Sam Mitchell (EastEnders)

Sam Mitchell
Danniella Westbrook as Sam Mitchell (2010)
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Danniella Westbrook (1990–2000, 2009–2016) Kim Medcalf (2002–2005)
Duration	1990–1993, 1995–1996, 1999–2000, 2002–2005, 2009–2010, 2016
First appearance	Episode 567 12 July 1990
Last appearance	Episode 5312 8 July 2016
Introduced by	Michael Ferguson (1990) Corinne Hollingworth (1995) Matthew Robinson (1999) John Yorke (2002) Diederick Santer (2009) Bryan Kirkwood (2010) Dominic Treadwell-Collins (2016)
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Other names	Sam Butcher Sam Hunter
Occupation	Barmaid Businesswoman Lapdancer
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell (2005)
Family Mitchell Father Eric Mitchell Mother Peggy Mitchell Brothers Phil Mitchell Grant Mitchell Husband Ricky Butcher (1991–1993) Andy Hunter (2004–2005) Sons Ricky Mitchell Uncles Archie Mitchell Clive Mitchell Aunts Aunt Sal Nephews Ben Mitchell Nieces Courtney Mitchell Louise Mitchell First cousins Ronnie Mitchell Roxy Mitchell Other relatives Billy Mitchell

Samantha Margaret Priscilla "Sam" Mitchell (also Butcher and Hunter) is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. The third member of the Mitchell family to be introduced, Sam enters as a 15-year-old school girl in July 1990, played by Danniella Westbrook. Westbrook quit in 1993, but Sam was reintroduced from 1995–1996 and from 1999–2000. In both her 1996 and 2000 exits, Sam was written out earlier than the producers intended due to off-screen controversies surrounding Westbrook and her cocaine addiction. In 2002, the character was reintroduced for a fourth time, but the role was recast to another actress, Kim Medcalf. Medcalf left the role in 2005. In an interview with Paul O'Grady, Medcalf said she would 'never say never' to a comeback. However, when executive producer Diederick Santer decided to reintroduce the character for a brief stint in 2009, he opted to bring Westbrook back. On 27 February 2016, it was announced that Westbrook would reprise the role of Sam Mitchell for her on-screen mother, Peggy Mitchell's (Barbara Windsor) funeral, for a brief stint, starting on 30 June 2016 and concluding after four episodes on 8 July 2016.

Portrayed as headstrong, flirty and manipulative, early storylines featuring Sam concentrate on her teen elopement to the character Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen). She goes on to feature in storylines about topless modelling, various family crises, relationships, feuds, and a short-lived marriage to Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs). Her exit storyline in 2005 is the culmination of a high-profile storyline that sees the character wrongly imprisoned for Den Watts' (Leslie Grantham) murder. In the on-screen events, Sam is cleared of murder and released, but she flees the country to escape another prison sentence for perverting the course of justice. Her brief return in 2009 sees the character resurrect a relationship with Ricky whilst having an on-off affair with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), being manipulated by her uncle Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) and causing her family to lose a number of their businesses for a second time before finally going to prison. Her return in 2010 and 2016 sees her struggle with motherhood after giving birth to Jack's baby.