Zoe Slater
Zoe Slater | |
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EastEnders character | |
Charli Slater |
Zoe Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Ryan. She made her first appearance on 18 September 2000. Zoe arrives in Walford along with her father, Charlie (Derek Martin), sisters Kat (Jessie Wallace), Lynne (Elaine Lordan), Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth), and grandmother Big Mo (Laila Morse).
It later emerges that Zoe is in fact Kat's daughter, and a product of
Another highly aclaimed storyline was Zoe's friendship with Kelly Taylor (Brooke Kinsella). In 2003, Zoe and Kelly made headlines in the UK, in a New Year's Eve episode that was filmed on-location in Scotland. In the storyline, Zoe, Kelly and others, travel from London to Scotland but their minibus crashes, leaving them stranded and injured on the freezing cold Scottish moors. While stranded, Kelly cares for an injured Zoe and they become overemotional – and kiss. The episode featuring their kiss attracted 9.5 million viewers, and the precise moment that they kissed was watched by 44% of the available viewing audience.
One of Zoe's subsequent major storylines was when she became romantically involved with local hardman Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman), which soon ended after Zoe ended up being entrapped in an affair with Dennis' father Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) – though not before he pressured her into claiming that she is pregnant with Dennis' baby, as part of his last-ditch attempt to stop his devoted adopted daughter Sharon (Letitia Dean) from leaving Albert Square; Dennis and Sharon had embarked on a forbidden romance during the former's relationship with Zoe. When Zoe starts to worry that Dennis will discover her secret, Den persuades Zoe to sleep with him so she can get pregnant, up to the point where he blackmails her with the threat of exposing her secret to Dennis. Although Zoe is forced to relent to Den's blackmail, Dennis ends up seeing them in bed together and ends their relationship.
Her final storyline revolved around Den's murder on the show's 20th anniversary episode, after Zoe conspired with his estranged wife
Storylines
A teenage Zoe first arrives in
While away, Zoe contacts Little Mo – the only other member of the family who did not know about Zoe's parentage – who persuades Zoe to come home, but after another argument with Kat, Zoe leaves again. She ends up living on the streets where she is discovered sick and penniless by
Zoe gets engaged to Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey), but leaves yet again, returning several months later, this time with Kelly in tow, and her engagement to Anthony is broken off.
In 2004, she briefly dates
Chrissie persuades Zoe to abort the baby and tells her they should team up for revenge on Den. They get together with
In 2015, Kat reveals that Zoe has moved to Spain and announces to Mo and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) that she will start saving up to visit Zoe. However, Mo tells Stacey that Zoe does not want to see Kat. Mo attempts to contact Zoe to get her to reconsider, but Kat finds out two days later in a text from Zoe that she cannot see her because of her new job and boyfriend and she feels she needs to move on with her life without Kat. In May 2015, Kat visits the convent where she gave birth to Zoe in 1984 and it is revealed to the viewers that Kat, unknowingly, had in fact had twins, a girl and a boy – meaning Zoe has a twin brother. Kat later moves to Spain off-screen and visits Zoe, who rejects her mother, leaving Kat devastated. Upon her return, Kat reveals that Zoe is now engaged.
In July 2022, it is revealed that Zoe has returned to London when Stacey's daughter, Lily (Lillia Turner) tracks her down on social media and invites her to Kat's upcoming wedding to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). In an effort to cheer up Kat, Lily also arranges for Zoe to meet with Kat at Peggy's wine bar that evening, but Zoe does not turn up, leaving Kat and Lily disappointed.[1]
Creation and characterisation
The character of Zoe and the rest of the
According to the BBC's head of drama series,
Development
In 2001, an upcoming storyline, involving Zoe and Kat, when Zoe asks if she can live with Harry. The News of the World reported that Kat would tell Zoe that she was actually her mother and that Harry had raped her when she was 13. An EastEnders source said, "Zoe thinks her mother is dead—but the truth is very different."[5] In 2002, a story where Zoe runs away with Anthony to get married in secret was announced.[6] That year, Ryan was rested from the soap on doctor's orders, by agreement from Louise Berridge, the executive producer, Ryan and her parents. Plans for character developments between Zoe and Anthony were delayed and plans for their on-screen marriage were pushed back, with the wedding storyline being re-written.[7] In September that year, Ryan said she would return and was looking forward to it, and Berridge said she was "delighted" and hoped viewers would look forward to Zoe being reunited with the rest of her family.[8]
Notable relationships
Kelly Taylor
The friendship between Zoe and Kelly Taylor (Brooke Kinsella) was a recurring storyline for both characters. In the British press, Kelly and Zoe were compared to two former popular characters, who also shared a close screen friendship, Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Tiffany Mitchell (Martine McCutcheon). Kinsella has commented, "It is nice to be compared because they were great [characters] but, hopefully, [Michelle Ryan] and I will bring our own characters to light and show what we can do. We have so much in common and we balance each other out – when she's crazy I'll calm her down and vice-versa. It's worked well, which is why Kelly has been kept on, which is great for me but also for Michelle because she's got somebody to have fun with. Kelly's been one of the slowest developing characters and that's been good for me. I wasn't thrown into it and having Michelle has been great for me."[9]
In 2003, Zoe and Kelly made headlines in the UK during the New Year's Eve episode that was filmed on-location in Scotland. In said episode, the pair along with some group of teenagers travel from London to Scotland for New Year's Eve, but their minibus crashes, leaving them stranded and injured on the freezing cold Scottish moors.[10] While stranded, Kelly cares for an injured Zoe, they become overemotional, and kiss. Kinsella explained the reasons behind the kiss: "They're stuck in the hills, thinking they're going to die—it's a way of saying goodbye and also of showing how much they love each other as friends. Which is quite sweet really."[11] She claimed that the kiss was made easier due to the fact that she was kissing her off-screen best friend: "That made it so much easier. We thought we were just going to be laughing and giggling the whole way through, but we were very professional. It was so cold that we just wanted to get it over with. We were shaking from cold—not from nerves—and it was raining, so we just thought, 'Let's do it and get it done with'. [...] We laugh about it now. When it came down to it, the truth was that it was just like any other screen kiss."[11] The episode featuring their kiss attracted 9.5 million viewers, and the precise moment that they kissed was watched by 44% of the available viewing audience.[12]
Dennis Rickman and Den Watts
In September 2004, a Christmas storyline created by Berridge that was to show Zoe fall pregnant with Dennis Rickman's (Nigel Harman) baby was axed by Berridge's successor, Kathleen Hutchison.[13] Instead, Zoe was to be seduced by Dennis's father, Den (Leslie Grantham). An EastEnders insider revealed: "Dirty Den lives up to his name by seducing Zoe. He makes his move when she comments how handsome he looks for his age. But they are caught in the act by Dennis who is shocked and disgusted to see his dad snogging his girlfriend."[14] Hutchison decided that Den would be killed off in a storyline involving three people plotting to kill him.[15] The storyline saw Zoe, Chrissie and Sam plot his death, and a source said, "The three girls team up after deciding they have to get rid of Den but viewers will be left wondering who the actual killer is. They plot and scheme to give themselves alibis and exact their revenge for what Den has done to them."[16]
Departure
It was thought that Ryan was going to quit the soap after several reports of her leaving EastEnders. One of her friends who spoke in September 2004 revealed, "Without sounding arrogant, Michelle believes she has the looks and talent to succeed at the highest level. She has been in EastEnders for four years but sees her future very much in films and modelling. She realises the show has put her on the map but doesn't want to be typecast. "Because of her soap commitments she's had to turn down dozens of great modelling offers and feels her soap role is now holding her back. Michelle's happy to honour her contract but then will make the jump."[17]
On 29 January 2005 it was announced after a lot of speculation that Ryan, along with Kim Medcalf (Sam), would be leaving. A source for the show said, "Michelle [Ryan] has made no secret of her plans to leave the soap in recent months. Despite her character being at the centre of some of the show's biggest storylines, the actress is now considering a modelling career." The source added, "Michelle is hot property and has been inundated with offers of other acting work. She's also had several offers of lucrative modelling projects."[18][19] Speaking about her decision to quit she told The Sun, Everyone knew it was time for me to go and I knew it was time for me to move on."Then Jessie [Wallace], who plays my screen mum Kat, said, 'You're young, so get out there. Now's the time to go for it. You're only young once and you can't stay here forever.' "I've grown up in EastEnders. I've been here for four years, so I will miss everybody. But you get that feeling and when you know it's time to spread your wings and fly, you need to do that. Everyone says I'm doing the right thing."[20] Her exit storyline was revealed saying, "She leaves because she can't stand everyone knowing what she did in order to persuade Dennis not to leave her," an insider told the newspaper. "It is truly gripping stuff and there won't be a dry eye in the house on the night."[21]
Since her departure she told the
Speculated returns
The press reported on 18 April 2010 that Ryan was approached by the producers of EastEnders to return for a month around the Christmas period that year, coinciding with the return of Zoe's on-screen mother Kat and her husband Alfie. A BBC spokeswoman denied this, saying, "Speculation is rife about returning characters but this is not true. However, as with all characters, we would never say never."[24] Talking about these rumours she replied, "No, [it's] not for me."[25] It was again reported in August 2011 that Ryan was returning for a Christmas special. They reported that she was "excited" over possible storylines with Wallace and Richie. A BBC spokesperson dismissed the rumours, telling Digital Spy that there are no plans for Zoe to return.[26] In April 2017, Ryan called for Zoe to be recast.[27]
In popular culture
The character of Zoe Slater has been
Reception
In 2002, Zoe and Kat's storyline was nominated for Best Storyline at the
The kiss between Zoe and Kelly received criticism. Lesbian news site
In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Zoe 59th on their ranked list of the best EastEnders characters of all time, writing that she was most popular for her 2001 "legendary slanging match" with Kat where it is revealed that she is Kat's daughter.[34]
See also
References
- ^ "EastEnders drops whopping hints that another major legend is returning". Metro. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- EastEnders Revealed: The Slaters Special.
- ^ a b c d "Seven move in to Albert Square". BBC News Online. BBC Online. 30 August 2000. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ "Zoe Slater played by Michelle Ryan". EastEnders. BBC Online. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Steve hendry (27 July 2003). "I was knocked back 3 times for a star role in EastEnders; Brooke Kinsella: My battle to land a part in Albert Square". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- ^ a b c Winston, Cathy (27 December 2003). "The screen kiss that left me cold; EastEnders' Kelly has been a prostitute, collapsed from drugs and now she has to snog her best friend". Daily Post. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- ^ "In brief". The Guardian. 2 January 2004. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Dirty Den actor leaves EastEnders". BBC News. BBC Online. 6 November 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 26 May 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 17 July 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ "Michelle Ryan calls for EastEnders to recast Zoe Slater". Digital Spy. 3 April 2017.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the originalon 24 December 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- Trinity Mirror). Archived from the originalon 5 December 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ "EastEnders 25th Anniversary Awards AND THE WINNERS ARE..." What's on TV. 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ "Celebrating 25 years of dramatic endings – Mum's the word". 2010. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- Logo. Archived from the originalon 15 May 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- ^ Sara Wallis; Ian Hyland (12 June 2020). "100 Best EastEnders characters ever". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 October 2023.