Santini in ITV1's The Bill, and Andy Hunter in EastEnders. He is married to actress Caroline Catz, whom he met on the set of The Bill...
. In the storyline, Sam had been left in charge of the various Mitchell business and properties, and Andy, sensing an opportunity to gain control of these assets, proposed to Sam. According to Medcalf, Sam needed the marriage because she was "vulnerable". She added, "Andy is tough and she craves someone to look after her. I can see why she'd go for him; he's a good-looking guy, he's got money, he wears good clothes - he ticks every box." 11 million viewers watched Sam marry Andy in September 2004. According to Medcalf, "She knows that he's not desperately in love with her, but she thinks that it's enough. She's desperately in love with him. She's entering it very positively [...] Sam's not the brightest person, so she falls for his manipulations [...] I think she just wants to get the ring on her finger and then they can try to iron out any problems. She's a little naive." The marriage lasted mere months on-screen; when Sam was conned into giving away all her family's properties, including her mother's public house (pub), The Queen Vic, Andy threw her out of their house.
Sam's reaction to the loss of her mother's pub was part of a high-profile storyline marking the 20th anniversary of EastEnders
, the murder of Den WattsDennis "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well-known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den"....
. In the storyline, Den Watts had been responsible for Sam losing the pub, and so Sam teamed up with Den's scorned wife, Chrissie WattsChristine "Chrissie" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman.She is perhaps best known for killing the character of Den Watts , her husband, in an episode that was watched by 14.34 million British TV viewers...
, and Zoe SlaterZoe Slater is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Ryan.-Storylines:Zoe arrives in Walford with her family, presumed father Charlie , sisters Kat , Lynne and Little Mo , and grandmother Mo , in September 2000...
, who had also been scorned by Den. The trio, who were dubbed the three witches of Walford - a comparison to the Three WitchesThe Three Witches or Weird Sisters are characters in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth . Their origin lies in Holinshed's Chronicles , a history of Great Britain...
from the ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
play MacbethThe Tragedy of Macbeth, commonly just Macbeth, is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
- plotted Den's downfall, resulting in a deadly confrontation in the Vic, and Den being bludgeoned to death by Chrissie. The three women buried Den's body in the Vic cellar and Sam proceeded to blackmail Chrissie and was then framed for Den's murder by Chrissie. The culmination of the plot - which saw Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden return to EastEnders as Phil and Grant to exonerate Sam - signified the departure of Kim Medcalf, who opted to leave the serial in 2005. Medcalf's final scenes aired in November 2005.
2009: Westbrook's return
Westbrook returned to the show in 2009 in part of a shock storyline. Speaking of her comeback, she said, "I'm really happy to be coming back, it feels just like coming home. I'm really looking forward to working with Barbara [Windsor], Steve [McFadden], Sid [Owen] and Patsy [Palmer] and I'm over the moon to be working with the new boss
Diederick SanterDiederick Santer is a British television producer and is currently the Executive Producer of the popular BBC television soap opera EastEnders, with additional responsibility for developing younger skewing drama series and serials...
. I can't wait to get the scripts to see what Sam Mitchell has been up to since she was last in the Square."
Executive Producer Santer said, "With all the turmoil facing the Mitchells this year, it feels like a great time to bring back Sam, the original Mitchell sister. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Kim Medcalf for her great work playing Sam Mitchell for three years and welcome Danniella back to pick up the baton once again." In an interview with media website
Digital SpyDigital Spy is a British entertainment and media website, noted for its forums. According to comScore figures, it is the fourth largest British entertainment website with 2.1 million unique users on its news site...
, Santer discussed the reasoning behind his decision to reintroduce Sam: "What makes Sam interesting for me is that she's Ricky's first love and first wife. As Bianca and Ricky spend more time together [...] the inevitability of them at some point coming together increases. What's stopping them? Well, it's Sam. Sam and Ricky had a good thing going all those years ago. All Ricky ever gets off Bianca is indifference, whereas Sam - and who knows quite why - is less than indifferent towards him and it makes a nice change".
Santer acknowledged that Sam's return posed a problem for the show, because when the character was last seen, she was "on the run" in Brazil. However, he indicated that the storyliners had found a way to get around this. Westbrook later admitted she was not nervous about her return. She filmed her first scenes in the first week of June, for episodes that were broadcast in September. On 26 August a trailer was released to promote the character's return, noted for its similarity to the opening credits of
Secret Diary of a Call GirlSecret Diary of a Call Girl is a British television drama broadcast on ITV2 based on the blog and books by the pseudonymous "Belle de Jour," starring Billie Piper as "Belle", a high-class London-based call girl. The series was written by Lucy Prebble, who is also known as the author of The Sugar...
. 7.6 million viewers watched her return episode.
Westbrook was contracted for three months, and although it was extended slightly, she will depart from the show at the end of her storyline in episodes to be broadcast in December 2009. In an interview given with
Digital SpyDigital Spy is a British entertainment and media website, noted for its forums. According to comScore figures, it is the fourth largest British entertainment website with 2.1 million unique users on its news site...
,
Diederick SanterDiederick Santer is a British television producer and is currently the Executive Producer of the popular BBC television soap opera EastEnders, with additional responsibility for developing younger skewing drama series and serials...
said: "When Danniella and I first sat down to talk about her return, we discussed a particular storyline with a specific length of contract. These plans haven't changed. Danniella has done brilliantly and I hope that she will be back with us at some point in the future." Westbrook films her final scenes at the end of October 2009.
1990–2000
Sam first appears in July 1990, as the teenage sister of the Mitchell brothers,
PhilPhillip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
and
GrantGrant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. He first appeared in 1990 until 1999, then in 2005 and 2006....
. She often runs away to Walford to stay the night in her brothers' garage because she dislikes her mother
Peggy'sMargaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared in the series on 30 April 1991. Peggy was at this time seen on a recurring basis over several weeks...
boyfriend, Kevin Masters. Sam's father, Eric, had died when she was ten and she was subsequently on the receiving end of her brothers' heavy-handed paternalism. Sam becomes friends with
Hattie TavernierHattie Tavernier is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders between 1990 and 1994, played by Michelle Gayle. Hattie and her family were introduced in July 1990 by producer Michael Ferguson...
and later with the wayward
Mandy SalterMandy Salter is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nicola Stapleton. Introduced in 1992, Mandy was portrayed as a teenage tearaway. She was featured in storylines about homelessness, child and drug abuse. Her relationship with Aidan Brosnan was one of the...
, and even gets involved with a dodgy modelling agency, who are more interested in taking shots of her naked body than her modelling capabilities.
Sam begins dating
Ricky ButcherRichard Francis "Ricky" Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running, male protagonists to feature in EastEnders...
. Ricky falls for Sam in a big way, so when she suggests that they get married at 16, he agrees. Both the
MitchellThe Mitchell family is a fictional family in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. The first Mitchell nuclear family introduced were Eric Mitchell's widow Peggy Mitchell and her three children, Phil, Grant and Sam...
and the Butcher families try to put a stop to the relationship, but this makes Sam all the more determined and she and Ricky
elopeTo elope, most literally, merely means to run away. More specifically, elopement is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting married.In...
to
Gretna GreenGretna Green is a village in the south of Scotland famous for runaway weddings. It is in Dumfries and Galloway, near the mouth of the River Esk and was historically the first village in Scotland, following the old coaching route from London to Edinburgh. Gretna Green has a railway station serving...
and try to seal their union in secret. However, Ricky is not very good at hiding their tracks and it does not take Peggy long to discover where they are. Sam and Ricky manage to complete their nuptials before they are caught and even manage to persuade Peggy to attend a formal blessing back in Walford the following month. After just a year of marriage, Sam grows bored and begins lusting after a
playboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine, founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with a presence in nearly every medium. Playboy is one of the world's best...
named Clive, whom she met at a New Year's Eve party with Mandy. After having a brief affair, Sam thinks she has fallen in love with Clive, but he soon makes it clear that he is only interested in sex when he tries to coax her into having a
threesomeA threesome is a form of group sex involving three people of any gender combination.-Types:The level of sexual activity among the three members may vary greatly...
. Realising that her marriage is over, Sam leaves her husband and Walford in 1993 to take a job as a holiday rep on a cruise ship.
Sam returns in 1995, after her brothers, on a boys holiday in
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
, catch her in bed with
David WicksDavid Wicks is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael French.-Background:David is the son of Pat Evans and her first husband Pete Beale. Pat and Pete split up when David and his brother Simon were young and Pat remarried to Brian Wicks, who adopted both...
, and force her to return. Sam had tried to build herself a career as a
modelthumb|200px|Alesya Nazarova modeling a dress by [[bebe stores|bebe]]A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed for the purpose of displaying and promoting fashion clothing or other products and for advertising or promotional purposes or who poses for works of art.Modeling...
, but it had not gone to plan and she had ended up working as a hostess in a seedy bar. Back in Walford Sam tries to continue her fling with David and when this goes nowhere she tries to come between Ricky and his girlfriend,
Bianca JacksonBianca Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Patsy Palmer. The character was introduced by executive producer Leonard Lewis and appeared initially from 1993 to 1999, when Palmer opted to leave. In 2002 executive producer John Yorke brought the character...
. Initially Ricky thinks he still has feelings for Sam, but eventually realises he is better off with Bianca and tries to let Sam down gently. However Sam won't take no for an answer and purposefully kisses an innocent Ricky in front of Bianca, causing them to split. Despite this, Ricky will not reconsider getting back with Sam and opts to try and make amends with Bianca. Sam is forced to admit defeat. Soon after, she meets a Spanish man named Guillermo, who is holidaying in England. When he invites her to join him in the
CostasCostas is a Greek name. As a given name it is often a hypocorism for Constantine .Costas may refer to:* Bob Costas, an American sportscaster and host of the talk show, Costas Now* Jon Costas, an American politician...
she leaps at the chance and leaves Walford again in March 1996.
In 1999, Sam decides that she wants to settle down in Walford once more. During this time she embarks on a stormy relationship with
Beppe di MarcoBeppe di Marco is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael Greco.Beppe was his family's pride and joy, so it was a big shock to them when he was fired from the police force for attempting to frame local hardman Grant Mitchell...
, but she takes things more seriously than he does. After he finishes the relationship, a heartbroken Sam looks for comfort elsewhere. She turns to local club owner
Steve OwenSteven Richard "Steve" Owen is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Martin Kemp.-Saskia's killing:...
, but he is only using her to make
Melanie HealyMelanie Jane "Mel" Owen is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite.-History:...
jealous, so a hurt Sam decides to leave Walford once again in 2000.
2002–2005
In 2002, Peggy catches Sam working in a lap-dancing club in Spain. Ashamed and penniless, Sam returns to Walford with her mother. Unlucky in love, she begins brief flings with her former boyfriend Beppe and abuser
Trevor MorganTrevor Morgan is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Alex Ferns. He first appeared in December 2000, and became a regular cast member the following summer, after moving into Albert Square with his wife Little Mo.-History:...
, and reignites an affair with her brothers' enemy,
Steve OwenSteven Richard "Steve" Owen is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Martin Kemp.-Saskia's killing:...
; however, Steve is just using Sam again, this time as a final act of revenge against Phil. In February 2003, while sharing a flat with ex-husband Ricky Butcher, Sam sleeps with him, breaking up his affair with
Natalie EvansNatalie Evans , is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lucy Speed.Natalie tended to let her heart rule her head, which got her into a lot of trouble in Albert Square. Indecisive Natalie could never really make up her mind about what she wanted from men or her...
. She also has a
one-night standOriginally, a one-night stand referred to a single night theatre performance, usually by a guest group on tour. Today, however, the term is more commonly understood as a single sexual encounter between individuals, where neither individual has any immediate intention or expectation of establishing...
with
Dennis RickmanDennis Rickman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nigel Harman.Dennis first appeared in the show on 14 April 2003 and his last appearance was screened on 30 December 2005 .-Arrival in the Square:Dennis was the product of a fling between his...
and later begins flirting with Dennis's father
Den WattsDennis "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well-known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den"....
, but is left humiliated when he sacks her from her job at his family's club.
Animosity between the Watts and Mitchell families escalates. Sam is left in charge of the Mitchell empire when her brother, Phil, goes on the run after escaping prison for an armed robbery — for which he was set-up for by Den. Sam persuades her cousin
BillyWilliam "Billy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Perry Fenwick, who made his first appearance on 9 November 1998. Billy was seen when Phil went to visit his godson Jamie...
to torch Phil's snooker club in an insurance scam, an act that results in Den's club burning down and his daughter
VickiVictoria Louise "Vicki" Fowler is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Emma Herry from the character's birth in 1986 to 1988, Samantha Leigh Martin from 1988 to 1995, and Scarlett Johnson from 2003 to 2004. The character was born in the serial, conceived in a...
nearly perishing in the fire. Dennis Rickman vows revenge and he is only warned off when gangster
Andy HunterAndrew "Andy" Hunter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michael Higgs.-Creation and development:Higgs auditioned for the role in April 2003 and won the part of EastEnders new "bad guy", who made his first appearance in July that year as a member of the gangster...
begins a relationship with Sam. Andy marries Sam, despite
Minty PetersonRichard "Rick" Peterson is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Cliff Parisi. He made his first appearance on 11 March 2002...
's attempt to stop the event — he has fallen in love with Sam and knows Andy is using her to gain control of the Mitchell assets.
Andy fools Sam into signing over control of Phil's house, and she is then conned out of all the Mitchell businesses by family lawyer Marcus Christie and Den Watts. Marcus tells Sam that Phil wants her to sell everything and give the cash to him. She does so, selling her mother's pub for a vastly reduced price to Den Watts. Marcus was lying, and once he has the Mitchells' money, he flees, leaving Sam with nothing. Andy, realising Sam is no use to him, throws her out of their house, branding her worthless.
Sam teams up with
Zoe SlaterZoe Slater is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Ryan.-Storylines:Zoe arrives in Walford with her family, presumed father Charlie , sisters Kat , Lynne and Little Mo , and grandmother Mo , in September 2000...
and
Chrissie WattsChristine "Chrissie" Watts is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman.She is perhaps best known for killing the character of Den Watts , her husband, in an episode that was watched by 14.34 million British TV viewers...
to get revenge on Den. However, things turn ugly when Den attacks Chrissie and Zoe hits him over the head with
Pauline FowlerPauline Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional London borough of Walford. The character is no longer part of current storylines. She was played by the late actress Wendy Richard between 1985 and 2006...
's doorstop. He is thought to be dead but minutes later, when Chrissie is left alone with him, Den grabs her ankle. Chrissie reaches for the doorstop and delivers a fatal blow. Sam witnesses this but keeps quiet, while Zoe believes she has killed Den. They bury Den's body in the cellar of
The Queen VictoriaThe Queen Victoria is the fictional Victorian public house in the popular BBC soap opera, EastEnders. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20.-Story and appearance:...
. On the same night, Andy Hunter is also killed after he is thrown off a motorway fly-over by gangster
Johnny AllenJonathan "Johnny" Allen is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Billy Murray.-Storylines:Johnny Allen was a businessman and retired gangster, who grew up in Walford but moved away to start up an empire of his own which he named J.A. Enterprises...
. He leaves Sam nothing in his will, apart from the engagement ring. His note reads: "To my wife, I leave her the engagement ring so she can sell it, get her roots done, and still be the dumbest blonde I had ever known."
Subsequent to Den's death, Sam enjoys a romance with
Danny MoonDaniel "Danny" Moon is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jake Maskall. He made his first appearance on 30 December 2004...
and begins blackmailing Chrissie about Den's murder. Chrissie submits and hands over large amounts of cash. Sam realises that Chrissie will attempt to sell the pub and leave Walford. Depleted, she begins drinking heavily; she smashes up Den's grave and digs him up, hoping Chrissie will be caught. The plan backfires; all evidence points to Sam, who is quickly charged with murder and remanded in custody.
Phil and Grant return to Walford to try to secure her release by proving that it was Chrissie who killed Den. Chrissie is arrested on a murder charge, while Sam is released from custody. However, she still faces a charge of
perverting the course of justicePerverting the course of justice, in English, Canadian , and Irish law, is a criminal offence in which someone prevents justice from being served on himself or on another party...
and faces a prison sentence up to four years. This prospect is too daunting for Sam, and she flees to
BrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
while on bail.
2009—
Phil sends Ricky to Brazil to find Sam, and she decides to return to London after being told the charges against her would have been dropped after a few years. She uses a false passport, which Phil finds when he calls his solicitor. Sam goes to the bar of The Queen Victoria and dances on the table, causing a scene. Peggy calls a family meeting and afterwards Phil takes Sam out of the pub telling everyone she's going back to Brazil on the next flight. However, this is just a ploy to make everyone think she has gone and she is actually staying in Walford. Sam texts Ricky, who tells Bianca that she is staying. The family try to keep her return from her cousin
Roxy MitchellRoxanne Lizette "Roxy" Mitchell , is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, portrayed by Rita Simons. Roxy arrived in Walford with her sister Ronnie on 24 July 2007 and decided to move permanently to Walford from Ibiza where they ran a bar together. Roxy is 31, and the...
as she is easily manipulated by her father
Archie MitchellArchibald Lionel "Archie" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Larry Lamb.The character of Archie is the father of already established characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell , and a member of the Mitchell family, who have appeared in the soap since 1990...
. Phil's lawyer, Richie Scott says Sam could get a jail sentence of at least five and a half years for peverting the course of justice, failure to surrender and using a fake passport. Roxy discovers Sam is back and tells Archie. Whilst Sam is hiding above The Queen Victoria the phone rings and Sam answers. It is Archie and Sam sneaks out to meet him. Peggy and Sam argue over this and Peggy tells Sam what Archie has done and Sam confides in her mother her that her ex-partner in Brazil controlled her in the same way Archie controlled Peggy. Ricky proposes to Sam and they become engaged and Peggy begs Archie to give Sam more time while she celebrates her engagement. The following morning, she upsets Roxy. Phil arranges for Sam and Ricky to leave England that day, and Peggy throws them a party. Bianca invites herself, turning up with her grandmother
Pat EvansPatricia "Pat" Evans is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. She has been played by Pam St. Clement since 12 June 1986, just over a year after the show first aired...
and adopted daughter
Whitney DeanWhitney Dean is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, played by Shona McGarty. The character is the adoptive daughter of long-running character Bianca Jackson , and was introduced in April 2008 when Palmer returned to the series after a six year absence...
. At the party, Sam and Bianca fight, and she also upsets Billy's foster son
Jay BrownJames "Jay" Brown is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jamie Borthwick.-Development:Originally a recurring character, Jay was considered a regular from July 2007. He was involved in a minor racism storyline, where he called another character a "black cow"...
. As she is due to leave, the police arrive to arrest her. Archie, Bianca, Whitney, Jay, Ronnie and Roxy are all seen with phones, but it is not known who called the police. Sam sneaks out the back and takes a car from Phil's garage, but it has no petrol and breaks down. She runs to the tube station where the police arrest her.
Ricky visits Sam in prison, and Sam says she is terrified of bumping into Chrissie. She asks Ricky to find out who called the police. After Ricky confronts Bianca, Whitney tells him she informed the police. Ricky visits Sam again, and realises she does not care about him, only herself, and breaks off their engagement. He then discovers it was actually Bianca who called the police. After Sam is released on bail, she and Ricky reconcile, leaving Bianca and her children very unhappy. Before a court appearance she is befriended by Janine Butcher, unaware that Janine and Archie are planning to take down the Mitchell family. Sam gets a job working for
Jack BranningJack Branning is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of established characters Carol Jackson, Suzy Branning and Max Branning...
, but due to a fued between Jack and the Mitchells, Phil says she cannot live with her family and work for Jack. She moves in with Ricky but Bianca and her daughter
TiffanyTiffany "Tiff" Dean is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, played by Maisie Smith.-Character creation and development:...
upset her so she tells Jack she has to leave her job. Sam and Jack then kiss passionately.
Reception
Westbrook has said that within days of her first appearance as Sam in 1990, the public and media interest in her character was "phenomenal". The character has been reintroduced multiple times, with producer Matthew Robinson referring to her as "popular". Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell won a National TV Award in 2002 for most popular newcomer.
The direction taken with the character was viewed critically c. 2004, with Paul Clark of
The StageThe Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
using Sam as an example of how the show had become unbelievable. He commented, "The rot set in around the time when one of the show’s female leads, Sam, metamorphosed from introspective beauty into oestrogen-fuelled Al CaponeAlphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a crime syndicate dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging of liquor and other illegal activities during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s and 1930s....
tte, making Billy burn down Den’s club". The GuardianThe Guardian is a British daily newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. Founded in 1821, it is unique among major British newspapers in being owned by a foundation .The Guardian Weekly, which circulates worldwide, provides a compact digest of four newspapers...
claimed in 2004 that EastEnders
had come under "heavy fire" for "poor storylines", among them Sam's wedding to Andy Hunter.
Kevin O'Sullivan for the Sunday Mirror was critical of Danniella Westbrook's return in 2009, highlighting an "inexplicable personality transplant" in Sam and decrying the "homecoming" storyline as "An insult to long-suffering viewers' intelligence".