What happened to the other original Slater family members as Zoe returns to EastEnders
EastEnders fans were left gobsmacked after last week's dramatic duff duff, which saw the return of Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, to Albert Square after 20 years
The iconic Slater family (
BBC)
EastEnders fans were sent into a frenzy last week when Michelle Ryan made an epic return to Walford as the iconic Zoe Slater. Michelle, 41, has been absent from the soap for 20 years after quitting to pursue other acting roles and starring in shows, including The Bionic Woman, Death in Paradise and a West End production of Cabaret with X Factor winner, Will Young.
She joins Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater and Zoe’s mum, back in the BBC soap as the pair embark on the mother of all reunions. But what happened to all the other OG Slaters, who moved into the square 20 years ago with a bang, giving us some of the soap’s most explosive storylines? Here, we take a look…
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1 of 5Mo Harris – Laila Morse
EastEnders bosses announced that Laila Morse was set return to the BBC soap permanently last year. The 79-year-old reprised her role as Slater matriarch, Mo Harris, last year. Mo made her first appearance on Albert Square back in September 2000 and was a firm fixture of the show until her official departure in 2021. At the time of her departure, Mo headed off into the sunset with her romantic interest Fat Elvis (played by Shenton Dixon).
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Image:BBC/Jack Barnes)
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2 of 5Little Mo – Kacey Ainsworth
Kacey played much-loved Little Mo from 2000 to 2006. After being at the centre of some harrowing storylines, including killing her evil husband, Trevor, with an iron, Kacey left the soap for new opportunities. She went onto to star as Cathy Keating in ITV’s Grantchester and shone in a 2019 production of Sweeney Todd at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre.
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Image:BBC)
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3 of 5Charlie Slater – Derek Martin
Charlie Slater was last seen on EastEnders nine years ago when the beloved cab driver died after suffering from a heart attack. Away from the Square, Derek celebrated his 90th birthday in 2023 and rang in the milestone with his two sons, David and Jonathan.
In 2022, the actor stunned fans when he claimed that EastEnders was ‘miserable’ and needed to bring back its humorous side – as well as some of its old scriptwriters.
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Image:BBC)
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4 of 5Lynne Slater – Elaine Lordan
Lynne was played by Elaine Lordan from 2000 to 2004. Sadly, following several tragedies in her private life when her baby son and mum died within months of each other, the actress withdrew from the public eye in 2008. Elaine appeared on the fifth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in November 2005, but within a day of arriving she passed out twice in the camp, and although the doctors found her to be in good health, she was removed from the jungle.
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Image:BBC)
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5 of 5Kat Slater – Jessie Wallace
Jessie has played the iconic Kat Slater on and off since the famous family moved into the square. After a five-year hiatus in which she made her West End debut in Rent as well as taking part in Dancing On Ice, she is now back where she belongs in Walford as she gets to grip with having her daughter, Zoe, back for the mother of all reunions.
