Michelle Ryan returns as Zoe Slater after 20 year gap

Actress Michelle Ryan has returned to play Zoe Slater in EastEnders after being away from the soap for 20 years.

According to Barb, 2.2 million people watched her shock appearance on the BBC One soap, which unusually had not been made available on iPlayer earlier in the day.

The character is best remembered for the 2001 cliffhanger in which she screamed at her sister Kat Slater “you ain’t my mother!” who fired back with the iconic twist: “Yes I am.”

Ryan described returning to the show as feeling “like coming home”.

Ryan was revealed to viewers at the end of the episode, making a dramatic reunion with step-father Alfie Moon and cousin Stacey Slater just before the credits.

It is the first episode produced by the show’s new executive producer Ben Wadey who said the character was on his wish-list of returnees before stepping into the role.

He said: “I was absolutely delighted when Michelle agreed to return, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back to Walford.”

Although it was the second most watched programme in its time slot, a slightly larger audience had tuned in to both Emmerdale and Coronation Street on ITV.

The viewing figures do not include catch-up viewing or people who watched the episode on tablets, phones or other smart devices.

After leaving the soap in 2005, Ryan made appearances in BBC One shows Merlin, Doctor Who and Jekyll.

She was also cast as the lead in a remake of the 1970s programme The Bionic Woman, which was cancelled by US broadcaster NBC after eight episodes.

The actress revealed that the invitation to return to Elstree Studios arrived at a time she had been reflecting on her time on the BBC soap with old castmates.

She said: “It all happened at the right time. I’d already been thinking about a return because I’d met up with Kacey Ainsworth and Kim Medcalf and we were reminiscing our fond memories of the show.

“It just so happened that at the same time, EastEnders had announced a new Exec who was keen to explore the potential of a return as he was such a massive fan of Zoe and the Slaters.

“I can’t say too much as there is a lot of drama to come, but Zoe is a mess. She’s not the girl that left Walford twenty years ago, and she’s been really struggling on her own.”