Danniella Westbrook reveals career change after threatening BBC with legal action over Sam Mitchell snub

KIM Medcalf has been pictured for the first time back at the EastEnders set after her bombshell return was revealed. The actress will again take on the role of Sam Mitchell for the first time in 17 years. She was pictured outside the London set having finished a day of filming.

BBC over the recasting of her EastEnders character, Sam Mitchell.The actress has been replaced by Kim Medcalf, who previously portrayed the role from 2002 to 2005.In a new interview, Danniella hit out at the BBC over the lack of communication regarding the recasting.She admitted she was “shocked” when she first found out she would not be playing Sam.Danniella told The Sun on Sunday: “I’ve been known as Sam Mitchell for 32 years. But nobody at EastEnders contacted me to let me know they had recast Kim in the role.“There wasn’t even an email to my agent.“I was shocked because they do have a responsibility to tell me and someone should have.”The actress went on to explain how the way she found out about the shake-up could have had “very serious consequences” for her.She said: “The bosses have seen me go through addiction and they have no idea where I am today.“Thankfully I’m OK.

Danniella Westbrook has hit out at EastEnders once again after it was revealed she would not be reprising the role of her soap character Sam Mitchell. Actress Danniella, 48, made her soap debut in 1990 as Sam Mitchell and appeared on and off on the soap as the Mitchell sister until 2016. But, Kim appeared as Sam between 2002 and 2005, replacing Danniella temporarily.

EastEnders bosses didn't tell her they had recast her Walford character Sam Mitchell.The actress originated the role of outspoken Sam in 1990 and played her on and off until 2016, but actress Kim Medcalf took on the part between 2002 and 2005 amid Danniella's widely publicised troubles with drugs.The BBC has now decided it's time Sam returned to Albert Square - but have chosen to bring back Kim instead of Danniella. The actress told The Sun she was "shocked" that she wasn't told about it.

EX-EastEnders star Danniella Westbrook has hit out at the BBC for not telling her they had recast her Albert Square character with a different actress. The Sun on Sunday revealed last week that Kim Medcalf, 48, will play Sam Mitchell — the fiery daughter of Queen Vic legend Peggy Mitchell, with filming beginning this month.

When it was announced that Sam Mitchell was returning to EastEnders, the actress Daniella Westbrook who formerly played the role may have been expecting a phone call offering her the part. However, the role will once again be played by Kim Medcalf, 48, who took over from Daniella from 2002 until 2005. But following the reports, Danniella, 48, seems to be smarting about the decision.

EastEnders actress Danniella Westbrook played the soap's Sam Mitchell most recently between 2002 and 2005 and was filmed on set at a special angle to hide an issue with her nose.The 48-year-old first appeared on Albert Square as feisty Sam 30 years ago in 1990 however struggled due to drug addiction and years later had been let go from the soap.The actress admitted she blew £100,000 on cocaine over a period of two years.Due to her excessive cocaine use Danniella's septum had eroded entirely away and during the 2000 British Soap Awards the actress had been photographed with it missing. On set for the soap, production had try and disguise the issue so the actress was only filmed from particular angles above her in ways that would keep her septum hidden from viewers.Danniella's EastEnders contract was not renewed on the soap due to her "poor attendance" and "unreliability" and she left the soap once again in January 2000.In her 2006 autobiography The Other Side of Nowhere, Daniella wrote: "My behaviour was interfering with the schedule.

EastEnders role. In view of her 228,600 followers, the actress wrote on Sunday that she had “dodged a bullet”.She penned: “Well well well who knew.“All I can say is thanks looks like I dodged a bullet.”On Sunday, EastEnders’ official Twitter account shared the news Kim was set to take back the role after portraying it from 2002 to 2005.It announced: “Sam is returning to Walford, bringing all the Mitchell mischief and mayhem with her...“Kim Medcalf has said: ‘She’s a brilliant character and I can’t wait to get back in The Square this spring.’“And we can't wait to see her explosive return!”The BBC's 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.“She is due to start filming in a couple of weeks' time, with fans thrilled troubled Sam is back in Walford."Reacting to the news on Twitter, Danniella wished the new Sam Mitchell star luck as she claimed her legal team would be “in touch” with the programme’s bosses."Wishing Kym the best of luck at @BBCEastenders," she wrote.She went on: "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 to know why..."In an separate post, 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." (sic)Danniella had previously addressed the lack of contact from the BBC regarding her role.She told her 79,300 Instagram followers: “The @bbceastenders have not contacted me to say they are re casting or if they have.

Danniella Westbrook has assured EastEnders fans there will be as many bombshells in her next autobiography as there are on an average week in Albert Square. The actress tweeted a teaser of what fans can expect in her new book on Sunday 30 January, after threatening to take legal action against the BBC soap after she was snubbed for the revival role of Sam Mitchell. Actress Kim Medcalf, who played Sam from 2002 to 2005, has been chosen as the Sam that will return to Albert Square.

Susanna Reid and Richard Arnold poked fun at Daniella Westbrook's explosive reaction to being recast on EastEnders.

Danniella Westbrook has revealed that she is "dodged a bullet" in light of Kim Medcalf returning to Eastenders as Sam Mitchell.The star originally played Phil Mitchell's sister in the BBC One soap throughout the nineties and has made a couple of comebacks throughout the years.However, it has been announced that Kim will be returning to the role after starring as Sam between 2002 and 2005.In light of the news, Danniella tweeted: "Well well well who knew all I can say is thanks looks like I dodged a bullet"This comes after she had publicly blasted the BBC after she was seemingly snubbed by the BBC soap.The talented actress seemed extra surprised by the news as she had successfully turned her life around and is focusing on the brighter parts of her life.The 48-year-old also threatened to take legal action against the programme in an angry tweet.She wrote: "Wishing Kym 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 another 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."Earlier this month, Danniella had commented on the rumours BBC was recasting Sam, but seemed slightly calmer, meaning perhaps she was holding out some hope of returning to Albert Square.She stated: " The @bbceastenders have not contacted me to say they are re casting or if they have.

EASTENDERS fans have been left furious by the BBC's plans to create a new "woke" soap to rival Albert Square. BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell revealed her ambition as the service returns from online only to regular channels from tomorrow. But a third of people already believe the BBC is too woke.

DANNIELLA Westbrook has hinted that she'll get revenge in her upcoming autobiography, after her EastEnders character Sam Mitchell was recast. After The Sun exclusively revealed that Kim Medcalf would be picking up where Danniella, 48, left off in 2016, the angered actress threatened the BBC with legal action.

Danniella Westbrook has blasted the BBC after she was snubbed to reprise the role of Sam Mitchell on EastEnders.

EastEnders, as when she learnt she had been overlooked for the Walford icon's return to Albert Square, she fired off a confrontational tweet warning that the channel would be hearing from her legal team.

Actress Danniella Westbrook has threatened BBC soap EastEnders with legal action after she’s snubbed for the role she previously played in the show. The role will be played by Kim Medcalf, 48, who took portrayed Sam from 2002 until 2005. Danniella, 48, has taken to Twitter to share her feelings on being snubbed for the role.The former soap star appears to be taking aim at the BBC show with a first tweet that said: “Well well well who knew (three laughing face emojis) all I can say is thanks looks like I dodged a bullet” followed by a praying hands emoji.

Danniella Westbrook has taken aim the BBC after being snubbed by producers to reprise the role of Sam Mitchell on EastEnders.At the weekend, it was announced that Kim Medcalf - who had previously played Peggy Mitchell's daughter on the soap - had been selected over Danniella to return to Albert Square.While the 48-year-old actress wanted to wish Kim well, Danniella also made it clear that she wasn't happy with how the decision had gone and even threatened a legal dispute.Unhappy with the outcome, she penned: "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 moments later, the ex TV star 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."A third tweet then read: "Both of my current autobiographies are available on @amazon the other side of nowhere and faith hope and clarity."Danniella's recent rant on social media lands after she'd addressed being replaced on the programme last month.Judging by her post at the time, Danniella didn't seem bothered that BBC producers had not asked her to re-audition for the role.On Instagram Danniella told her 78,000 followers: "The @bbceastenders have not contacted me to say they are re casting or if they have."But that’s ok.

EASTENDERS’ Sam Mitchell is returning to Albert Square — with Kim Medcalf again taking on the role rather than Danniella Westbrook. Sam — daughter of Queen Vic boss Peggy Mitchell — made her Walford debut in 1990, played by a 17-year-old Danniella. But as the actress fought drug addiction she was replaced by Kim in 2002.

DANNIELLA Westbrook has threatened to sue the BBC after her EastEnders character Sam Mitchell is recast. The 48-year-old played the daughter of Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell in 1990 when she was just 17.

EastEnders fans will be ecstatic to hear that the iconic Sam Mitchell is once again returning to the BBC soap after nearly six years.But rather than seeing original star Danniella Westbrook, who took on the role from 1990 until 2002 and later reprised it in 2016, Kim Medcalf will instead be playing her.Kim, 48, played Sam from 2002 until 2005, and EastEnders bosses have now chosen her to take over the role once more after Danniella was written out on various occasions amid her struggles with drug addiction - which she has always been candid about.On stepping into Sam’s shoes once more, Kim 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 this spring and work with the amazing cast of both familiar and new faces."Meanwhile, head of continuing drama at the BBC, Kate Oates, added: "The Mitchells are one of the most iconic families in soap, and I have long wanted to bring Sam back into the family fold.

Danniella Westbrook has shared a throwback photo showing her at the 2009 TV Quick and TV Choice awards.The former EastEnders actress, who played Sam Mitchell, posed alongside her on-screen brother Phil (actor Steve McFadden) in the stunning snap. Danniella wrote next to the pic: "Can’t wait for all my surgery to be done... will be back too my best and fighting fit and next year I will be 50!"Bring it on...