EastEnders icon Jessie Wallace, renowned for her role as Kat Slater, has shared an emotional response to the long-awaited return of her on-screen daughter, Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan)—and fans everywhere are moved.

In an emotional scene-spoiler, Wallace described reuniting with Ryan as “goosebump-inducing,” saying it felt exactly like “coming home” on set—a sentiment echoed by Zoe herself entertainmentdaily.com+13thesun.co.uk+13thesun.co.uk+13en.wikipedia.org+7entertainmentdaily.com+7soapoperadaily.com+7. The actresses even celebrated with a private off-screen dinner alongside newer cast members, making it clear that the Walford family has truly welcomed her back entertainmentdaily.com+2thesun.co.uk+2soapoperadaily.com+2.

Wallace, best known for her explosive 2001 storyline where Zoe famously screamed “You ain’t my mother!”, publicly praised the return as a full-circle moment. “When she got the news, she was screaming,” Wallace recounted about Zoe’s reaction thesun.co.uk+4thesun.co.uk+4chroniclemw.uk+4. The reunion reportedly left both actors and crew in tears and served as a powerful reminder of the show’s enduring emotional resonance.

Ryan expressed that filming felt “seamless,” as though she’d “never been away,” and that the timing of her return aligned perfectly with both her own career journey and the new creative direction under Executive Producer Ben Wadey thesun.co.uk+15thesun.co.uk+15thesun.co.uk+15. Wadey himself had Zoe at the top of his wish list for reviving legacy characters following the show’s 40th anniversary entertainmentdaily.com+3entertainmentdaily.com+3chroniclemw.uk+3.

Early teasers suggest her comeback will explore intense, emotionally rich storylines—something Michelle Ryan feels energized by chroniclemw.uk+15thesun.co.uk+15thesun.co.uk+15. Expect deep mother-daughter dynamics, revelations tied to Zoe’s troubled past, and a new chapter in the compelling Slater legacy.