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Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Full list of soap schedule changes as EastEnders is off air for EIGHT days – is your favourite show affected?
Scroll on for a full breakdown of when the soaps will be on air tv shake-up Full list of soap schedule changes as EastEnders is off air for EIGHT days – is your favourite show affected? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE soaps look set to be rocked by a slew of schedule shake-ups over the next few weeks with various summer sporting events blowing the usual programming pattern out of the water. EastEnders and Emmerdale will both fall victim to being bumped around the timetable with the BBC's London based soap going off air for a total of eight days amid the chaos. 5 EastEnders will go off air for eight days after being rocked by schedule chaos Credit: BBC 5 The soap will be demoted to BBC Two as a result of Wimbledon coverage Credit: BBC 5 Emmerdale will also fall victim to the disruption Credit: ITV As well as not being aired in their usual timeslots on set days, one soap will even be forced to move channels entirely. This week, EastEnders has been demoted from its regular BBC One slot onto sister channel, BBC Two. Despite usually airing Monday-Thursday at 7:30pm on the main BBC channel, fans will instead see two episodes broadcast on just Monday and Tuesday on BBC Two. On Monday, EastEnders will air an episode at 7pm followed by another episode at 7:30pm as a result of Wimbledon taking over BBC One. The same scheduling pattern will then occur on Tuesday 1st July. ITV will also begin to be affected by the chaos on Tuesday with Emmerdale airing an extended one-hour edition. It will directly rival EastEnders with the episode being brought forward to kick-off at 7pm. From Thursday the 3rd of July, fans will be left with no soap content for days with ITV and BBC pulling all their coverage across Thursday and Friday. Emmerdale and Coronation Street will both be bumped from air as a result of the UEFA Women's Euro matches. But its fans of EastEnders that will suffer the most. EastEnders drops huge clue that Zoe Slater has a secret child before shock exit Following the double-bill on Tuesday 1st July, they will have to go a whole eight days before getting their next fix of Albert Square action. The soap won't air again until the 9th July. The chaos as expected to continue throughout July as a result of the many sporting events. Both BBC iPlayer and ITVX are expected to continue to release their episodes at 7am on their respective services for each day they are scheduled to air on linear TV. SOAP CHAOS - When Can You Watch? EastEnders Monday 30 June - BBC Two 7pm AND 7:30pm Tuesday 1 July - BBC Two 7pm AND 7:30pm Wednesday 9 July - BBC Two 7pm AND 7:30pm Emmerdale Monday 30 June - ITV1 - 7:30pm Tuesday 1st July - ITV1 - 7pm (Hour-Long) Wednesday 2nd July - ITV1 - 7:30pm Coronation Street Monday 30 June - ITV1 - 8pm (Hour-Long) Wednesday 2nd July - ITV1 - 8pm (Hour-Long) 5 It is likely to leave fans devastated at not being able to get their usual soap fix Credit: BBC
The Irish Sun
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Full list of soap schedule changes as EastEnders is off air for EIGHT days – is your favourite show affected?
THE soaps look set to be rocked by a slew of schedule shake-ups over the next few weeks with various summer sporting events blowing the usual programming pattern out of the water. EastEnders and Emmerdale will both fall victim to being bumped around the timetable with the BBC's London based soap going off air for a total of eight days amid the chaos. 5 EastEnders will go off air for eight days after being rocked by schedule chaos Credit: BBC 5 The soap will be demoted to BBC Two as a result of Wimbledon coverage Credit: BBC 5 Emmerdale will also fall victim to the disruption Credit: ITV As well as not being aired in their usual timeslots on set days, one soap will even be forced to move channels entirely. This week, EastEnders has been demoted from its regular BBC One slot onto sister channel, BBC Two. Despite usually airing Monday-Thursday at 7:30pm on the main BBC channel, fans will instead see two episodes broadcast on just Monday and Tuesday on BBC Two. On Monday, EastEnders will air an episode at 7pm followed by another episode at 7:30pm as a result of Wimbledon taking over BBC One. Read More on Soaps The same scheduling pattern will then occur on Tuesday 1st July. ITV will also begin to be affected by the chaos on Tuesday with Emmerdale airing an extended one-hour edition. It will directly rival EastEnders with the episode being brought forward to kick-off at 7pm. From Thursday the 3rd of July, fans will be left with no soap content for days with ITV and BBC pulling all their coverage across Thursday and Friday. Most read in Soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street will both be bumped from air as a result of the UEFA Women's Euro matches. But its fans of EastEnders that will suffer the most. EastEnders drops huge clue that Zoe Slater has a secret child before shock exit Following the double-bill on Tuesday 1st July, they will have to go a whole eight days before getting their next fix of Albert Square action. The soap won't air again until the 9th July. The chaos as expected to continue throughout July as a result of the many sporting events. Both BBC iPlayer and ITVX are expected to continue to release their episodes at 7am on their respective services for each day they are scheduled to air on linear TV. SOAP CHAOS - When Can You Watch? EastEnders Monday 30 June - BBC Two 7pm AND 7:30pm Tuesday 1 July - BBC Two 7pm AND 7:30pm Wednesday 9 July - BBC Two 7pm AND 7:30pm Emmerdale Monday 30 June - ITV1 - 7:30pm Tuesday 1st July - ITV1 - 7pm (Hour-Long) Wednesday 2nd July - ITV1 - 7:30pm Coronation Street Monday 30 June - ITV1 - 8pm (Hour-Long) Wednesday 2nd July - ITV1 - 8pm (Hour-Long) 5 It is likely to leave fans devastated at not being able to get their usual soap fix Credit: BBC 5 Wimbledon is the biggest cause of disruption Credit: PA
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders reveals another shock return as Albert Square legend's son makes Walford comeback
EASTENDERS have revealed another shock return as an Albert Square legend's son makes a Walford comeback. Gorgeous Zoe Slater, best known for her explosive 'You ain't my mother!' showdown with Kat Slater, hit the square last week and now someone else is following in her footsteps. 6 6 6 Zoe was back as Kat married Alfie for the third time and prepares to take over the Queen Victoria pub. But now there's another shock return for the drama filled square. Oscar Branning is on his way home to Albert Square this summer, and where Oscar goes, trouble is not far behind. Oscar was last seen on screen in 2017 (played by twins Neo & Charlee Hall) when he made a brief visit to Max on Father's Day. However, just why he is returning and where he's been is set to be revealed when Lauren receives a mysterious call. Newcomer Pierre Moullier will play Oscar, who is now 17, as he arrives and turns Lauren's life upside down. EastEnders Executive Producer Ben Wadey said: 'I'm very excited to bring Oscar Branning back to Walford and introduce viewers to him now that he's all grown up. "Oscar is very much a Branning which means there's going to be plenty of drama in store this summer. "We're delighted to welcome Pierre as he takes on the role and can't wait for viewers to see him bring Oscar to life.' Pierre Moullier added: 'It's pretty surreal to join EastEnders - it keeps hitting me that I'm actually on Albert Square! Blackmail horror for EastEnders teenager as sexual predator Joel targets another victim "When I found out I was joining the Brannings, it was so exciting as they are such an iconic family, and I love that there are so many skeletons in the closet. "Oscar is so much fun to play, and the audience should be prepared for the unexpected as he's a complex guy!' Pierre has already started filming, and Oscar will return to our screens next month. EastEnders stars who QUIT MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year? The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year. Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998. Yet what about the 2024 exits? Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had "quit" the long-running series. It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen. Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford. Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would "quit out of boredom" over recent storylines. Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame. One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky. He played Stacey Slater's brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel. Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse. Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay 's Netflix movie 6 Underground. Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005. She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008. The actor, 52, will reprise his role as love rat Max Branning later this year in dramatic scenes. Jake quit the BBC One soap in 2021 after 15 years to focus on other acting projects. A telly source said: 'Jake's return is huge news for EastEnders fans as his character made a massive mark on the show. 'It'll raise some eyebrows after he was absent from the 40th anniversary earlier this year. Bosses are excited about what his character's reappearance means for spicing up the plots. 'There is plenty to go at. Max has loads of unfinished business in the Square and is set to ruffle some feathers.' Speaking earlier this year Jake admitted he missed being part of the soap — except for the busy filming regime. He said: 'I don't miss the schedules. Anyone will tell you how hard they are and sort of all-consuming, but obviously I miss a lot of the people. 'When you're at the centre of a big storyline like EastEnders Christmas, something like that — it's a real thrill as an actor to be a part of that, big storylines, big characters." 6 6 6
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Soap stars who flopped in America from shop assistant to one-hit wonder
As Michelle Ryan rejoins EastEnders as gobby Zoe Slater after trying her luck stateside in the axed remake of Bionic Woman, we look at other soap actors from Enders, Corrie, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks who have tried to crack America Soap fans are celebrating the return of Michelle Ryan to EastEnders - back as gobby Zoe Slater after a 20-year gap. She left Walford in 2005 after landing the role of Jaime Sommers in the US remake of Bionic Woman. The show was set to make her a huge US TV star, but sadly the 2007 show was axed after just one series. Michelle, 41, is far from the only British star to be enjoying rebound soap success after following their acting dreams over the pond. Even one Oscar winner realised that home really is where the heart is... READ MORE: Emmerdale star loses 4 stone as lifestyle change reverses major health issue Patsy Palmer, EastEnders Michelle's Albert Square colleague, famous for those yells of "Rickaaay!" as Bianca Butcher, headed to California in 2014 with her husband Richard Merkell and her four children. But her career did not make as much headway out there, according to her IMDB entry, which cites a 2014 TV commercial for Best Buy and a UK short film in 2015, which starred her son Charley Palmer Rothwell, 33. Patsy does have a very glamorous claim to LA fame though. Her son Fenton Merkell, 25, dated supermodel Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber, after they met as models. But the allure of Bianca's Puffa jacket has proven too strong. Patsy, 53, has yo-yoed in and out of the BBC soap for years. She returned last year, staying until earlier this year, when she went on Celebrity Big Brother. Rob Kazinsky, EastEnders He played Sean Slater from 2006 until 2009, before landing his big break in vampire series True Blood in 2013, as Macklyn Warlow. Rob, 41, then made the jump to the big screen in Pacific Rim (2013), Warcraft (2016) and Captain Marvel (2019). However it appears after time in the Marvel universe he was yearning for something more down to earth - as he headed back to EastEnders for a brief stint in 2019, and then made two more appearances in 2021 and 2022 Nikki Sanderson, Coronation Street As mouthy hairdresser Candice, she was a favourite on the ITV soap from 1995 to 2005. She tried her hand across the pond, with mixed results. Nikki, 41, did land a role in 2008 horror film Boogeyman 3, PRAISE but it went straight to DVD. Fast forward to 2012 and she joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Maxine Minniver, to great success. She was praised for playing a domestic violence victim in one of the Channel 4 soap's most harrowing storylines. Nikki won the Inside Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2023, before quitting the soap this year. Rachel Shenton, Hollyoaks She starred as Mitzeee Minniver for three years before leaving in 2013. She went on to appear in US series Switched at Birth from 2014 to 2017. The following year she won an Oscar for her short film The Silent Child, based on her own experiences as the child of a parent who became deaf. Rachel, 37, now stars in the family friendly drama All Creatures Great and Small on 5, as James Herriot's love interest. Adele Silva, Emmerdale Aside from a five-year break from 2000, the actress was part of the furniture at the ITV soap - first appearing as Kelly Windsor in 1993 aged 13. She tried to leave Kelly behind in 2007 and moved to the US, but struggled to find acting jobs, and in 2010 she was pictured working in a Ted Baker store in LA. Adele came back to Emmerdale briefly before starring in 2012 comedy horror film Strippers vs Werewolves with Freddy Kruger actor Robert Englund. Bagging more UK acting jobs rather than LA ones, Adele, 44, then headed to Hollyoaks for seven episodes in 2015, playing Leela Lomax's cousin, Angela Brown Joshua Richards, Emmerdale Joshua's career path is pretty unique as, unlike others soap rebounders, he was a Hollywood heavyweight who turned his back on Tinseltown to appear in soapland. More than two decades ago, Josh was starring with Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Peter O'Toole in 2004 blockbuster Troy. Josh, 65, also starred in 2017 film King Arthur: Excalibur Rising, before landing the role of Bear Wolf on Emmerdale. It was a dream job, because he was desperate to work in Yorkshire, where he has lived for 30 years "and be home in time for my tea". But he also has some early soap pedigree, after appearing in an episode of Heartbeat back in 1999. And here are some of the homegrown acting talents who became global stars after heading stateside... Idris Elba, Family Affairs His first big break came in the Channel 5 soap in 1997, as Tim Webster, followed by London's Burning in 2001, before trying his luck in the US . Idris, 52, hit the big-time playing Stringer Bell in the iconic cop series The Wire from 2002 to 2004. On the big screen, he has been in American Gangster (2007), Prometheus (2012) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). Himesh Patel, EastEnders Himesh is one of biggest soap exports, and is now successful film actor since leaving his role as Tamwar Masood in EastEnders from 2007 to 2016. He has appeared in the Beatles inspired 2019 movie Yesterday, Christopher Nolan film Tenet (2020), Don't Look Up (2021), and 2022. film Enola Holmes 2. Himesh, 34, is now filming Enola Holmes 3, as Dr John Watson. Nathalie Emmanuel, Hollyoaks Three years after leaving the Channel 4 soap, as Sasha Valentine, in 2010, she played the major role of Missandei in Game of Thrones until 2019. She then appeared in 2022 horror film The Invitation, Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis last year, and Natalie, 36, also turned up in Fast & Furious seven, eight and nine. Ben Hardy, EastEnders Shortly after leaving his role of Peter Beale, he was cast in 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse, followed by Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and Love at First Sight (2023).
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EastEnders' Jessie Wallace shares her emotional reaction to onscreen daughter Michelle Ryan's shock return to the BBC soap after 20 years away from the Slater family
Kat Slater star Jessie Wallace has revealed she was overcome with emotion after learning of Michelle Ryan's return to EastEnders. The actress, now 41, has reprised her role as Zoe Slater, Kat's on-screen daughter, two decades after her dramatic exit from Albert Square. In a behind-the-scenes video shared by the official EastEnders Instagram page, Jessie admitted she cried upon hearing that Michelle was reprising her role. She said: 'So, Michelle is back after 20 years. I've missed her tremendously, I've missed her, working with her, the whole Kat and Zoe thing, you know, going back to, 'You ain't my mother,' 'Yes I am.' 'And when I found out Michelle was coming back, I cried. 'And then when we met up, I cried because I've missed you.' Zoe made a bombshell return to the BBC soap on Monday night's episode, after her return was kept under wraps. Viewers will see Zoe in two further episodes this week but she will be back full-time this summer, as her mother Kat prepares to tie the knot with Alfie Moon for the third time. Zoe had been seen as a mystery figure throughout Monday's episode, with her face finally revealed during its closing moments. The episode hadn't been released on BBC iPlayer at 6am that morning, meaning all viewers had to tune into the evening broadcast, where Zoe's return was unveiled. Speaking on her return to the BBC soap, Michelle said: 'It feels like coming home. After doing my first few scenes, it was like I'd never been away. It all happened at the right time. 'I'd already been thinking about a return because I'd met up with Kacey Ainsworth (Little Mo) and Kim Medcalf (Sam Mitchell) and 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. 'It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters, so both of our worlds aligned at the right time, and I'm so excited to be back. 'When I was pitched the storylines, and when I read the scripts, I knew it was the right decision.' EastEnders new boss, Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: 'Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as, although we haven't seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.' Since Zoe's exit from Walford 20 years ago, it's been revealed that she and Kat have become estranged. Teasing her character's reason to come back to Albert Square, Michelle added: 'I can't say too much as there is a lot of drama to come, but Zoe is a mess. 'She's not the girl that left Walford twenty years ago, and she's been really struggling on her own. 'She has her defences up, but this week you will see that she needs help, but whether she is willing to accept it is another story.' It comes after MailOnline revealed in February that, despite multiple attempts from bosses over the years, Michelle had refused to return to EastEnders. A source told MailOnline: 'Bosses reached out to Michelle several times over the years, they would love to have her back. For example, as the soap was approaching its big 30th anniversary, it was a gentle approach asking if she would consider a return in the lead up to it all. 'This was at the very early stages of their plans but Michelle refused and there was a lot of disappointment amongst bosses. The moment is still considered one of the most iconic in EastEnders' 40-year history 'It's always been quite baffling why she wouldn't want to reprise a character who is still very much adored by the fans. It's been 20 years since she left Albert Square but still people are talking about her character.' During her time on the show, Michelle was involved in one of EastEnders' biggest storylines with it revealed that Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) was in fact Zoe's mother and not her sister, with explosive scenes seeing her yell: 'You ain't my mother!', only for Kat to reply: 'Yes I am!' Back in 2001, EastEnders' leopard-print-loving Kat Slater, who had been sexually abused by her uncle, finally revealed to her 'sister' Zoe that she was, in fact, her mother. It remains one of the most famous and iconic moments in EastEnders' 40-year history - a scene that has been mimicked by soap fans worldwide. The unforgettable storyline catapulted Michelle, then 16, to superstardom, and in 2005, she walked away from Walford for the final time, five years after arriving in EastEnders with the rest of the Slater clan. Zoe also famously kissed her best friend Kelly Taylor on a New Year's Eve night out in 2003 when they got stranded and started getting emotional. The kiss sparked criticism at the time, but Brooke Kinsella, who played Kelly, defended the scene. She said: 'It's not a gratuitous ratings getting move, it's not some kind of big lesbian kiss. 'It's the way two best friends who have a lot of love for each other show their emotions.' During her time on EastEnders, Zoe also had a string of failed romances, including a disastrous relationship with Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman). The affair - which resulted in a pregnancy - saw Zoe embroiled in the murder of Den Watts with accomplices Chrissie Watts and Sam Mitchell, which eventually led to her exit from the soap. In the lead up to the soap's 40th, a number of former characters came back including Grant Mitchell, Bianca Jackson, Chrissie Watts, David Wicks, Nigel Bates, Mickey Miller and even Angie Watts but there was no Zoe. Michelle admitted at the time of quitting that she 'got quite bored in the end' playing Zoe, telling the Bristol Evening Post: 'Doing the same thing day in, day out. It's just so boring. I like to jump from different things.' 'I always saw EastEnders as an apprenticeship. I always wanted to go on and do different things. I have some really good friends from that show but the door is closed. 'I've always taken chances. I think that's how you progress – by stepping out and doing different things. 'I really do like my freedom and jumping from job to job. I just want to work with people I admire and respect, wherever that be – big budget, low budget, leading role, supporting role.' After leaving the show 20 years ago, the star almost cracked America after landing the leading role in the re-imagining of the popular seventies TV show Bionic Woman, though the show was cancelled after just one season. Since then the British star has appeared in several independent films, including 4.3.2.1. and Cockneys vs Zombies. She has also had guest roles in BBC shows Merlin, Doctor Who and Death In Paradise. Her most recent acting film appearance was in Frankenstein: Legacy where she starred as Lady Charlotte, in addition to 2025's Finding My Voice in which she played Lisa Kendall. EastEnders fans previously speculated they wanted to see Michelle back in Albert Square, as the soap celebrated its 40th Anniversary back in February. When Michelle shared an album of throw-back snaps of her on set 20 years ago to Instagram, her fans flocked to her comments as they were convinced she would make a return. One penned: 'You can't convince me that you're not a secret return for the 40th, Jessie talking about wanting you to return, now this….its happening, you just can't say, double like if it's true' 'Please come back loved the kat and Zoe storyline' 'I would love Zoe to return to Eastenders if she does I would love to see Zoe have scenes with her brothers and with Stacey and Jean and Lily'
