EastEnders: Michelle Fowler is BACK - and fans are not happy
EASTENDERS fans were not impressed by tonight’s episode of the BBC soap after Michelle Fowler made a return even if Sharon Mitchell looked happy to see her old friend again.
Susan Tully as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders
Michelle Fowler returns to Albert Square
The character was back on the Square but with one big difference: it was a different actress playing the part of Michelle.
Instead of veteran soap star Susan Tully reprising the role, Michelle was portrayed by Olivier Award-winning actress Jenna Russell.
Michelle was last seen on our screens in 1995 after she departed from the long-running series after a decade and being part of the programme from the start.
Despite the news of the recast being announced ahead of the episode, many viewers were not pleased with the news and many took to social media to hit out at EastEnders or the change.
One disgruntled person posted on Twitter: “Michelle is back in #eastenders with a totally different head. It's a no from me.”
Another soap fan wrote on the micro-blogging site: “THAT’S NOT MICHELLE #EastEnders.”
“Oh dear... terrible... if you can't get the real Michelle back then don't bother #eastenders,” added one audience member.
Susan Tully as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders
Susan Tully as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders
Oh dear... terrible... if you can't get the real Michelle back then don't bother
A fourth added: “Excited that Michelle Fowler is back in #eastenders ... shame it's not Susan Tully playing her though.”
The episode proved to be a mournful as Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) appeared to leave his wife Sharon by refusing to get a liver transplant and effectively choosing to die.
He even paid a visit to the cemetery to visit his mother Peggy’s (Dame Barbara Windsor) grave, where he bumped into Denise Fox (Diane Parish)
Jenna Russell makes her debut as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders
Jenna Russell makes her debut as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders
Meanwhile, across the way in Walford Dot Branning (June Brown) was bidding farewell to the laundrette as she was moving out.
This year's festive instalment of EastEnders promises to be an explosive one, which could see hard man Phil finally meeting his end.
But that will not be the end of the annual miseryfest that it EastEnders over the Christmas period, Roxie Mitchell (Rita Simons) and her sister Ronnie (Samantha Womack) will be killed off around New Year’s Day.
EastEnders continues on BBC One on Christmas Day at 9.30pm.