I have been watching back past episodes including Sam Mitchell returning played by Danniella Westbrook in 2009, and also Kim Medcalf as Sam in 2005.

Does anyone else agree that the decision to change the actress playing Sam Mitchell back to Danniella Westbrook was a terrible decision?

It just doesn't make sense or seem right at all.

In 2005, when Kim Medcalf played Sam she helped Chrissie bury Den and throughout the year she was fighting for her pub back and clashed with Chrissie, and eventually dug up Den's body on Sharon and Dennis' wedding day. She got arrested for his murder and Chrissie framed her, but she eventually was caught and Sam fled the country to avoid prison for being part of the murder.

In 2009, Sam returns again played by Danniella Westbrook, and everything about the character doesn't match how Sam was played by Kim (2002-2005). There were no mentions or references to Den's murder storyline, or Den, Chrissie or Zoe. Obviously Sam was brought back for the Ricky/ Bianca love triangle storyline but that is besides the point...

The only mentions of Den's murder was Ricky telling Bianca she didn't kill Den, just helped conceal the body. The other mention was when Sam told Ricky in prison that she was worried about bumping in to Chrissie.

Other characters that Sam was involved with under Kim Medcalf were: Sharon, Dennis, Kat, Pat, Pauline and Zoe.

Any viewer who wasn't really clued up about the two different actresses playing Sam would probably have no idea Danniella was portraying the same character who dug up Den Watts' body in 2005.

The vibe I get is that It is literally almost like EE are trying to erase the Sam Mitchell of 2005 from viewers memories, and pretend that it didn't happen.

I will get to the point of my post... I feel that the choice to recast back to Danniella Westbrook has totally ruined the character and there is no continuity, and Sam Mitchell is a joke now, hence why they probably haven't brought her back.

Personally I think that Kim Medcalf's stint as Sam Mitchell was the best.

Here are some clips of Kim Medcalf as Sam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdmNQy5KCQ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W198xCRpxqA

I liked Danniella Westbrook playing Sam and don't think she should have go all the hate she did.

Maybe if the writing was different she would have been different but I liked her 2000 stint.

It was obviously just a desperate grab for some publicity. Rather than even attempt to bring back the actress who did an adequate job of playing the character, they decided to go straight to the washed up crack addict they had already fired before.

That sort of thing gets the papers talking. No need to worry about if it's actually a good idea or not.

Kim Medcalf was definately the better Sam..

the reason they chose Daniela has been mentioned before and iit was to do with Ricky and Bianca.

Both were prominent in the show at the time and the ep thought it better to bring back the actress they had interacted with in the early days as they never worked with Kim.

it made perfect sense

Worst mistakes made by EastEnders was killing off Kathy and Cindy.

This recast, however, was rather stupid.

It didnt seem to add up that the classy Sam went back to being the slutty common Sam.

I never bought Kim Medcalfe as Sam to be honest, she was way too posh and nothing like the Sam we knew.

Daniella is Sam Mitchell for me, for better or worse.

Problem was one actress could act the other couldn't. Once you have bought an actress who could act in it was only going to be downhill when the original came back.

Also it would be hard to believe Danniella's Sam would be involved in the storyline's that Kim's Sam was involved in. After all the Mitchell's really wouldn't trust Danniella's Sam with all the Mitchell businesses they have always treated her like she is a bit thick. Also Andy Hunter would not have been involved with someone like Danniella's Sam.

They should have had Kim as a new Mitchell all together.

Here we go again, an old character dug up to try and find ratings. STOP!!!!! Please have some originality.

I agree that Kim Metcalf was the the better Sam, but I disagree that she was so different to Daniella's first stint. People always try to claim Metcalf's Sam was classy and business minded, but she really wasn't, she came into the show as a lap dancer and she ended up losing all the businesses. She was the same old Sam but trying to prove she had matured and could be trusted, and ended up in over her head.

The blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the scriptwriters. Daniella asked them if she should watch episodes featuring Kim but they told her they wanted the original version of Sam back. Daniella isn't the best actress in the world but (crying scenes aside) she's an okay actress. She recently played a dodgy businesswoman on Hollyoaks so she certainly would've been able to cope playing the more business minded Sam. She easily could've bridged the gap between both versions of the character but was instructed not to. If you look back at EastEnders biggest problems they lie with the stupid decisions of the writers.

I think they underestimated the popularity of Kim's Sam. I would have loved to see her return to the role. I like Daniella's Sam too but Kim's Sam was a lot more interesting and was a major player. Daniella's Sam has only ever been a supporting character. I'd say recasting back to the original actress was a huge mistake and destroyed the credibility of the character. I don't like having my intelligence insulted and I don't like how they've erased Kim's Sam from existence.

Kim Medcalf really made the character of Sam. During the 90s she was little more than Phil and Grant's little sister; she never had any major stories of her own. Kim's portrayal really added another dimension to the character, and she became a key figure in the 2005 murder storyline.

God knows why they ever asked Danniella to return, she looked dreadful and her acting 'skills' had deteriorated even further since her last stint. Sam should've been left in the past.

Daniella didnt work with patsy and sid this time, i didnt see first time but i didnt see the fuss.

The reason she was brought back was to work with them so she did work with them.

I preferred Daniella Westbrook as Sam in the 90s but I also liked Kim Medcalf as Sam in 2002-2005. I didn't like Daniella Westbrook as Sam in 2009. I wouldn't say it was the worst mistake.

But it wasnt as good as people made out

Ricky had a few scenes with Kim's Sam but he then left.

Excellent posts.

I agree. Sam was basically two different characters. The Westbrook version being the real Sam. Medcalfe was great, but should have been a different character.

I totally agree, medcalfe was a better actress by far and Westbrook was just annoying.

Kat Slater at her best in some of those scenes

Wholeheartedly agree. Especially Cindy in my opinion.

I think Kim portrayed the harder side of Sam, the survivor and feisty side.

Daniella brought out the party girl, bubbly and glamorous side with a serious amount of vulnerability about her!

my personal opinion SAM would of actually been better with hints of both of the sides of Sam which both women portrayed

The thought of Danniella playing Sam in the Den's murder storyline from 2005 is hilarious... Just imagine it: She digs up Den 'Ello Den' :L