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Sam Mitchell (also Butcher and Hunter) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The third member of the Mitchell family to appear on the soap, Sam was introduced as a 15-year-old schoolgirl in July 1990, originally played by Danniella Westbrook .
- Overview
- Backstory
- Storylines
- Kill count
- Background information
- Quotes
- See also
Samantha Margaret Priscilla "Sam" Mitchell (previously Butcher and Hunter) is the daughter of Eric and Peggy Mitchell, younger sister of Phil and Grant Mitchell, mother of Ricky Branning and the ex-wife of Ricky Butcher and Andy Hunter. She made her first appearance on 19 July 1990.
Samantha was born on the 13th May 1975. Sam was much younger than her older brothers so, as a result, they were extremely protective over her - often showing violence if anyone upset or annoyed her. Eric would often abuse Phil and sometimes Grant but he never laid a finger on Sam.
In 1985, when Sam was just 10 years old, Eric died due to cancer. Peggy later had a relationship with Kevin Masters, who Sam extremely disliked.
1990-1995: Arrival and marriage to Ricky Butcher
Fifteen-year-old Sam follows her brothers to Walford in July 1990. She is unhappy at home because she dislikes Peggy's boyfriend, Kevin. She becomes friends with Hattie Tavernier and dates Ricky Butcher. Sam's family disapproves of the relationship, so Ricky and Sam decide to elope to Gretna Green in 1991. They marry, despite the Mitchells trying to stop the nuptials. Peggy admits defeat and attends their more formal blessing in Walford a month later. Sam fails to earn school qualifications but she gains attention because of her looks after winning the title of "Miss Queen Vic". She starts to believe that she can have a career modelling. Sam attempts to get a portfolio done by a professional photographer, who persuades her to do a topless shoot. The photos are then published in a pornographic magazine. This causes problems in Ricky and Sam's relationship, which is already under strain, as Ricky is unable to provide Sam with the luxurious lifestyle that she desires. After just a year of marriage, Sam grows bored and begins lusting after a playboy named Clive whom she meets at a New Year's Eve party with her friend Mandy Salter. After having a brief affair, Sam thinks she has fallen in love with Clive, but he makes it clear that he is only interested in sex when he tries to coax her into having a threesome. Realising that her marriage with Ricky is over, Sam leaves Walford in 1993 to take a job as a holiday rep on a cruise ship. In 1995, whilst on a boys holiday in Spain, Phil and Grant catch Sam in bed with David Wicks. They force her to return back to Walford with them. Sam had tried to build herself a career as a model but it had not gone to plan and she had ended up working as a hostess in a bar. Back in Walford, Sam tries to continue her fling with David and when this goes nowhere she tries to come between Ricky and his girlfriend, Bianca Jackson. Initially, Ricky thinks that he still has feelings for Sam but eventually realises that he is better off with Bianca and tries to let Sam down gently. However, Sam won't take no for an answer and purposefully kisses an innocent Ricky in front of Bianca, causing them to split. Despite this, Ricky will not reconsider getting back with Sam and opts to try to make amends with Bianca. Sam is forced to admit defeat.
1996-2000: Relationships and departure
Soon after, Sam meets a Spanish man named Guillermo, who is holidaying in England. When he invites her to join him in Spain she leaps at the chance and leaves Walford again in March 1996. In 1999, Sam decides that she wants to settle down in Walford once more. During this time she embarks on a stormy relationship with Beppe di Marco, but she takes things more seriously than he does. After he finishes the relationship, a heartbroken Sam looks for comfort elsewhere. She turns to local club owner and Phil's adversary Steve Owen for support, but he is only using her to make his girlfriend Mel Healy jealous – so a hurt Sam decides to leave Walford once again in 2000.
2002-2005: Return, running businesses, marriage to Andy Hunter and departure
In 2002, Peggy catches Sam working in a lap-dancing club in Spain. Ashamed and penniless, Sam returns to Walford with her mother and has a brief relationship with Steve until his death in March 2002. She then proceeds to have numerous flings with her Trevor Morgan and Dennis Rickman, as well briefly having a relationship with her ex-lovers Beppe and Ricky. One night, whilst working in the pub, Sam is nearly raped by Dave Roberts. Sam manages to fight Dave off and escape the pub. When she begins flirting with Dennis' illegitimate father, Den Watts, she is left humiliated after he sacks her from her job at his family's club. Animosity between the Watts and Mitchell families escalates. Sam is left in charge of the Mitchell empire when Phil goes on the run after escaping prison for an armed robbery - which he was set up for by Den. Sam persuades Billy Mitchell to torch Phil's snooker club in an insurance scam - an act that results in Den's club burning down and his daughter Vicki Fowler nearly perishing in the fire. Dennis vows revenge and he is only warned off when his friend Andy Hunter, the local crime kingpin of Walford, begins a relationship with Sam. Sam and Andy marry in September 2004, despite Sam's crush Minty Peterson attempting to stop the wedding - he has fallen in love with Sam and knows that Andy is only using her to gain control of the Mitchell assets. Andy fools Sam into signing over control of Phil's house and she is then conned out of all the Mitchell businesses by family lawyer Marcus Christie and Den. Marcus tells Sam that Phil wants her to sell everything and give the cash to him. She does so, selling The Queen Victoria, for a vastly reduced price to Den. Andy, realising Sam is no use to him, throws her out of their house - leaving Sam penniless. Sam becomes determined to get revenge on Den. She teams up with his wife Chrissie Watts and their neighbour Zoe Slater to carry out their vengeful plot against Den. The three women confront Den in the Queen Vic shortly after he closes up. At first Den taunts Sam and her unlikely conspirators over their weakness but it soon turns out that Den's adoptive daughter Sharon Watts was overhearing the whole conversation. Shortly after Sharon leaves Walford, Den returns to the Queen Vic and the event takes an unexpected and violent turn. Den suddenly attacks Chrissie and Zoe hits him over the head with an iron doorstop in defence - all the while Sam watches in shock. This is thought to have killed him; however, when Zoe and Sam leave the room, Den grabs Chrissie's ankle and she responds by hitting him on the head a second time - finally killing him. Sam witnesses this and she later grows appalled when Chrissie allows Zoe to believe that her blow killed Den. As Chrissie has possession of the Queen Vic following Den's death, Sam blackmails her - threatening to unveil Chrissie as Den's killer unless she gives her the pub. Sam is surprised to learn that Andy has died on the same night. She smugly attends his will meeting and expects to receive all his money and assets. She promises to let Pat Evans keep her job at the bookies but inadvertently insults her by offering her cleaning work at the house. Sam is confused, however, when she is told that Andy had created a new will and is later stunned when Andy leaves the house to Pat and the bookies to Dennis Rickman – whilst giving his and Sam's money to a dog's trust. She is further horrified when he leaves her nothing but a wedding ring. As she struggles to move on from Andy and their turbulent marriage, with Minty and his friend Danny Moon comforting her over the situation, Sam learns that Chrissie is attempting to sell the pub and leave Walford. She soon begins drinking heavily and, determined to expose Chrissie as Den's killer, smashes up Den's grave and digs him up. Unfortunately for her, the plan backfires - all evidence points to Sam, who is charged with murder and remanded in custody. When Peggy returns to the Square and learns about Sam's recent troubles, she visits her and Sam tells Peggy that it was Chrissie who killed Den. In attempting to secure Sam's release and expose Chrissie as Den's killer, Peggy starts a feud with Chrissie and later forms a conflict with Johnny Allen when he and Chrissie build a partnership. Phil and Grant return to Walford to secure her release. Eventually, with help from Sharon and Dennis - who end up learning the truth about their father's murder – the Mitchells are finally able to prevent Johnny from destroying the videotape of Chrissie confessing Den's murder to her boyfriend, Danny's brother, Jake Moon, the police are given the tape and they end up arresting Chrissie at the airport for Den's murder. Sam is later released from custody; however, she still faces a charge of perverting the course of justice and faces a prison sentence up to four years. This prospect is too daunting for Sam, and she flees to Brazil while on bail in November 2005.
Connected murders and deaths
1.Den Watts (18 February 2005) (association) - Witnessed Chrissie Watts kill Den, Sam then helped Chrissie bury Den's body under the Queen Victoria concrete floor, She would dig his body up months later but Chrissie frames her for the murder.
Attempted murder victims
1.Lewis Butler (16 August 2022) (by proxy) - Kidnapped Lewis and gave her brother Phil Mitchell a gun and encouraged him to kill Lewis as revenge for raping Ben Mitchell.
•Danniella Westbrook originally played the role on-off from 1990 to 2000, although ended up being axed due to drug problems in real life. Kim Medcalf was recast in the role in 2002, and played the part until 2005. When Sam returned in 2009, Westbrook returned to the role after nine years, and continued playing Sam in 2010 and 2016. In January 2022, it was announced that Medcalf would again be taking the role over from Westbrook.
•It has been implied that Sam moved to Canada when she left Walford in 2024 after a line to Zack Hudson "I always fancied Canada."
To Zack Hudson (when leaving in 2024): "Right, free drinks. Rest of the night. See you later." (18 January 2024)
Apr 19, 2022 · Sam Mitchell returns to Albert Square to look after Phil's affairs, but not everybody is pleased to see her. Subscribe to EastEnders for more: http://bit.ly/EastEndersYT Coming to BBC One on...
- 1 min
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Jan 18, 2024 · EastEnders star Kim Medcalf has explained Sam Mitchell's exit from the show. Sam bowed out of Walford in Thursday's episode (January 18), after burning bridges with her family and friends.
- 2 min
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May 1, 2022 · Watch some of Sam Mitchell's most dramatic scenes in Walford from 2002 to 2005. Sam Mitchell is a character from the British soap opera EastEnders, which has been running since 1985.
- 34 min
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Apr 18, 2022 · Sam Mitchell is back in EastEnders, ready to cause a stir in Walford once more. She’s set for an explosive comeback – riling up Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Sharon (Letitia Dean) straight away –...
People also ask
Why did Sam Mitchell leave EastEnders?
How did Sam react to losing her mother's pub in EastEnders?
Is Sam Mitchell married?
Is Kim Medcalf returning to EastEnders?
Sep 15, 2023 · Kim Medcalf is back as Sam Mitchell, who left Walford in April to manage a hotel in Spain. She will face family feuds, wedding chaos, baby drama, stalker threats and more when she comes back to the Square.
