{"id":43313,"date":"2024-01-09T01:00:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T00:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1953329"},"modified":"2024-01-09T03:40:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T02:40:55","slug":"eastenders-star-kim-medcalf-on-sam-and-phils-clash-amid-aunt-sals-funeral","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-star-kim-medcalf-on-sam-and-phils-clash-amid-aunt-sals-funeral\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders star Kim Medcalf on Sam and Phil\u2019s clash amid Aunt Sal\u2019s funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Sam thinks she\u2019s got nothing to lose, she hasn\u2019t really got a brother now.” <\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 09 January 2024 at 00:00 AM<\/p>

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Kim Medcalf has discussed the epic falling out between Sam and Phil Mitchell in EastEnders<\/a> next week.<\/p>\n

The BBC One soap will pay tribute to Aunt Sal Martin, played by the late Anna Karen<\/a>, in funeral scenes<\/a> due to air in coming episodes.<\/p>\n

Amid the scenes, Sam Mitchell (Medcalf) will step up and attempt to become a matriarchal figure for the Mitchells following the deaths of her aunt Sal, her mother Peggy Mitchell, and cousins Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell.<\/p>\n

However, as Aunt Sal is laid to rest, Sam discovers multiple secrets that her brother Phil (Steve McFadden) has been keeping from both her and his wife Kat Mitchell (Jessie Wallace).<\/p>\n

Sam\u2019s discoveries lead her on a collision course with her big brother, but can they ever come back from this?<\/p>\n

In a new interview shared with RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press, actress Kim Medcalf discusses a very big week ahead for her character Sam Mitchell.<\/p>\n

\"Shane\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
(L-R): Shane Richie as Alfie Moon, Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell, David Sterne as Harold Martin, Frankie Day as Ricky Branning, and Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell pose with smiles for EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This week, the Mitchells prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal. How is Sam feeling?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very sad but it\u2019s an opportunity for Sam to up her game and become this matriarchal figure because her mum is not around. She\u2019s stepping up and trying to do the right thing for the Mitchells and for Aunt Sal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sam is upset to learn from Phil that Ben and Billy won\u2019t be attending. How does she approach this?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cSam is thinking about what her mum and Aunt Sal would want, and how Peggy would approach this. She wants to step into those shoes. There are some nice references in there where Sam is wearing her mum\u2019s earrings but she\u2019s doing it because she wants to do the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

So would you say there is a sense from Sam that it\u2019s time for her to step into that matriarchal Mitchell role?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why she\u2019s having to force the other Mitchells to get involved. She\u2019s having to force the younger generation like Ben and Jay to remind them it\u2019s really important for the Mitchell family. A lot of it is because she wants this to be viewed from the outside in, that they are doing the right thing. The Mitchells are such a strong unit and they are all collectively remembering Aunt Sal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kim\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell shaking hands with David Sterne as Harold Martin, flanked by Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell, Jamie Borthwick as Jay Brown, and Frankie Day as Ricky Branning in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Can you tell us a bit more about the funeral?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite a mix of emotion and humour. It is a lovely celebration and we get to meet Aunt Sal\u2019s husband Harold, who is just fantastic. He does this really moving speech about his wife. It is emotional. Aunt Sal was loved and especially by Peggy, so it feels like there\u2019s a bit of Peggy in that room too.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time on screen, we meet Aunt Sal\u2019s elusive husband, Harold. Can you tell us a bit about him and his dynamic with the Mitchells?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cDavid Sterne [who plays Harold] is fantastic and so brilliant \u2013 he had everyone moved to tears in the room. It was beautifully nuanced and great to watched.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"David\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
David Sterne as Harold Martin delivering a speech at Aunt Sal\u2019s funeral in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Sam later makes a discovery about her inheritance. Can you tell us a bit more about what happens?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHarold makes a throwaway comment about Aunt Sal leaving her, Phil and Grant an inheritance of \u00a3100,000. In true Sam style, she can\u2019t sit on this information for more than a minute so storms over to Phil and says, \u2018When were you going to give me this money or even tell me about it?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way I played it is that for Sam, she is working for free at Peggy\u2019s to pay that debt off. So she thinks, \u2018you are not the owner of me\u2019. \u2018You give me the money and then we\u2019ll decide, but it\u2019s not for you to just leave me out of that equation\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relationship between Sam and Phil is that he\u2019s always been the bully. She has had a whole lifetime of being told what to do by her big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kim\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell speaks to David Sterne as Harold Martin in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

We know that Sam later blackmails Phil for the money when she finds out that he slept with Emma. How does she acquire this information?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cShe finds out through Alfie, who lets it slip. There is a woman at Aunt Sal\u2019s funeral and Alfie makes a comment which Sam picks up on and Alfie tells her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the other thing for Sam, she is many bad things but what she can\u2019t bear in this situation is that Phil is walking around pretending that he\u2019s cleaner than clean and supposed to be very much in love with Kat. Sam thinks that he\u2019s completely hypocritical and his behaviour is far worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

How does Phil react?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s angry and he doesn\u2019t believe that she\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kim\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell and Shane Richie as Alfie Moon in Peggy\u2019s in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Do you think this will destroy their relationship? Is it really worth that to Sam?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI think Sam realises there is no going back from this. When he gives her the money, he\u2019s so mean.\u00a0 She follows him in and challenges him again and he continues to stick the knife in. Sam thinks she\u2019s got nothing to lose, she hasn\u2019t really got a brother now. I don\u2019t think she\u2019s doing it to hurt Kat because she thinks Kat is good for Phil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you think this is a fitting tribute to such a brilliant guest character?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is, I really hope it is. When we were at the crematorium, it had a lovely feeling about it. We were remembering Aunt Sal but also Anna Karen as well, very much. I think the writers have done Anna\u2019s talent and the character the justice she deserves. David Sterne, who played Harold, was so good and the speech they wrote was so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kim\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell, Ellie Dadd as Amy Mitchell, and Scott Maslen as Jack Branning in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n