Michelle Ryan has spoken out for the first time since the BBC confirmed that her character Zoe Slater will be written out of EastEnders later this year.
The 42-year-old actress, who returned to the soap in 2025 after two decades away, posted on Instagram on Sunday to hint at what lies ahead for her professionally.
“Working on my next project this summer and looking forward to sharing more soon,” she wrote.
“It’s been a busy stretch, so if you’ve written and are still waiting on a reply they’re on the way.”
Michelle Ryan has broken her silence after the BBC confirmed Zoe Slater will leave EastEnders later this year
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Sources say Ms Ryan’s final scenes were filmed in July, with her departure set to air in the coming months.
A spokeswoman for EastEnders said: “We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future.”
Fans flooded the comments section of her post with heartfelt messages.
“To wait 20 years to finally have you back, to now read that announcement of THE Zoe Slater is potentially being killed off is so sad,” one fan penned.
The actress told fans she is already working on her ‘next project’ following her EastEnders exit
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Another called Zoe “an iconic character” who “deserves so much better.”
“Really disappointed that Zoe is being killed off “, a third added.
A source told The Sun: “Michelle’s long-awaited return has been somewhat flat and lacklustre.
“There’s been a backlash about her comeback, leaving some fans disappointed with her on-screen presence.”
The source added: “There has been some disappointment backstage that the return was short-lived.”
The character’s second stint included a stalking ordeal, a wrongful murder conviction and long-lost child drama, yet the storylines failed to land with many viewers.
Prior to Zoe’s on-screen reappearance, executive producer Ben Wadey had spoken ambitiously about mining two decades of untold history between mother and daughter.
“Since Zoe left, we know their relationship deteriorated until Zoe cut ties completely,” he said.
Ms Ryan returned to Albert Square in 2025 after a 20-year absence from the BBC soap
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BBC
“I’ve always been fascinated as to why, especially as they left on good terms.”
As Zoe prepares to bow out, the BBC has announced that a fresh clan will be arriving in Albert Square.
The Hawkins family, who are estranged relatives of existing character Nicola Mitchell, will bring longstanding grudges and tangled family history to Walford.
Audiences already know that Nicola has maintained a deliberate distance from her relatives, and their arrival promises to reopen old wounds.
Fans described Zoe Slater as an ‘iconic character after news of Ms Ryan’s departure
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Mr Wadey expressed his excitement about the newcomers, describing them as “a fantastic addition to Walford.”
He added: “While the family share a fierce loyalty to one another, decades of complicated history and Nicola’s estrangement from them has left fractures within the family that are far from healed.
“We’re all very excited for what we have planned for the family, and we can’t wait for the audience to meet them.”
