EastEnders' Kacey Ainsworth reveals if she will return for Zoe Slater's funeral after fan rumours
It's been 20 years since Kacey Ainsworth last appeared in EastEnders as Little Mo, whose niece, Zoe Slater, is being killed off later this year.
Kacey Ainsworth has been forced to clarify she is not returning to EastEnders for Zoe Slater's funeral after a hoax comeback announcement, saddening some fans and stars of the BBC soap.
An EastEnders parody/fan account on X sparked excitement on Tuesday (18.08.26) with what turned out to be an AI mockup of the 57-year-old actress as Little Mo outside The Queen Victoria Pub, designed to look like an official BBC promotional image.
The post was captioned: "Kacey Ainsworth is reprising the role of Little Mo for three unmissable episodes this autumn, with her return linked to upcoming events in Walford. Full story here https://bbc.in/EastEndersFace… #EastEnders (sic)."
But the thrill among EastEnders viewers at Kacey supposedly reprising her alter ego after 20 years for her on-screen niece Zoe's upcoming funeral - a year after Michelle Ryan reprised the character - turned to disappointment.
Taking to Instagram a day later, Kacey said she was "flattered" by fans' demand for her to play Little Mo again, but stressed the X post was "fake news".
The star uploaded a screenshot of the X post, with the caption: "Very flattering that a character I created 20+ years ago is still held in folks hearts it’s [red heart emoji]… but this is FAKE NEWS. This is not a conversation I have had with the powers that be.
"Creds to whoever mocked up this picture tho - it’s my head but I don’t think it’s my body. I came out of my recording and my phone was on [fire emoji] #slaters."
Kacey reminded fans that Rob Kazinsky is returning as Sean Slater later this year, so they should not "be greedy" about another character returning.
EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa (Lauren Beale) wished the fake announcement was real, saying in the post's comments section: "I would give anything for this to be true though…"
Former cast member Louisa Lytton (Ruby Allen) added: "We are desperate for it though!"
Fans also expressed their disappointment, as one penned: "Omg gutted, I got excited thinking it was real (sic)."
A second typed: "People do desperately want this, tho. Not in favour of fake news, but the Square has desperately missed Little Mo these past 20 years. How we wish it was true. (sic)"
And a third demanded to EastEnders' executive producer Ben Wadey: "GET HER BACK!! (sic)"
This year marked 20 years since Little Mo last appeared on EastEnders after six years.
The character - whose sisters are Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace), Lynne Hobbs (Elaine Lordan), and Belinda Peacock (Carli Norris/Leanne Lakey) - had many hard-hitting storylines, such as abuse from her first husband, Trevor Morgan (Alex Ferns).
Little Mo left Walford to start a new life for herself and her son, Freddie, recently played by Bobby Brazier.
And Kacey has not ruled out a return to the soap.
Appearing on ITV's Lorraine ahead of EastEnders' 40th anniversary in February 2025, the host asked if she would reprise her role as Little Mo - who has been mentioned off-screen, notably in 2023 when Freddie visited her.
The actress replied: "She's not dead."
After Lorraine Kelly, 66, asked what Little Mo is doing now, Kacey joked: "I think she's on the tube. She's just going round the Circle Line."
Lorraine added: "Never say never."
