EastEnders spoilers – Fans fury as BBC plans new ‘WOKE’ soap to rival Albert Sq; plus Coronation Street & Emmerdale news

EastEnders actor Sam Strike looks worlds away from his Albert Square character Johnny Carter.The 28-year-old soap star last appeared in the BBC One soap as Mick and Linda's son in 2014.Since leaving Walford, Sam has undergone a complete image overhaul and looks almost unrecognisable.He played Johnny from 2013 until 2014 and was the at the centre of several storylines alongside the Carter family.Eight years following his departure, Sam has ditched his clean cut image for a more mature look complete with a beard and tattoos.In one social media snap. Sam posed in a candid black and white snap with a cigarette in his mouth.The TV personality has clearly been putting in the hours at the gym as he flashed his flaunts his muscles in an another photograph.Since quitting EastEnders, Sam has landed roles on MIndhunter and drama series Silent Witness.He appears to keep quite a low profile when it comes to sharing details of his personal life but he does like to share snaps of his life on social media from time-to-time.It comes after the news that BBC bosses are planning to broadcast a new show that showcases diversity and life in the country today.BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell has revealed that the channel is planning to launch a new soap, saying that it will reflect "modern Britain" in an area of the country in "all its glory".The channel has had a six-year hiatus and originally had a target audience of 16 to 34 years old, with 70% of their programmes originally made for the channel, ranging from comedy to drama and cartoons.Fiona discussed the plans for the new show: "What would it look like? It could be somewhere very specific in modern Britain.

BBC over the recasting of her EastEnders character, Sam Mitchell.The actress has been replaced by Kim Medcalf, who previously portrayed the role from 2002 to 2005.In a new interview, Danniella hit out at the BBC over the lack of communication regarding the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.

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.

CORONATION Street will air a special hour-long episode tonight before football causes chaos with the schedules. The ITV soap will no longer air on Friday night due to an FA Cup match. Fans will be furious about the changes that will see them go without a new episode of Corrie for five days.

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.

BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell has revealed that the channel is planning to launch a new soap, saying that it will reflect "modern Britain" in an area of the country in "all its glory".BBC Three, which went off air in 2016, is set to return on February 1 and will broadcast at 7pm every night. The channel has had a six-year hiatus and originally had a target audience of 16 to 34 years old, with 70% of their programmes originally made for the channel, ranging from comedy to drama and cartoons.The return was confirmed in September after television regulator Ofcom gave permission for its induction back onto our screens.

MICHAEL OWEN was unveiled as Doughnuts on The Masked Singer on Saturday night to send social media into meltdown. The 42-year-old made it to the sixth week on the hit ITV show, but was sent packing in a double elimination alongside actress Jaime Winstone. Supporters of the programme guessed the ex-Manchester United and Liverpool striker could be Doughnuts last week following a number of clues he divulged.

DANCING on Ice fans have been left FURIOUS after a screaming woman completely ruined the show for many. Viewers tuned in to last night's show to watch Ria Hebden become the latest celeb kicked off the show after losing the skate-off to Rachel Steven. Fans went wild for Gazza's son Regan Gascoigne and ex Happy Monday's star Bez, who both made it through.

The BBC are set to create a "woke" new soap to reflect modern Britain and rival EastEnders. A day before BBC Three's return from online-only to regular television channels - with a line up of big stars including Gemma Collinswho celebrates turning 41 today - the network's controller Fiona Campbell has revealed her ambition for the new show.

DANNIELLA Westbrook has revealed her career change after threatening the BBC with legal action over her Sam Mitchell snub. The former soap actress - who played Sam in BBC One's EastEnders - was cast aside as Kim Medcalf was cast as her old character in a reprise of the role. Danniella, 48, lashed out over the weekend and threatened legal action against the broadcaster following the casting announcement.

BBC Three has commissioned its latest factual drama from the BAFTA-winning BBC Studios team behind Killed By My Debt, Murdered By My Father and Murdered For Being Different.

Naman Ramachandran BBC Three returns as a broadcast channel on Feb. 1 with a renewed focus on youth.“BBC Three was always focused on that under-35 demographic historically, and so that’s definitely a core part of our DNA,” says BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell. “The new iteration of where we’re at creatively – we’re focusing on 25s and under.

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.