Heather's probably still around because she's Shirley's only real friend. As long as they keep her as a secondary supporting character, she can be tolerable.

Some are saying that an American boyfriend may follow Lauren back to Walford for a bit...

Also, I hear Melissa's last episode as Lucy is this Friday (or next Friday if I mis-read it), and her last scenes are with Peter.

Yeah, it was the lack of character connections which did Minty in more than anything else. I think Heather could also go but I did like her scene with Abi a few days ago. I think they just need to grow her up a bit. I don't think anything could be done with Minty.

I actually think that they could have done something with Garry if they'd tried -- he was a good character in his first 3-4 years. He'd probably still be on the show if not for Kara Tointon being fired. I guess if it got worthless Dawn off the show for good then it was worth it.

I'm surprised they don't have Melissa there for the reveal of Lucy's abortion but I guess they were in a hurry.

I always liked Gary with the Slater's in those early years. He and Kat had a interesting dynamic.

I thought that Gary was decent enough when he was with Lynn, but he should have gone when their relationship was over.

I actually think that they could have done something with Garry if they'd tried -- he was a good character in his first 3-4 years. He'd probably still be on the show if not for Kara Tointon being fired. I guess if it got worthless Dawn off the show for good then it was worth it.

I didn't realize that Kara Tointon was fired. EE seemed enthralled by her, seeing her as the hottest woman to walk the planet.

Edited August 23, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

They did seem enthralled by her, and bizarrely enough said she was the new Pauline Fowler (sorry but Pauline didn't dump her children off on anyone and everyone). The rumor was that she was fired because on what was rumored to be her official Facebook or Myspace or whatever, she spoiled Danielle's death months before the storyline aired.

Kara was very pretty, but that's all there was to her and Dawn. I think the only reason they kept her as long as they did was because of her looks, and let's face it, the show isn't exactly known for its eye candy.

Edited August 23, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Kara was very pretty, but that's all there was to her and Dawn. I think the only reason they kept her as long as they did was because of her looks, and let's face it, the show isn't exactly known for its eye candy.

It actually makes me feel better about myself, knowing I'm not that shallow.

I always thought they wanted Dawn as their next big "tart with a heart" but she never had the skills to pull that off and the character was way too isolated and girly.

She was also another one who had an awful voice and I think she kept trying to put on a fake accent.

The character was just nasty and unpleasant. I will never forget her having a meltdown because her latest meal ticket Jase spent money to replace his son Jay's rotting trainers.

The rumor was that she was fired because on what was rumored to be her official Facebook or Myspace or whatever, she spoiled Danielle's death months before the storyline aired.

This doesn't seem like a reason to fire her. Something else must have happened.

Edited August 23, 201015 yr by Ann_SS

She was hardly active on the show during her last year or so. I think they just naturally ran out of ideas for her.

Because I mentioned it earlier, the special version of Julia's Theme used for Kathy in her 1998 exit:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6mDJ9f31us?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6mDJ9f31us?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6mDJ9f31us?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Edited August 23, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I don't remember that. It's kind of rock-ish. Interesting.

I always love the part where it builds and builds into the regular theme.

Heather's probably still around because she's Shirley's only real friend. As long as they keep her as a secondary supporting character, she can be tolerable.

It occurred to me that Shirley has been sidelined exactly because Heather is her only real friend. This may be one reason that Shirley has not been well used by the writers. She has not been integrated into friendships with the other important women characters like Jane, Zainab, Tanya, Denise, etc. She should be spending time with these women, not babysitting Heather.

She is friends and in that book club with Jane, Denise, and Zainab. They just rarely play her with them when she's all into Phil or Heather's latest problem.

I think Phil and the show's need to have her obsess over Phil (while also letting us see that Phil would never truly care for Shirley beyond just using her) was the real damage done to Shirley, although the endless Shirley/Heather "comedy" scenes in 2008 also got on my nerves. GEORGE MICHAEL...HEATHER EATS...HA HA HA.