EastEnders star Michelle Ryan is to leave the BBC soap over a year after making her return as Zoe Slater.

The 42-year-old returned to Albert Square last summer as she reprised her role for the first time in 20 years.

Zoe has been at the centre of the drama since she has been back, having spent months searching for her twin son and daughter – Josh and Jasmine – who she had secretly given birth to.

She also spent weeks wrongfully imprisoned after being accused of the murder of her ex-boyfriend Anthony Trueman.

EastEnders cast members, left to right, Jessie Wallace, Steve McFadden and Michelle Ryan (Ian West/PA)

PA Archive

Her character will be leaving the soap later this year.

A spokesperson 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.”

A source told the Press Association: “Michelle’s exit marks the end of a storyline that has been in the works for some time.

“With such an iconic character, Zoe’s exit is never going to be without drama, but bosses are keeping tight-lipped about how she leaves the Square, but as always with the Slaters, it’s not going to be quiet.”

Michelle Ryan plays Zoe Slater (Ian West/PA)

PA Archive

Zoe made her first appearance in the soap in September 2000 along with the rest of the Slater family.

Her character has been involved in some of the show’s best-known storylines, including one which saw her tell her mother Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) “you ain’t my mother”, before finding out she was.

Zoe had countless failed love interests, including one with Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman), which saw Zoe embroiled in the murder of Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) with accomplices Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), after her affair with Den and subsequent pregnancy.

The character left Albert Square in 2005, when she reconciled with Kat after admitting the truth about Den’s murder.

Zoe returned in June 2025, having reconnected with her cousin Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) after fabricating a story that she is on the run from loan sharks.

Read More

Further details about her departure are yet to be announced.