Skylover

Was just reading about this soap. It sounds good. Sounds like the network stuffed it around a bit though.

Some of those posters on DS are so dumb.

Awful decision.

They do, but it's the rougher, less educated ones.

Could you elaborate?

The thing is she has been re-cast now, so I think it's worth trying to keep making it work. I think it could go either way, but I wouldn't be surprised if she was axed. What's the point in axing her when it's been done, the re-cast can't really be erased from history.

I liked the Preston story but I think the idea of it was better than the execution. I think it could have been more nuanced than it was, but I think giving that story to such a big former character, and one who had been re-cast to boot, was a bit of a step in the wrong direction. I don't think people were ready for that. I found it believable from what I know about Michelle. I watched Grant and Sharon's wedding recently and I was surprised by how similar I felt the Michelles are. And I felt the same from the small amount of other stuff I've seen. Having said that, a few episodes doesn't compare to experiencing the character for her entire 10+ year tenure. I also feel like the Willmott-Brown stuff is the first time Kathy's felt alive for a while. I'm not sure if it's because the actress has had some cosmetic work but the acting has felt a little off a lot of the time since she's been back. I really hope not with Luke/Ben. I can't wait for the show to move on from this stuff though because so little makes any sense. I just hope there are some characters left who I actually want to watch after they've axed most of the ones I like.

In what sense? Physically?!

Funny how people see things differently. I didn't see the first actress so it doesn't bother me so much but I think it's worth perservering with Michelle because of her place in the show. I don't find her remarkably different to the other actress from what I've seen. I'm now watching the stuff from Thursday and not quite through it yet so I'll refrain from commenting as yet!

Which character, Michelle? People seem to be coming round to the new Michelle now and I'm glad as I like her, but I still wouldn't be surprised if John Yorke axed her.

This show is really p!ssing me off. Linda is allowing Woody and Whitney to stay at the pub? REALLY? Why should I be surprised after Kathy had a photo in her treasured family photo album the other day.

That Ben bedroom scene

I've never known an era of EastEnders where so many things don't make any logical sense. As mentioned that Willmott-Brown photo, how did that scene even manage to get into an episode? I was so confused And Billy and Tina was so ridiculous, even the actors looked like they struggled with that scene and knew it was a complete farce. Michelle wouldn't have dinner with Tom alone, Sharon wouldn't agree to let Michelle do that in her house, and Kathy wouldn't have stayed in the café for half an hour talking to her rapist. Ugh.

Shame! Mind you they have shown Ben shirtless a few times!

Thanks for the photos. God he's got nice abs. They obviously don't think much of him as I'm sure they've never got him shirtless.

It was! What do you think about Izzy returning?

They brought back Julie Martin in a webisode series called Neighbours VS Time Travel and it made my week. Hence my new avatar is Julie.

Big character Izzy Hoyland is set to return for a guest stint. http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/news/a841717/neighbours-bringing-back-natalie-bassingthwaighte-izzy-hoyland/

The actress has had surgery so looks quite young, while the actor has aged quite badly.

No, they film 6 episodes in 5 days.

6. It changed during the Susan Bower years. I thought it was only Emmerdale out of the UK soaps, where they didn't rehearse. Not sure about Neighbours. I don't think the show will decline in quality. It's only 18 extra episodes. It's fantastic news.

Exactly. I hope Home and Away follows suit eventually and starts updating its broadcast model - the fact it still airs 4 or even 6 weeks behind Australian broadcasts is ridiculous in this day and age.

It's 18 episodes a year extra so I don't think there will be any problems in terms of quality. I think it's fantastic news.

It is excellent news. That 1 month break over Christmas and New Year has always been annoying.

Ben shags a guy for less than 2 episodes and Phil's inviting him for 'tea'?