BetterForgotten

Looks like we'll be seeing some of Sharon's biological family sooner than I thought. The credits for the episode airing on the 26th lists a character named Kristopher Hanley, and Hanley of course is the last name of Sharon's bio mother.

He's played by someone named Jonathan Broadbent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0546rp0

There seemed to be an understated quality about the show in these years, which changed by the late 90's when it felt like the entire program was revamped to be more sensationalized.

The McDonald's do annoy me somewhat (in a way that's similar to how I feel about the Carter's on EastEnders these days), but they do at least seem authentic. Also, am I the only one who preferred Andy over Steve?

And of course, I am loving Bet during this era, even if Alec disturbs me with the way he treats her at times.

I know the late 80's and early 90's aren't given a lot of attention or credit, but I've really been enjoying the episodes Auntie Corrie (a great channel overall) has up on YouTube.

The show seemed so underrated in these years.

So Aaron's become Gail Platt? LOL

That's how radio is, not just Radio 1, but all pop music radio stations. Once you're over 40, it's a struggle to get airplay outside of Adult Contemporary stations.

The Graham Norton Trailer:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=899590476728038

Oh shoot, I had forgotten that Matthew Robinson directed the very first episode of EastEnders.

It's kind of ironic though, as Robinson is probably most responsible for the show's first big attempt as contemporizing and veering from its roots, though I really did enjoy his era as EP as a whole.

I love when Pam St. Clement speaks in her real posh accent...

Previews from the Graham Norton special:

The new trailer for the 30th:

Natalie should have been on the underrated character list! Sorry, I've always had a soft spot for Lucy Speed.

But happy to see Matthew Rose, Sanjay and Gita, Nigel, and Alan Jackson on there.

Letitia Dean interview:

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a627777/eastenders-star-letitia-dean-sharon-and-phil-are-right-together.html#~p3QHyFXJwJRp5Z

Even though she mentions's Dennis's death, I'm guessing she wasn't a fan of the Shannis pairing and storyline as she never mentions it among her favorites.

People can say what they want, but she'll always be the most relevant female pop star in music history.

Madonna and Michael Jackson set the template for the definition of what a pop star is, no one else can claim that or is really on that level.

This "feud" seems incredibly fake to me. It seems calculated on both of their parts to stay in the headlines and gossip columns and to pose as supposed "rivals."

Taylor and Madonna also have a pic together, courtesy of M's instagram:

http://instagram.com/p/y3kBbgGEZt/?modal=true

In today's world, Hilda Ogden's exit (which, IMO, is probably the best ever exit given to a beloved long-running character on a soap) would be lambasted for being "boring" and "playing it safe." Corrie used to do great and classy exits for its veteran characters once upon a time.

I do think there is a lot of life left in Bet, even in her short 2002 return, she stole every scene. They don't make characters like that anymore.

No matter how many times I watch it, Bet's 1995 exit always break my heart, but strangely makes me smile (much like Bet herself).

Too bad Julie Goodyear will never return, but I can't see them knowing what to do with a character like Bet in the Corrie of today.

The video for Living For Love is out:

I still can't get over how eveytime I catch an episode everything leads back to the f.ucking Carter family. I've never felt so sick of a shoehorned family in my life on a soap.

Have we become too pessimistic? I had no issues with the Slater domination in 2000-2003, which was definitely the show's last great gold era. Did I not mind a new dominant family back then because the show was very good overall or was it because the family was just better overall? It's strange how it didn't bother me back then as much as it does now.

His body is about the only thing interesting or appealing about him.

Tracy is such an ill-defined and poorly constructed character, but I did like the actress prior to Kate Ford who played her in the late 90's. Since Kate Ford, it seemed like Corrie wanted to have their own version of Janine Butcher, but were never able to fully pull it off with this character.

I do think Deirdre's years away from Ken and pre-Ken were probably her best years. She was probably at her most vital after their first marriage had ended.

I think Anne was very underrated as an actress, and I hate that the writing for Deidre's from the past decade will probably leave many having the wrong impression of both Anne and Deirdre. She was an amazing dramatic actress when they gave her the material.

I honestly don't know if I can take watching either Tracy or Ken without the possibility of Deirdre ever coming back.

I always thought Anne was far superior in the acting department than Bill Roache (he was lucky to have her IMO, even if I grew tired or Deirdre and Ken), and I won't even go into the disaster I find Kate Ford to be.

Apparently, the show's writer's conference was today (where they plan out stories for the next year or so).

Letitia, Jessie, and Lacey attended. I wonder if they all asked for better stories.....

Sharon Batten posted this on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SharonJBatten/status/562006824829063168/photo/1

An Instagram pic with a junior level writer/trainee:

http://instagram.com/p/ykwuE8Khvu/

Just re-watching the Deirdre and Me special that originally aired in in 2012 when Anne celebrated her 40th anniversary on the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TfTb2kwfbU

I think the Jon Lindsay stuff and subsequent prison sentence for Deirdre was the first Corrie storyline I remember reading about online and keeping up with in the late 90's.

The Ken/Deirdre/Mike triangle seems very inspired by American soaps. I know triangles had been done before on British soaps and they're certainly not unique to just soap operas, but something about the way that storyline was told from what I've seen of it feels more akin to American soap storytelling.