BetterForgotten

Thanks for posting. A lot of it makes me nostalgic as we were able to see so much of this era on BBC America a few weeks after it aired in the UK. The show was so hugely popular in those days. In particular, I remember the Little Mo trial and verdict making front page news in many of the mainstream UK newspapers I used to keep up with in those days.

I have to say one thing, it does feel like they're finally in a good place with Sharon again, and the up hairdo really works for Letitia and is age appropriate. I hope this storyline doesn't turn into another vehicle for someone else, but it's nice to see that DTC seems committed to the character and actually seems to get her more than Lorraine Newman strangely did, even though Newman worked on the show in eras where Sharon was part of the cast. Sharon's really keeping those Mitchell's together these days, but I like that this storyline has potential to take her outside of the Mitchell orbit as well. This is the best Sharon's been since her most recent return. I can even stand Linda when she's with Sharon. However, Linda's mother needs to die a torturous death...

She's really trying hard to be taken seriously these days. Too bad it look a backlash and deteriorating commercial success to make her change course. I wish her luck, because as mentioned, she does have talent. But her time at being at the center of the pop universe came and went very quickly and she will not recapture that again.

Another blog post from Matthew Robinson. I kind of love the subtle shade he throws at Ross Kemp. http://walfordweb.com/blog/main/4047849/ I know he's considered controversial in the show's history, but I really think the show has needed someone like him over the past 10 years or so. Someone who doesn't put up with bullsh!t and not afraid to make changes that need to be made. He says he'll also post about his time directing the show for Julia Smith and Tony Holland in the 80's.

I have no idea why some are clamoring for Stacey and Martin. I see nothing there. But ....anything is better than Sonia, I guess... Though, now that Stacey isn't the entire show anymore, I've been really enjoying her in this supporting capacity.

I don't know what they'll do with Lauren when she returns with a kid (and presumably as a single mother), honestly. I kind of wish Jossa had left with Hardy. Maybe they'll use Lauren's absence to develop Abi more, but I doubt it.

Speaking of Matthew Robinson, he's started blogging for Walford Web! http://walfordweb.com/blog/main/4047849/http://walfordweb.com/blog/main/4047849/

The storytelling Robinson and Yorke did was a little more sensationalized than what had been there before, but I do think they both "got" the show and you could tell they genuinely loved and cared for it. I don't know if I've felt the producers since have felt the same way. Maybe Louise Berridge, her intentions may have been good, but executionally flawed.

The 15th Anniversary episode probably had the strangest use of Julia's Theme ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgcWfPT1FH0 But still, even though I can see some flaws in retrospect, the 1998-2002 era was really the last amazing era of the show (and along with with Corrie's 2002-2004 run, probably the last consistently good time for a British soap). Those years are the last time I remember the show being cultural, and not just during the anniversaries, this was the last era storylines from the show were headline news on UK papers and tabloids almost ever damn week. I often wonder if adding that 4th weekly episode in 2001 was the beginning of some sort of downfall for the show. It worked in the beginning, but after a year or two, seemed to really take a strain on the show. Something snapped in 2003 that's never been the same again for whatever reason. The show can still be good for periods at a time, but nothing sustainable like it was in the 80's, for much of the 90's, and the early 00's.

So, looks like DTC has been given a special contract with the BBC, which means there's probably no end in sight for him on this show. He'll probably end up being EP for longer than Santer was. I don't think that's a good thing for the show. http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-bobby-beale-away-sister-5207497

I wonder if Adam Woodyatt now regrets this interview: http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a203908/enders-ian-kathy-return-wouldnt-work.html

The whole purpose of the Backstage Live thing was to focus on the live episode. It was sloppily put together and produced, and there was tons of filler, so it was never going to be more beyond that. I had no expectations for it, so I wasn't disappointed nor I did I give one toss about it. BBC 3 should have brought back the Reveled documentary series - I would have done one for the entire live week, and three focusing on the various decades of the show - 80's, 90's, and 00's.

I hope Kathy's only involvement with Phil is through Ben. I hope they don't try to re-do Sharongrate in reserve (and without Grant). Sharon and Phil should end their relationship for natural reasons instead of an affair. Kathy should be primarily involved with Ian and Ben. I wonder how she and Sharon will get along. If I remember correctly, they were on their way to rebuilding their friendship in 1995 shortly before Sharon left, but it was never 100% again. And of course, they haven't seen one another since 1995! I hope with time they remember they actually knew one another before the Mitchell's and Kathy and Angie were best friends and Sharon is one of Ian's ONLY friends. It's just too damn bad that Pat is no longer with us. I would love to see her with Kathy and Sharon again, and she would have been a wonderful comfort to Ian during this Lucy storyline.

I liked Tamzin, she always seemed like a class act. Mel just got such a huge push in that era, I often wondered what Matthew Robinson and John Yorke were so fascinated about. There was never any depth to that character. She left at the right time though, and she wasn't pushed as much by the end of her run when the Slater's had started dominating airtime.

Oh god, I always hated Mel with a fiery passion, even though the 1998-2002 era is very close to my hear for several reasons. The Mark Jr. stuff is better left untold as Sue Tully and Ross Kemp will never return. That story just can't happen without those two. I don't think I could ever accept anyone other than Sue as Michelle. Sue and the character are too ingrained with the first decade of the show for me.

I know they tried for years to get Anita back on the show (but she always refused). Barbara Windsor herself also tried to talk her into it (Babs and Anita are good friends), but Anita has always said that era of her life is over. They only killed her off due to that. I think John Yorke almost got her back on the show when Sharon came back in 2001, but Anita backed out and they later killed Angie.

I've heard that Peter Dean wasn't liked by much of the cast and production staff. I wonder what the real story with him was.

For anyone who didn't want to search though the EE Live Backstage clip, here is the trailer alone of upcoming scenes: Tons of sh!t with the Carter's obviously, but I'm mostly interested in the other stuff - Peter/Lauren's goodbye, Sharon's bio family, Sharon trying to help Dot, and the Harry revisitation with Kat (as I hope this is a fully realized and character-driven story for her finally). I'm guessing Kat refuses to initially participate in a case against Harry when one of his other victims pops up, and Linda finds out and tries to project her own insecurities about her own rape on to Kat, which causes the fight in the Vic.

Yeah, Adam posted that message on Twitter too. https://twitter.com/AdamWoodyatt/status/568856378917433345

So Corrie and Emmerdale sent flowers, how nice. https://twitter.com/dominictc/status/567661525679489024/photo/1 https://twitter.com/bbceastenders/status/568843888162680832/photo/1

If Lauren has unisex twins, they'll probably be named Bradley and Lucy. Cursed kids.

I know Elsie is regarded as the first "tart with a heart" in British soap, and Bet certainly followed in that heritage. However, I think Bet's character traits and development has had a massive influence in the tart with a heart character archetype. For example, I think Pat and Kat from EastEnders were heavily constructed in the same vein as Bet, even if they have their distinct differences.

I wonder if Lauren will have twins to carry on the Beale tradition...

I <3 Bet. One of the few soap characters I think that has worked well with both camp and serious drama.