‘Looks like I dodged a bullet’: Danniella Westbrook lashes out at EastEnders after they replaced her as Sam Mitchell with a different actress and says show will be hearing from her ‘legal team’
- The role of Peggy Mitchell’s daughter Sam was originally played by Danniella when she joined the soap in 1990
- Sam took over the role in 2002 while Danniella battled her highly publicised cocaine addiction
- Danniella has claimed the BBC soap would be hearing from her ‘legal team’ and hinted at future revelations that she has ‘never told’ in her upcoming book
- The actress told Kim to ‘go smash it’ while suggesting her replacement would have to play the role similar to her version of Sam
- In a post to Instagram earlier this month, Danniella said she did not know if the role of Sam would be recast or not and wished whoever got it the best of luck
Danniella Westbrook has lashed out at EastEnders after it was confirmed Kim Medcalf has been chosen to reprise the role of Sam Mitchell over her.
The actress, 48, took to Twitter and claimed the BBC soap would be hearing from her ‘legal team’ and also hinted at future revelations that she has ‘never told’ in her upcoming book.
Danniella began her rant with a cryptic tweet reading: ‘Well well well who knew [laughing emojis] all I can say is thanks looks like I dodged a bullet.’
The TV star wished Kim well as she reprises the role both actresses have played over the years, while suggesting Kim would have to play it similar to her version of Sam.
Not happy: Danniella Westbrook has lashed out at EastEnders after it was confirmed Kim Medcalf has been chosen to reprise the role of Sam Mitchell over her (pictured as Sam)
She wrote: ‘Wishing Kym the best of luck at @BBCEastEnders yet again this poor woman has to recreate a Samantha Mitchell as close to my last two recent come backs on the square go smash it darling..x’.
Daniella then added: ‘Oh but not to @BBCEastEnders my legal team will be in touch to know why when I held the…
‘@bbceastenders contract too the last two times the character bounced in &out on a ratings or stint. For the record I was never sacked or dismissed and saw out both contracts one of them even being extended for episodes. It’s great 2 C the same level of care standards & loyalty 2
‘@bbceastenders you bang on about having and giving to both new & old members of cast is still going as strong then as it always has… not just me as Sam that needs replacing I’d look closer to the top of the show and cut that dead wood after all it’s all about evolving.’
Replacement: The actress, 48, took to Twitter and claimed the BBC soap would be hearing from her ‘legal team’ following the news that Kim had been rehired
‘Bet you all can’t wait for my new book now can ya ….. oh it’s gonna go way back to the things I’ve never ever told #beafraidpeople #itsallgood’.
A spokesperson for EastEnders declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
Danniella’s words come after it was confirmed Sam Mitchell is making an ‘explosive’ comeback to the soap with Kim reprising her role this time around.
The daughter of Peggy Mitchell, made her first appearance in Walford in 1990, originally played by Danniella but was replaced by Kim in 2002, while she battled her highly publicised cocaine addiction.
Speaking to The Sun, Kim said: ‘When the BBC approached me last year to reprise the role of Sam I was thrilled. She’s a brilliant character and I can’t wait to get back in the Square and work with the amazing cast.’
Danniella wrote: @BBCEastEnders my legal team will be in touch… Bet you all can’t wait for my new book now can ya’
BBC television producer Kate Oates added: ‘I have long wanted to bring Sam back into the family fold. Her return is guaranteed to be explosive.’
Kim previously played Sam between 2002 and 2005 but in more recent years the role has been taken on by Danniella.
Danniella returned to the soap in September 2009 for a year, then for a final time as Sam in 2016 for a short four episode stint.
MailOnline has contacted Danniella’s representatives for comment.
Familiar face: Danniella’s words come after it was confirmed Sam Mitchell is making an ‘explosive’ comeback to the soap with Kim reprising her role this time around
Iconic: The daughter of Peggy Mitchell, made her first appearance in 1990, originally played by Danniella, 48, (left) but was replaced by Kim in 2002 (right) due to her off screen difficulties
Good luck! In a post to Instagram earlier this month, Danniella said she did not know if the role of Sam would be recast or not and wished whoever got it the best of luck
In a post to Instagram earlier this month, Danniella said she did not know if the role of Sam would be recast or not and wished whoever got it the best of luck.
In the sweet post, she penned: ‘The @bbceastenders have not contacted me to say they are re casting or if they have. But that’s ok. Who plays Sam next I wish all the luck in the world to. Enjoy.’
This comes as Danniella, who was admitted to hospital earlier this month, admitted she’s spent a lot of time alone recently ‘working on myself and my spiritual side’ after cutting ‘deadbeats and energy draining people out of my life’.
The actress said that she was ‘more than ready’ as she promised to be ‘back to my best and fighting fit next year’ in a post to Instagram earlier this week.
Past troubles: Danniella has had surgery after her substance misuse caused the complete erosion of her nasal septum, she said this week that she had been ‘working on myself’
The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate, who publicly battled cocaine addiction throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, posted a picture of herself as she walked the red carpet at the 2009 TV Quick and TV Choice awards on social media on Thursday afternoon.
Alongside to photo she penned: ‘Can’t wait for all my surgery to be done, will be back to my best and fighting fit and next year I will be 50! Bring it on, I’m ready. More than ready, I’m ready for a full transformation physically.
‘I’ve spent a lot of time alone the last six months. I’ve been working on myself and my spiritual side has already begun evolving, I’ve cut the deadbeats and energy draining people out of my life. And I am ready to get busy living. And busy working.
‘I have a feeling it’s all going to work out just fine #thewestie #lifeisbeautiful #getbusyliving #gratitude #letsgetmarriedagain #whoknew.’
At the height of her drug use, it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to £250,000 on the drug.
The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons – and revealed she was finally clean in June 2020, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain.
Optimistic: The actress said that she was ‘more than ready’ as she promised to be ‘back to my best and fighting fit next year’ in a 2009 throwback post, following a hospital stay
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