Returning EastEnders legend Michelle Ryan has teased what’s ahead for Zoe Slater.

We were treated to a (very) brief return earlier in the year, but Zoe has been missing ever since. That is, of course, until the character strolls into Albert Square for the first time in two decades next week.

For Michelle though, it’s like she’s never been away.

‘I think that there is some kind of time warp that happens when you’re on the set of EastEnders because it feels different, but it also feels the same,’ she told us.

‘It was brilliant to be opposite Jessie [Wallace] again. There’s an easy, instant chemistry and a history between us, so even though we’ve both gone off and done different things in our careers, coming back together has felt like a full circle moment.’

But what lies ahead for Zoe? While bosses are keeping tight-lipped around the circumstances for her comeback, Michelle has teased what lies ahead.

Zoe’s gone to a ‘dark place’ in life

The last time we saw Zoe, she told Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) that she had done something ‘so bad’ that her family would disown her.

Exactly what that is remains to be seen!

‘I really feel like they’ve captured the character and who she is,’ Michelle continued.

‘Zoe is not in the best of places. She is struggling in every area of her life, but she’s tough because she’s a Slater, so she is able to keep going.

‘When many people would have given in, she’s still fighting. She’s taken a really dark turn in life, and she’s gone to a really dark place. I don’t think anyone would have been expecting that.

‘Zoe left with no self-esteem, and I think the trauma was far more embedded than anyone realised.’

She added: ‘Alongside her strength, there is also a lot of damage, and that makes her really interesting to play.

‘Expect the unexpected.’

Returning to Walford was an emotional affair

‘Jessie got emotional, and it felt like coming back to land,’ Michelle said.

Its with thanks to Jessie that Michelle was asked back, as she didn’t want the role to be recast.

‘I had a wish-list of characters that I wanted to return, including Zoe, and I was determined to get Michelle Ryan back,’ executive producer Ben Wadey chipped in.

‘The team and I had an exciting storyline idea for Kat and Zoe, and when we approached Michelle, it turned out she’d been thinking about a return.

‘Call it fate or manifesting, but it felt like the stars had aligned!’

Michelle continued: ‘I’d gone off on all these different adventures, and to then be with Ben, Shane [Richie], Gillian [Wright] and Lacey was such a lovely thing.

‘It’s given us all a shorthand, and our working relationship flows.

‘Nick [Bailey] and I have always had a lovely rapport, and seeing Adam [Woodyatt] and Tish Dean again has been great.

‘Gillian Taylforth wasn’t there when I first started, but I’d watched her when I was younger, and I’d met Michelle Collins before.