OHMYGOSSIP — Danniella Westbrook has warned ‘EastEnders’ bosses there could have been “very serious consequences” as a result of not telling her they had re-cast the part of Sam Mitchell.
The 48-year-old actress played the fiery blonde throughout the 90s but was replaced by Kim Medcalf from 2002 to 2005 before reprising the role in 2009 and 2016 so she was “shocked” when it was revealed last week that Kim would be returning to the soap as their shared alter ego.
Danniella – who has battled drug addiction since she was a teenager – insisted producers had a “responsibility” to tell her the news personally and suggested it could have triggered a relapse if she wasn’t in such a good place now.
She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “I’ve been known as Sam Mitchell for 32 years. But nobody at ‘EastEnders’ contacted me to let me know they had recast Kim in the role. There wasn’t even an email to my agent. I was shocked because they do have a responsibility to tell me and someone should have.
“The bosses have seen me go through addiction and they have no idea where I am today.
“Thankfully I’m OK. But if I hadn’t been it could have had very serious consequences for me.
Danniella previously threatened to take legal action against the BBC over the re-cast.
Posting on Twitter, she wrote: “Wishing Kim 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 oh but not to @bbceastenders my legal team will be in touch.(sic)
In a follow up tweet she added: “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.(sic)”
Source: VacationHunter.Online