For me personally despite growing up in the era that Daniella was Sam for me Kim is my favourite Sam.Prior to Kim Sam was never a character I had too much interest or fondness for.I didnt dislike the character not at all but I was always more of a Sharon,Kathy,Pauline,Mel kindof boy and Sam wasnt high on my list of characters I was invested in.
For me this all changed when Kim Medcalf was cast,Sam very quickly became a characterI was interested in,rooted for and enaged with.One of my favourite iconic EastEnders moments of all time was the three witches conspiracy over Dens murder between Chrissie,Sam and Zoe.For me those scenes in the queen vic are iconic and perhaps Im being unfair but I just cannot imagine those iconic scenes being played by Daniella.Kim played it to perfection.
I feel very sorry for Daniella in some ways but from the perspective of the show I dont want her back as San.

Yes, I really liked that portrayal of Sam and I do agree with you. I loved her when she was trying to outwit Chrissie and when she dug up Den. Ello Den!

BTW I love your username. It makes me think of Mrs Ogden in a space suit!

Thank You!I love your take on my username and if it makes you giggle......

Now is not the right time for a Sam return but when it is I hope the red carpet is rolled out for Ms Metcalf

I thought that's the image you were going for!
What does it mean if you don't mind me asking?

It means an eccentric older woman called Hilda is trying to positively influence the universe from a very cold place!Pluto is also ambigous its kind of an outsider to the other planets because some scientists dispute its really a planet -by classification.Thats all there in the mix!

How was it disrespectful? Yes it is extremely sad what ha(d/s) happened to Danniella but EE is a show at the end of the day and Sam was/is a major character. Danniella had three chances with the show and blew all of them. She's clearly not reliable enough to commit to a soap therefore a recast is the only option. The producers shouldn't have to leave a massive character with huge potential in the past just because the original actor cannot return.

I really like Danniella as a person but she's out of her depth as Sam. You might argue that she's the original Sam but Danniella isn't the same person she was in 1990. Drugs have probably affected her acting skills.

I like it! Is this a novel in the making?
Can she have some flying ducks in there?

Kim was my fave! Didn't she win an award for best new comer on the BSA?

Daniella won't be winning any awards!

Possibly!Although no flying ducks Im afraid!I can promise any novel of mine would have much more bizarre doses of stuff than that!

I can't see why re-casting a role is in any way disrespectful. If EE wants to bring back Sam Mitchell, then it's their choice depending on who is available. Even if they decided on a new actress, there's nothing wrong in it.

To be honest I don't think it's a black or white situation.

I think it can be disrespectful if the original actor did a great job and impressed the EP who created the character. If a new EP was then employed and wanted to recast that character for no valid reason then I think it's disrespectful.

Regarding the Sam Mitchell recasting, there's nothing disrespectful about it. Danniella was given multiple chances and none of them worked out. No point flogging a dead horse when there are others out there.

Dead horses?

That would be bad! Has it happened? What about the recasting of Lauren Branning? Broadly speaking and in the case of Sam Mitchell, I can't see anything wrong if no one is playing the role. Although EE has sent characters away for a while then recast.

Kim's Sam showed natural progression during her time in the show. She matured but she was still the same Sam underneath. Daniella's return as Sam was a regression; everything she had learned in Spain and during her previous time in Albert Square had been completely forgotten. It's as though the Kim Medcalf era hadn't happened and, yes, it was slightly insulting to Kim but the main insult was to the audience who had to accept that Sam went away with emotional maturity and somehow returned with the mentality of a lovesick, desperate teenager.

Sam's character I feel is done , this is the only option i think.

I loved Kim as Sam she was so classy and professional , I think them bringing back Daniella as the role was a huge mistake Diederick Santer ever made during his time as Exec. Producer.


Exactly my thoughts.