Sam James

Name: Sam James
First Appeared: 14th May 2014
Last Appeared: 16th December 2013
Played by: Cornell S John

Sam James’ return to Walford was as unexpected as a sunny day in London. He showed up just when Ava Hartman was expecting Billy Mitchell for a date. Ava was shocked to see Sam, who immediately asked if the voice he heard was his son, Dexter. Ava, ever the protective mother, told Sam to wait outside while she sent Dexter out, then invited Sam in. Sam explained that his father, who had abandoned him as a child, had died, and he wanted to reunite with Dexter, whom he had abandoned when Dexter was just three months old. Ava was furious, but Sam, in true Sam fashion, blamed her, saying she wasn’t intimate with him after Dexter was born. Dexter returned, and Sam introduced himself as Jacob, an old friend of Ava’s. Dexter took a liking to “Jacob,” thinking he was a better match for Ava than Billy. When Sam left, Ava told him never to return.

Sam, however, was not one to give up easily. He stayed overnight at the local bed and breakfast, where Kim Fox took a liking to him. Sam helped Ian Beale with a plumbing problem at his new restaurant, and Dexter invited Sam for a drink. Just as Sam was about to leave, Ava arrived and angrily told him to go. Ava’s mother, Cora Cross, called Sam by his real name, and Dexter realized that Sam was his father. Dexter was furious with Ava for lying to him. Despite their initial rejection, Ava eventually realized she still had feelings for Sam, and they ended up rekindling their romance. Dexter was livid when he found out and demanded that Ava choose between him and Sam. Ava chose Dexter, but when Dexter saw Ava crying, he reluctantly allowed Sam to stay.

The drama didn’t end there. It emerged that Sam needed a kidney transplant. Ava hoped to donate one of hers, but she wasn’t a match. Dexter decided to take a test to see if he was a match, despite Ava’s protests. He was a match, but Sam refused to let him donate. Dexter persuaded his father to accept his kidney, and they went through the transplant operation. Ava fussed over both of them while they were recovering. Dexter was used to Ava’s overprotective nature, but Sam felt smothered and considered leaving. On Dexter’s birthday, Sam invited Dexter’s nurse, Laura Sneddon, who told Ava how long Sam had been waiting for a kidney. Ava found a letter confirming that Sam had been on a waiting list since before he returned. Realizing that Sam had only come back for Dexter’s kidney, Ava confronted him and told him to leave. Sam left but told Dexter he would return after the weekend. Ava told Dexter that Sam wasn’t coming back but refused to tell him the truth.

This secrecy began to anger Dexter, causing him to insult Ava constantly. Eventually, Dexter managed to locate Sam and told him he wanted to live with him and start afresh. Sam tried to persuade Dexter to return to Walford and live with Ava, but Dexter refused, angry that Ava hadn’t told him the truth. Sam assured Dexter that Ava had done nothing wrong and confessed that he had only come to Walford for a kidney transplant due to his failing health. Once Dexter learned the truth, he realized why Ava had evicted Sam and punched him, telling him he didn’t deserve Ava. As Sam attempted to apologize, Dexter told him he was no father to him and that he never wanted to see him again. This left Sam heartbroken, and Dexter scowled at him one last time before returning home to Ava.