Danniella Westbrook is planning to take legal action against the BBC for re-casting her character Sam Mitchell in 'EastEnders'.
Danniella Westbrook takes to Twitter to express her anger over EastEnders re-casting
The 48-year-old actress played the fiery blonde in 'EastEnders' throughout the 90s but was temporarily replaced by Kim Medcalf from 2002 to 2005. She later reprised her role again in 2009 and then again in 2016.
The character Sam is coming back to Albert Square once again, and will be portrayed once more by Kim, 48.
Danniella - who has fought a public battle with substance abuse issues - has wished Kim "the best of luck" with role but has warned the BBC can expect to hear from her lawyers over the snub.
Posting on Twitter, she wrote: "Wishing Kim the best of luck at @BBCEastenders_ yet again this poor woman has to recreate a Samantha Mitchell as close to my last two recent come backs on the square go smash it darling..x oh but not to @bbceastenders my legal team will be in touch."
In a follow up tweet she added: "Bet you all can’t wait for my new book now can ya ….. oh it’s gonna go way back to the things I’ve never ever told #beafraidpeople #itsallgood."
The BBC bosses first approached Kim back in early 2021 to discuss her potential return and the 'Collateral' star is "thrilled" to be returning to Walford.
She said: “When the BBC approached me last year to reprise the role of Sam I was thrilled.
“She’s a brilliant character and I can’t wait to get back in the Square and work with the amazing cast.”
While it's unclear what will bring Sam back to Albert Square, her return is set to be "explosive".
BBC head of continuing drama Kate Oates said: “I have long wanted to bring Sam back into the family fold. Her return is guaranteed to be explosive."
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