Sam James

Sam James was a character in EastEnders in 2013. He first appeared in Episode 4598 (14th May 2013) and last appeared in Episode 4720 (16th December 2013). He was the estranged father of Dexter Hartman and estraged husband of Ava Hartman. Sam was played by Cornell S John.

Backstory
Sam James met and married Ava Hartman in about 1991 and they had a son Dexter Hartman in November 1992. However, Sam could not cope with fatherhood so he abandoned Ava and Dexter when Dexter was just 6 months old in 1993. In early 2013, 20 years later, Sam found that he needed a kidney transplant so decided to track down Ava and Dexter in order to do this, meaning he only wanted to contact his son Dexter to save his own life.

2013
Sam managed to tarck Ava and Dexter down as living at a ground floor flat at No 47 Albert Square. Ava was shocked and displeased. Dexter asked who is at the door and Sam wanted to know if that was Dexter. Ava reluctantly allowed Sam in, not telling Dexter who he really was. Dex thought Sam was a man she had recently met. Sam introduces himself as "Jacob". Sam stays at the local B&B run by Kim Fox. He gets a job helping Ian Beale plumbing. Cora Cross sees Sam and calls him by his first name in front of Dexter. Dexter, knowing his father was called Sam, is angry and realises who he is. He is angry at Ava for lying to hm. However eventually Ava realises she still has feelings for Sam and they reunite. Dexter is well pleased to have his dad back in his life. It emerges that Sam requires a kidney transplant. Ava hopes to donate one of hers but is not a match. Dexter decides to take a test to see if he is a match, but Ava refuses to let him. He does so anyway, and he is a match, but Sam refuses to let him donate. Dexter persuades his father to accept his kidney, and they go through the transplant operation. Ava fusses over both of them while they are recovering, and while Dexter is used to Ava's overprotective nature, Sam feels smothered, and considers leaving. On Dexter's birthday, Sam invites Dexter's nurse Laura), who talks to Ava about how long Sam was waiting for a kidney. Ava then finds a letter confirming that Sam has been on a waiting list since before he returned. Ava confronts Sam, and realising that he only returned for Dexter's kidney, tells him to leave. He does so, but lies to Dexter that he is coming back after the weekend. Ava tells him he is not returning but refuses to tell him the truth. Dexter eventually finds Sam in Birmingham, who tells Dexter the truth, so Dexter punches Sam. Sam decides to stay in Birmingham and not return to Walford.

Family
Wife Ava Hartman

Children Dexter Hartman