<P> Mel's exit storyline was linked to Steve's death, and Outhwaite claimed that viewers would be gripped by the storyline right up until her own exit a few months after Steve's . She commented, "Mel is devastated by Steve's death . She thinks that Phil caused it and rushes into the Vic and goes for him . Mel acts brave, but inside she is breaking . She is given a necklace of black pearls on the day Steve dies and it breaks her heart . She knows Phil was involved in the death but can't prove it . He has been nothing but trouble for her and she won't try to build bridges now (...) Mel looks brave on the outside but inside she's cracking up ." In the on - screen events, Mel's anger turns to devastation when Phil informs her that Steve had been having sex with his sister Sam Mitchell . After being arrested over Steve's money laundering and discovering she was pregnant with Steve's baby, Mel confronted everyone who had wronged her before leaving Walford . At the time, Outhwaite stated that her final scenes were the hardest that she'd ever filmed . Tony Stewart, critic for The Mirror suggested that Mel's exit in April 2002 was thrilling and described it as "a devastating story of betrayal and her ultimate revenge (as) one by one her friends desert her ." Stewart praised Mel's final scene with the following description: "When she faces her last exit at Victoria Coach Station, there is a glint in her eye as Mel looks at the destination board and speaks on her mobile .' Pick a number for me,' she says .' One to 20 . Great . Thank you .' And with that she is gone...but never forgotten ." </P> <P> Outhwaite stated, after leaving the show, that she might return to the character if the time was right . In 2010 she commented that a return would be unlikely as the character did not have links in the current cast, and that, in any case, she had never been asked back, stating: "People always ask me, but I've never been asked! It looks like I'm turning it down on a yearly basis, but I'm not . They've never asked me! So they don't want me back for one and I don't have any family left on the show . There's nobody on the Square she knows, I don't even think any of Mel's friends are still in it...I could walk down the market and be an extra, I suppose! (...) She doesn't really know anyone apart from Ian Beale and Phil Mitchell . So unless she was coming back to see one of them ..." </P> <P> On 24 October 2017, the show's producers announced that Mel would be returning to the serial in 2018 . Outhwaite, who billed Mel as "a strong independent woman", returned to filming in November 2017 . Yorke, who was appointed executive consultant in June 2017, asked Outhwaite to reprise the role . The actress felt privileged to be invited back to the show and called playing Mel again "perfect". Outhwaite billed Mel as "a strong independent woman" upon her return and believed there are "lots more stories to tell" with the character . She commented, "EastEnders is in my DNA and I always knew deep down that someday I would revisit Mel ." Yorke said he was "thrilled and flattered" to have Outhwaite reprise the role and looked forward to exploring her absence and "who Melanie Owen is now". He also promised an "incredible" storyline for Mel when she returns and said it would "awaken a lot of old ghosts, some great memories, and a whole new series of adventures too". On 22 December 2017, it was announced that Charlie Winter had been cast in the role of Hunter Owen, the son of Mel and Steve . Hunter returns alongside Mel . Mel returned on - screen in the closing moments of the episode broadcast on 9 January 2018 . </P> <P> BBC News claimed in 2000 that Tamzin Outhwaite was one of EastEnders' most popular stars and Mel was described as one of the most popular characters on the show . During her stint it was reported that the BBC offered to increase her salary various times to entice her to stay with EastEnders with suggestions that she was the highest - paid British soap star . She was awarded' Sexiest Female' at the British Soap Awards for three years running and' Best Newcomer' at the National TV Awards . Outhwaite has discussed her popularity: "When I came in as the vicar's sister, I had no idea Mel would be such a big character and the audience would take to her so quickly . I was surprised as I thought she was a bit plain and a flirt . But no matter what Mel does--going out with Ian, Dan, Steve, Phil--people still like her . Women wanted to be her mate and blokes wanted her as a girlfriend ." </P>

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