EastEnders In late 2001, Kim Medcalf took over the role of
Sam Mitchell from
Danniella Westbrook who was recovering from addiction at the time. She filmed her first scenes with
Barbara Windsor's character
Peggy Mitchell in Spain in November 2001, which aired on 29 January 2002. She won the best newcomer award at the
National Television Awards in 2002 and was nominated for the sexiest female award at
The British Soap Awards in 2003. On 29 January 2005, it was announced that Medcalf along with co-star
Michelle Ryan who played
Zoe Slater had opted to leave
EastEnders. Medcalf's final scenes were filmed on 22 September 2005 and screened in November of that year. Her character escaped imprisonment as an accessory to the murder of
Den Watts (
Leslie Grantham) and departed
Walford to join her brother,
Grant Mitchell (
Ross Kemp), in Brazil. Her final scenes aired on 17 November 2005. In 2009, producer
Diederick Santer opted to bring back Westbrook for a short storyline later that year. On 29 January 2022, it was announced that Medcalf would reprise the role of Sam after nearly 17 years, taking over from Westbrook once again. She filmed her return scenes in February 2022. Her return scenes aired in the United Kingdom on 18 April 2022. Medcalf took an extended break in April 2023, with her return aired on 21 November. She departed the role once again on screen on 18 January 2024. On 9 November 2025, it was announced that she would reprise the role for a short stint, her return aired on 4 December 2025.
Other work Medcalf's post-
EastEnders work included a role in a dramatic
staged reading of
The Penelopiad directed by
Phyllida Lloyd at
St James's Church, Piccadilly on 23 October 2005, appearances for
Children in Need on 18 November 2005 and in
South Pacific at the
Symphony Hall on 29 & 30 November 2005. In Spring 2006, she undertook a four-month run in the
revival of
Hay Fever at the
Theatre Royal Haymarket alongside
Judi Dench. Medcalf was the host of the
Mitchells Weekend on the
UKTV Gold network. On 23 January 2007, she appeared in an episode of
BBC's
The Afternoon Play called "Death Becomes Him". In February and March 2007, Medcalf appeared as the "guest star" in a short UK tour of the
West End hit
The Play What I Wrote. On 2 April 2007, Medcalf took over the role of
Sally Bowles from
Anna Maxwell Martin in
Rufus Norris' revival of
Cabaret at the
Lyric Theatre in the
West End. From 25 February until 1 March 2008, Medcalf appeared in a run of
The Vagina Monologues at the
New Victoria Theatre,
Woking, alongside
Sue Holderness and
Shobna Gulati. Medcalf appeared in two episodes of
BBC One drama
Missing in 2010. Medcalf made her London stage return in 2015 when she appeared in Ruby in the Dust's production of
Gatsby. Medcalf appeared in three episodes of
BBC Two drama
Collateral written by
David Hare in 2018.
Singing Medcalf is a
mezzo-soprano. In 2003, she showcased her singing ability during the
EastEnders Christmas Party TV special, where she sang "
All I Want For Christmas Is You". Medcalf was invited to join the students of the 2005 second series of
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy. She performed songs including "
Don't Know Why" and "
Perfect". The judges initially struggled with her performances but eventually she prevailed; helped by a performance of
Delta Goodrem's "
Born to Try" Medcalf finished in second place behind
Radio One's
Edith Bowman. On 11 September 2005, Medcalf performed at London's
Hyde Park when she took part in the
BBC Family Prom; performing "
Over the Rainbow" accompanied by the
BBC Orchestra. On 16 July 2006, she sang at
Love Letter to Dan, a gala tribute to Dan Crawford, the late founder of the
King's Head Theatre. ==Personal life==