EastEnders: Discussion Thread

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Is the mother going to be a full time character? Rainie is always used for short stints, but I'm guessing this will be a slightly longer stint for her.

[DRW50]

Probably not, but it's just something I am interested in seeing more of on soaps.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

BBC3 is doing a Revealed episode on Whitney's storyline.

This Tuesday, from 8pm on BBC3 featuring interviews from Shona McGarty, Lindsey Coulson, Neil McDermott and other cast members.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ztfpq

[dannigold]

Some spoilers from Bryan

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a310381/enders-boss-teases-max-tanya-changes.html

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a310408/eastenders-exec-wants-fun-for-janine.html

[DRW50]

Tanya is NOT Angie. Tanya would turn her nose up at Angie and Angie would throw a drink in that smug face. I guess my time enjoying Max will be winding down.

I wonder who Heather's boyfriend will be. Probably someone like Patrick.

[All My Shadows]

Eww, I hope not. I'm a month behind and I just watched the episode where Patrick called her his "favorite girl," and I kind of smiled inside at their sort of father/daughter relationship. The show needs to not go there.

[dannigold]

More spoilers from Bryan

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a310472/roxy-michael-troubles-ahead-on-eastenders.html

Edited March 22, 2011 by dannigold

[Bright Eyes]

Fast forward.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Charlotte at Walford Web said that Kirkwood was asked in Inside Soap yesterday about the possibility of bringing Sharon back.

He said with Ronnie leaving, "There is certainly a tragic heroine shaped role just waiting to be filled."

Don't know if that's just a tease and nothing will come out of it or if he's seriously considering it. But please, Sharon is more than just an average "tragic heroine." A lot of tragic stuff happened in her life yes, but she's managed to transcend a lot of it. Plus she has strong relationships with Phil, Ian, Pat, etc, and seeing her as mother would bring a newer element to the character.

They can even explore Sharon's biological family again, and recast Vicki while they're at it. Too bad Michelle will never be coming back since Sue Tully is done with acting.

[DRW50]

It sounds to me like she's still not coming back and that was just lip service.

Did he really call Phil and Shirley the king and queen of Walford?

[dannigold]

This is what Bryan said

Q Will the Mitchell family stay at the centre of the action in Albert Square?

"Of course! The Mitchell's are absolutely key to EastEnders, and I'm very pleased with the way they've evolved as a clan since Peggy's departure. It's given Phil a new lease of life - he's now king of the square rather than a slightly weird son who lives with his mum! with King Phil and Queen Shirley and the two brilliant boys, Jay and Ben, we now have material for years and years to come."

Q I've noticed Janine and Max have chemistry - would they ever get together?

" I clocked their scenes at Christmas too - the ones about the recording of Stacey Branning - and thought, 'Hello'. Janine and Max are both brilliant characters and not dissimilar, so sparks would fly if they got together. There are no plans for them to be paired up, but you never know in Walford. After the stories she's had lately, it's time for Janine to have some fun, I think. We've got Margaret Tyzack with us now, filming her first scenes as Janine's wicked granny Lydia Simmonds. I reckon it's a meeting of the minds - and a glimpse into the future for Janine!"

Q Could Yesef turn out to be Syed's dad in the end?

" That's a good question! it's no secret Yusef was around before Massood was on the scene - and I think the fact that Zainab is such a hypocrite makes her very interesting. Yusef is a charcter who brings an enigmatic quality both to the show and the family - and all the Massood's will feel his presence in the months to come."

Q Will Syed's ex Amira ever return?

" Well Christian and Syed have recently embarked on a mission to have a child, and Amira's out there with Syed's baby - so the possibilities are there."

Q Will Sharon Rickman ever be back in the square?

" I think Letitia Dean, who played Sharon, is one of the true icons of EastEnders. And with Samantha Womack departing, there's certainly a tragic heroine - shaped hole that's waiting to be filled."

Q I love fatboy! Do you guys love him as well?

" Yes! What I love most about him is that he's just a decent suburban lad behind the 'rude boy' exterior. When Ricky Norwood started with us, I was stunned at the vitriol he recieved - we were inundated with complaints. But all the big charcters in soap history - such as the Slater's and Corrie's Battersbys - have had that initial reaction, so I was quietly confident that the audience would learn to love Fatboy. There's a proper love story on the way for him that will pull at the viewer's heart strings too."

Q Do you use audience feedback to help you decide how plots should develop?

" We're always listening to the audience opinion at EastEnders. We've got to trust our instincts, but we'll respond to whether a story is working or an actor is going down well or not. Fatboy is an interesting example - we stuck to our belief that we were right and that the audience would eventually love him. With the baby - swap story, we were surprised by the reaction - and I think we were right to make the changes that we have.

Q Will Hev ever find a decent fella?

" Heather will find love with a mystery man whose identity will shock everyone! You might even know him already.

Q Do actors ever contribute to their plots, and has anyone ever been unhappy with a particular storyline they've been given?

" We have a very talented story team at EastEnders that leads the process. But actors know their characters better than anyone, and I'm always open to suggestions from them."

Q Would you ever change the themne tune?

" No, absolutely not - EastEnders has the best theme tune on telly! it was changed disastrously in 1993 and became a bit jazzy. But it was swiftly changed back and is going to remain as it is."

Q Roxy seems very taken with Michael - but is it a romance she'll soon regret?

"Michael bears a startling resemblance to Roxy's late dad Archie in the way he approaches life and treats people. Roxy's a little girl lost and Michael could be the worst possible man for her. But how long will it take her to realise that?"

Edited March 24, 2011 by dannigold

[Bright Eyes]

[Heather Chandler] Well, [!@#$%^&*] me gently with a chainsaw. [/Heather Chandler]

[DRW50]

Thanks.

I don't buy Phil as king of the square, but then, this isn't new, and I will have to keep putting up with it. I do wonder why they did the crack story as Phil is back to his usual self.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I would think there was more of a possibility of Yesef being Shabnam's father rather than Syed's...

Didn't they actually hint at one point that Shabnam may not be Masood's daughter? Then the actress left...

Edited March 23, 2011 by Y&RWorldTurner

[dannigold]

I have finally seen the rest of Bryan's interview, and have added it to my earlier post.

Edited March 24, 2011 by dannigold