EastEnders favourite Kim Medcalf reveals why Sam Mitchell has changed so much

It’s a brand new Sam (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

‘The old chaotic, manipulative Sam is still very much there, just evolved,’ explains Kim Medcalf, on the brand new side we’ve been seeing of her alter-ego, Sam Mitchell in EastEnders.

It’s true: the Sam Mitchell of 2026 presents an incredibly different facet of the character we’ve loved to love and hate in equal measures.

‘The cancer diagnosis was a huge wake‑up call,’ Kim mused on the changes in Sam.

‘When Sam first came back, she had her head in the sand, wanting to do right by Ricky, but avoiding the reality of what might be wrong with her. It’s only through the support of those around her t...