EastEnders: Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

Well, this is...quite something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVv886iunVg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfz_dL6VWw&feature=channel&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=593mr-Al2Ac&feature=channel&list=UL

I didn't realize they brought Frank back for this.

Oof, Jill Halfpenny is no Karen Carpenter.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

EastEndersonTV also posted this UK Gold special on the Mitchell Brothers hosted by Kim Medcalf.

A fairly good special, and I know how much you like the Mitchell's, Carl.

Tony Jordan says Sharongate was planned from the beginning, they always had that story in mind for Sharon, Grant, and Phil.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SilDxRI0C2I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited June 27, 2012 by Y&RWorldTurner

[DRW50]

I guess this was done when Phil and Grant were both off the show.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I think it was done during the time Grant briefly returned in 2006.

Edited June 27, 2012 by Y&RWorldTurner

[DRW50]

OK, thanks. They had so many of these (I know they had the Phil/Grant flashback video).

If Ross Kemp ever did come back, would you want to see Grant/Sharon again?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I think it would be partly inevitable, since Grant's love for Sharon and the way their marriage turned out was such a vital part of his character and he never got over her. Even when she was off the show in the late 90's, Grant was still in love with her.

I think Sharon moved past the Mitchell's in a way though, but I never thought she loved Phil in the same way she once loved Grant. I just think she felt more comfortable with Phil, if that makes any sense.

I don't think Ross would ever come back though, not unless the show was ending or something. I do really think Grant is better left in the 90's if his 2005 and 2006 stints were any indication...

I do think if the show ever ended and Ross came back, they would pair Grant and Sharon again and have them in the Vic. Sharon is the "link" character between the show's two biggest eras (Den & Angie era and the Mictchell era). Really, she was vital in the show's transition and survival in the early 90's after a lot had changed.

[dannigold]

Lorraine Newman is to take on the role of EastEnders executive producer in a permanent capacity with immediate effect.

John Yorke, Controller, BBC Drama Production and New Talent, says: “Over the last few months Lorraine Newman has steered the show through a period of considerable change, and she’s done an amazing job positioning the show for one of the most exciting autumns I can remember.

"Lorraine has been part of EastEnders for nearly 20 years, and is the first Executive Producer to have occupied every editorial role on the show. Starting as a script secretary she has risen through the ranks, finding herself as Series Producer and second in command for the last seven years. With her depth of experience, her passion for the programme and her commitment to talent on-screen and off, she’s the perfect person to take EastEnders forward.”

Lorraine Newman says of her appointment: "It is an absolute honour to be taking on the role of Executive Producer at EastEnders on a permanent basis. My passion for EastEnders was ignited during my first stint on the show as Script Secretary at the age of 19 and this passion has continued to grow ever since.

"I am looking forward to leading a talented creative team, cast and crew into 2013."

Edited June 27, 2012 by dannigold

[Ben]

For anyone who's interested, Inside Soap also had a 20 craziest moments section. (Which has way too much EE related stuff - this magazine doesn't know the definition of *variety* any more.)

1992: EE - Walford gardener Arthur Fowler became TV's most unlikely sex object when he fell under the spell of Mrs. Hewitt. You could have knocked us down with a heavy-bottomed frying-pan!

1993: Corrie - Ken Barlow quenched Raquel Wolstenhulme's desire to learn French. "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?" she asked, guilelessly. Ken flushed a lovely shade of rouge.

1994: Corrie - Deirdre Barlow went all Shirley Valentine and bagged herself a toy-boy hubby in Morocco. Best of all - he genuinely loved her. Pity about the tragic ending!

1995: EE - Sworn enemies Grant Mitchell and Michelle Fowler copped off on the floor of the Queen Vic. Of course, Michelle had form in that area. Almost to the square yard, in fact.

1996: Neighbours - Philip Martin was revealed to be writing novels as 'Philippa Martinez'. No-one guessed he was the literary genius hiding behind that most cunning pseudonym!

1997: EE - We met Pauline Fowler's brand-new Irish relatives on the most misjudged foreign jaunt of any soap. (This was during one of EastEnders' crackpot periods that come round every six years or so.)

1998: Sunset Beach brought evil twins, cursed jewels, and an earthquake-tsunami-shipwreck triple-whammy disaster... Emmerdale needs a bit more of that, we reckon!

1999: Corrie - On losing his job as a teacher, Ken Barlow tried a variety of careers, such as supermarket trolley warden, and um... male escort. But when he went on his first paid-for date, the poor lady dropped dead!

2000: EE - Pat Butcher got the shock of her life when she opened her front door one night. Revealed was her ex-hubby Frank wearing nothing more than a spinning bow tie and a cheeky grin. One of soap's truly iconic comedy moments!

2001: Midlands-set soap Crossroads was dragged back from the dead, but struggled to find an audience. It all turned out to be Jane Asher's dream - which was a surprise to say the least. We'd have expected more fairy cakes.

2002: EE - What could be grubbier than Ian Beale hiring a lady of the night? That would be Ian Beale hiring cocaine-addled Janine Butcher for afternoon romps in a filthy bedsit. Oh, the horror!

2003: Home and Away delivered its most shocking twist, when long-dead Alisa suddenly turned up in Alf's kitchen! It became clear only he could she her, so was this an actual ghost? Alas no - she was just a bizarre side effect of Alf's brain tumour.

2004: Emmerdale - When Victoria Sugdan found brother Robert up to no good, he said that if she told, there'd be serious trouble - so she went entirely mute. The genius twist came when Diane coaxed Victoria into speaking via a creepy ventriloquist's dummy!

2005: Corrie - Gandalf himself, Sir Ian McKellen, rocked up on the cobbles in the guise of con man Mel Hutchwright. It was Sir Ian's greatest acting dream come true - and a wonderful treat for us!

2006: Emmerdale - Dales oddball Noreen Bell, a well-meaning nobody, died one of the all-time great soap deaths. She accidentally blew up the Kings' show home and was blasted to kingdom come. Her wig was later found in a tree.

2007: EE - We were too briefly thrilled by the suggestion that Cindy Beale hadn't died in prison, but was stalking Ian by email. Unfortunately, it turned out to be long-lost so Steven, back from New Zealand, and now a psycho bisexual.

2008: EE - Tanya Branning decided to teach husband Max a lession by burying him alive. As you do. We didn't believe it for a millisecond - but we still loved it!

2009: Hollyoaks scored an international soap coup by staging TV's first-ever lesbian murder by skydive. Poor Sarah Barnes' gruesome exit was the ultimate in 'watch through your fingers' TV!

2010: Corrie - Dev's Uncle Umed fitted a novelty bell to the shop, which drove customers to distraction with a series of wildly inappropriate sound effects. It was one of the funniest things we've ever seen in Corrie, and we demand the bell's return! (Uncle Umed not so essential. Soz.)

2011: EE - "Bubbly in the fridge!" read Vanessa Gold, on a note left behind by Max - who'd just dumped her. "BUBBLY'S IN THE FRIDGE?!" she screamed, before ripping down the curtains. Pure soap gold.

2012: It's too early to tell what this year's favourite crazy twist will be, but the money so far is on Corrie and Mary Taylor's crush on Roy Cropper, or - in Walford - absolutely anything involving Sharon.

[DRW50]

[Bright Eyes]

Finished 1986 this afternoon and what a stupendous year it was. Probably the best year the show ever had. And the end of year cliffhanger was the PERFECT way to cap it all off. I'm going to take a bit of break from Walford before I get to downloading 1987, but the memories of the past year will keep me in soap opera heaven until I do.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I really liked having Diane back for the last couple of episodes.

Sophie Lawrence isn't a great actress or anything, but she's believable with Charlie and Sid.

It's interesting that besides Frank's funeral in 2008, she never acted with Charlie's Janine, but they have great sibling chemistry. I hope when Charlie and Sid come back from their breaks, the writers will have Diane make more regular visits.

[DRW50]

I didn't know that.

Is Ricky gone again?

What do you think of Kim and Ray?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Yes, Ricky is gone again. I don't know what game Sid is playing...

I don't really think much about Ray and Kim, they seem forced, but they really haven't been on that much recently.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

An era the show would like to forget....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/H33qf0YK-TE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0FqnWttVu38" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Bright Eyes]

One which they gladly do. They should have said the child Lou gave up was instead Albert's and the woman he had an affair with that Lou never knew about. It's this and the endless amounts of Lou's children that I just don't like.

Edited July 2, 2012 by Bright Eyes