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http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/The-Papers---National-Newspaper-Front-Pages-On-Saturday-April-17-2010/Media-Gallery/201004315606027?lpos=UK_News_Left_Promo_Region_0&lid=GALLERY_15606027_The_Papers_-_National_Newspaper_Front_Pages_On_Saturday_April_17%2C_2010

Edited April 16, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I don't think Eastenders' dropping rating for Thursday is a huge deal, especially with the repeat figure, but I was still surprised that Emmerdale beat it in their timeslot, especially since Emmerdale was having a regular episode. I think that the BBC should take that as a little wakeup call, not about Emmerdale being a threat (it isn't), but about the quality of the show. The episodes of the past months have been rotgut.

Charlie's death (if this happens) is going to devastate Stacey in her already fragile state of mind, but I guess it can be the catalyst to bring Kate and thus Alfie back to the show.

I don't think Stacey cares enough about Charlie to be devastated. I think she will be upset but will keep herself together. My guess is Jean will be the one who falls apart. She smiled through Bradley's death, but Charlie is someone she spends most of her time with and he's also a reminder of her late husband. If they keep in with Jean's history, I think this is going to be a horrible blow to her.

I think getting rid of Charlie is a mistake. He had a nice relationship with Kat and Kat is going to need those ties because she has few real relationships with anyone left on the show. He also helped keep the Slaters together. I would have written out Big Mo.

As for the rest...Minty is finally going to f*ck off! Woohoo!!! :D :D

Edited April 16, 201015 yr by CarlD2

This is supposedly just the beginning. Well, at least, it's nice they've noticed that there's too much dead weight on this show.

Hopefully, Kat has some nice goodbye scenes with Charlie, if she comes back during that time.

As for future firings...I think Perry Fenwick's very shapely backside should be worried. The E20 people are fodder, but I would guess he isn't being allowed to fire them, even if he wanted to, since the BBC is trying to use this for some type of synergy or whatever to build up E20. The woman who plays Denise must also be very worried. I actually hope they keep her and just build her up as a single woman picking up the pieces of her life, as the actress is wonderful and has never had a real opportunity to show this.

I wonder if they'll be bringing in some new characters. But we haven't heard anything about Kirkwood bringing on new characters other than Zoe Lucker's Vanessa.

They probably are bringing in new characters. I think that the show needs them but they also need to help a lot of the people currently on the show. So many of the characters on there are so one-dimensional and plot-driven and confusing, they need to be better defined.

I think the show will be changing and going in a new direction, with news of these sudden axings. I didn't think so before since everyone is still praising the show, but I think Kirkwood has come in with some type of strong vision and its ready to implement it.

I think the show will be changing and going in a new direction, with news of these sudden axings. I didn't think so before since everyone is still praising the show, but I think Kirkwood has come in with some type of strong vision and its ready to implement it.

Most of these firings are fringe characters, so I'm not sure what's going to happen. If he was firing Roxy (if only), then I'd think there were big changes ahead, but most of these characters were the low-hanging fruit.

Yeah, but I don't think Roxy was ever considered a filler character. She's supposed to be still be "popular." LOL!

The show has a lot of filler characters, but this batch is supposed to be just the beginning of a cull, so more could still be on the way. There could also be some "popular" characters in the next batch, who knows.

I'm surprised Danny will axed so soon. I actually expected him on the show for some time more. LOL!

Edited April 16, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Yeah, but I don't think Roxy was ever considered a filler character. She's supposed to be still be "popular." LOL!

The show has a lot of filler characters, but this batch is supposed to be just the beginning of a cull, so more could still be on the way. There could also be some "popular" characters in the next batch, who knows.

Yeah, I meant if Roxy was being fired then I would think we were getting big changes. That's what the show seriously needs. If I heard that Roxy, Tanya, and Jack were all going, then I'd get very happy and sure that big, needed changes were on the way.

I do think we'll get some more firings but it may just be E20 people, or Denise and Lucas, or Syed, or Darren.

I'm going to keep hope alive about Roxy though.

I'm surprised Danny will axed so soon. I actually expected him on the show for some time more. LOL!

I think they may have had some future plans for him, either as an Archie figure or redeeming himself and turning against Glenda, but the actor is just SO awful. I still think Santer only hired him because they have similar hair. That he is going gives me a little more hope that EE will start casting better young men in major roles. No more wet-eyed, wimpy types.

Edited April 16, 201015 yr by CarlD2

Why do you hate Tanya so much, Carl? I actually really like Jo Joyner, which helps me like Tanya.

Why do you hate Tanya so much, Carl? I actually really like Jo Joyner, which helps me like Tanya.

I never got over her behavior in 2008. Burying Max alive, endangering herself and her family by manipulating psychotic killer Sean Slater, shacking up with Jack and putting him above everyone else in her life, including her very confused kids. Then he dumped her ass and showed just how stupid it was to jump into a relationship with him. Throughout all of this selfish, unpleasant stuff, she constantly acted like she was the injured party.

She has little connection to anyone on the show, aside from Jane and Max, and they have ruined her relationship with Max with the burying alive and with the endless "Poor Tanya has to put up with Max and his schemes." The debt collection story was just stupid -- they could have said her sister Rainie had overdosed and Tanya had to go take care of her. Instead, Tanya not only skipped town again and found a rebound man yet again, she was so cold that she tried to stop her kids from showing up at their brother's funeral, then sat out in the car waiting instead of paying her respects.

What is there for her when she comes back? If it's another round of noble Tanya, how will she put up with her worthless husband, then I say no thanks.

Edited April 17, 201015 yr by CarlD2

With quotes from three of the fired actors:

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a214903/six-characters-to-leave-eastenders.html

Six characters to leave 'EastEnders'

Friday, April 16 2010, 7:27pm EDT

By Kris Green, Soaps Editor

Six characters to leave 'EastEnders'

Six cast members are to leave BBC soap EastEnders in the coming months, Digital Spy can confirm.

Derek Martin, who has played Slater stalwart Charlie for a decade, will bow out later this year, while Cliff Parisi's role as unlucky-in-love mechanic Minty Peterson will also come to an end after eight years under new producer Bryan Kirkwood.

Relative soap newcomer Liam Bergin's exit storyline is currently being penned as his alter ego Danny Mitchell's scheming ways are expected to reach a climax over the following months.

Speaking of his departure, Bergin said: "I've had a great six months working on EastEnders playing Danny. He has been a great character to play and without giving too much away, he's sure to ruffle a few feathers before he leaves Walford."

He continued: "Working alongside Barbara [Windsor], Sam [Womack], Rita [simons] and Steve [McFadden] has been a real pleasure and I will enjoy watching what the Mitchells get up to as a viewer."

Meanwhile, Owen Turner's mother Liz - played by Kate Williams - will also film her final scenes later this year and is expected to depart in a storyline connected with her son Owen's murderer Lucas.

In addition, 20-year-old Belinda Owusu - Libby Fox in the programme - is due to depart at the end of her current contract. She said: "I've had a great time playing Libby but I agree with Bryan that after four years of great storylines, it is now time for Libby to move on. EastEnders was my first real job and I have learnt so much but I am now really looking forward to trying new roles."

David Proud, who became EastEnders' first ever disabled character in June, will further be written out.

Of his time filming with the serial, Proud said: "I have had a wonderful time at EastEnders and loved every minute of it over the last year. It has been fantastic to play such a complex character like Adam. I have made some great friends amongst the cast and crew and wish the show all the best for future."

At the beginning of the month, Chelsea Fox actress Tiana Benjamin revealed her intention to leave after four years in a bid to pursue other projects. Preeya Kalidas will make her screen exit in a fortnight's time, while Barbara Windsor is due to film her final scenes as matriarch Peggy Mitchell in July.

A show insider told DS: "It's sad to see characters leave the Square but obviously when a new executive producer like Bryan Kirkwood comes on board, they're always keen to refresh the show and make some changes."

They added: "It's the way soaps work - characters run their course and new characters come along."

Since his arrival, Kirkwood successfully managed to lure back Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie as Kat and Alfie Moon, while also casting former Footballers' Wives actress Zoe Lucker as Max Branning's new love interest Vanessa.

There's also speculation that a new family may be brought in. I think that could be a good thing, since the show seems overrun with Mitchells and Branning/Jacksons right now.

I'd rather they wait until they fix the families and characters they have left. The Mitchells are very badly damaged and played out and the Brannings still have some potential but have been waylaid by Santer rarely bothering to write them as a family, and by bad casting (Scott Maslen, Devon Anderson). The Masoods are the only successful new family the show has had since the Slaters, but they were damaged by Syed's arrival and the loss of Shabnam.

Once some of this is sorted out a new family would be good. The Slaters worked because they were a contrast to existing characters. These days the show doesn't really have that existing character base.

Edited April 17, 201015 yr by CarlD2