:lol:

I wonder what Tanya will think of Vanessa when she returns...

Kirkwood has axed many useless characters, but so far, the only new characters he's created are Vanessa and her daughter, in addition to Kat and Alfie returning.

I wonder if we'll be getting anymore new characters or returns. It seems strange to axe so many people and not bringing in more people in their place. But maybe they're going after a smaller canvas? Santer seemed to keep everyone, no matter how useless they were.

Mercy's family is also supposed to show up soon, or at least her grandmother, recast from a bit part on E20.

I wonder if we'll be getting a new family somewhere along the line. It seems like a new family is the mark of almost every new producer...

Yeah, York had the Slaters.

Berridge had, what, the Millers, and the Ferrieras, and the modern version of the Watts.

Harwood brought in new extensions of the Brannings (which was something of a success) and the Wicks (generally a big flop).

Santer, how long did he wait until he brought in a new family, I guess it was until late 2007, with the Masoods. And then he basically rewrote the Mitchells to suit his purposes, or someone at the show did.

Kirkwood waited 4-5 months to start bringing in the McQueens and the Valentines, didn't he? I guess with so many cast departures he may have the luxury of not waiting as long this time around.

Edited May 25, 201015 yr by CarlD2

More photos of Vanessa/Vanessa & Max from Digital Spy:

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a221165/first-look-zoe-lucker-as-enders-vanessa-gold.html

First Look: Zöe Lucker as 'Enders Vanessa Gold

Tuesday, May 25 2010, 7:02pm EDT

By Kris Green, TV Editor

Hot off the press, here's your first look at former Footballers' Wives actress Zöe Lucker in her new role as EastEnders' Vanessa Gold.

Originally signed in March, Zöe joins the cast from next Friday (June 4) as Max Branning's new love interest. A prim and proper woman, Vanessa knows what she wants and how to get it - but she's not a manipulative bitch. Oh no she isn't.

She just knows how to use her wit and charm to ensure she snares whatever she sets her eyes on.

With her, she brings daughter Jodie - played by soap newcomer Kylie Babbington - who quickly becomes embroiled in a relationship with Max's right-hand man at the Car Lot, Darren Miller.

Edited May 25, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I thought The Wicks family in 06 were ok but when Kevin left i could see why Santer axed them.

Was The 07 rewrite of The Mitchells a bad thing. There material has been pretty good in the past few years.

The Wicks just seemed very poorly thought out and planned...

The Mitchell sisters could easily be written out and I don't think it would make much of a difference. I don't really think Ronnie and Roxy add that much to the show, or at least haven't since early 2008.

Ronnie and Roxy are both one-note characters, both very plot-driven, and they heavily rely on plot being churned out constantly, with no real effort to ever flesh them out. Santer or Treadwell Collins or whoever seemed very leery of actually giving any character any depth -- for the past few years it has been that same one note pounded again and again.

Ronnie is supposed to be the "serious" one but her stories have become so short-sighted and there seems to be little to do for her because they are running from actually exploring her. Roxy is the "fun" one but fun = SHOUTING EVERY LINE, and this "fun" character has often behaved monstrously, with no real fallout, ever.

There are a lot of characters over the past few years who could be easily written out, although I doubt they will be, since the show has managed to sell them as big stars.

I do think there's potential for Ronnie, mostly because of Sam Janus, if the show ever makes the effort.

These scenes have some very good, more subtle acting from Jessie Wallace, showing the more vulnerable side of Kat, and how her reputation haunts her. She tells Alfie, when they first start dating, about the number of men she's been with. Several days later, he falsely believes she slept with her ex, Anthony, and says as much to her at a fancy dinner, adding that if she hadn't slept with Anthony it would have been someone else. Kat tries to cover up how hurt she is by how he sees her, and thanking him for their time together, leaves the meal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Qx56LD4IY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuAfR3PRcZQ

OMG, I cannot wait for June 4th. Thanks for the pics, Y&R.

The costume sucks and there so much PhotoShop, you could drown in it, but I can't wait to see it.

I hope we see some good stuff before Treadwell-Collins gets to suffocate the character.

Kara Tointon & Joe Swash split:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1280597/EastEnders-lovers-Kara-Tointon-Joe-Swash-split-months-rows.html

Apparently, the Vanessa Gold character is Simon Ashdown's brainchild, so, I wonder if he'll see that much care is poured into her development. and Kirkwood did say he "loves" working with Ashdown.

Edited May 25, 201015 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Apparently, the Vanessa Gold character is Simon Ashdown's brainchild, so, I wonder if he'll see that much care is poured into her development. and Kirkwood did say he "loves" working with Ashdown.

EastEnders is like instant coffee: you put the powder in the cup, pour hot water over it and you're done. Unless Kirkwood changes the way things are done and brings someone else instead of Dominic. Which won't happen until Yorke says it needs to happen.

Apparently, the Vanessa Gold character is Simon Ashdown's brainchild, so, I wonder if he'll see that much care is poured into her development. and Kirkwood did say he "loves" working with Ashdown.

That's interesting. I know some fans have felt the show is now relying too much on Ashdown as many other strong writers like Phelps and Jordan have gone, as there were some views that the most recent "big" episodes he wrote, like the Stax two-hander and the Bianca/Ricky wedding, didn't live up to hype. It might be a good idea for them to give him more input with new characters like they are doing with Vanessa, especially since his favorite, Stacey is leaving. Isn't she his favorite?

It should be interesting to see how Dominic works with Kirkwood. They'll be a change in the way things play out on-screen, there always is.

Santer had many good qualities that I don't think people are keen to acknowledge often, but I never thought he properly understood story and how to craft serial drama. I think a lot of the story problems and failure of the basics were down to him during his tenure.