I wonder if Kirkwood will give EastEnders an immediate overhaul when he gets there, kind of like what he did at Hollyoaks. By the sounds of it, EastEnders could sure use some type of overhauling.

Needs overhauling? Not according to the two people quoted by Sylph immediately above your post. Their comments jive with my feeling from reading the synopses that the show just needs some tweaking, not a big overhaul.

Ben, were you thinking of Kate Harwood maybe?

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by jfung79

Needs overhauling? Not according to the two people quoted by Sylph immediately above your post. Their comments jive with my feeling from reading the synopses that the show just needs some tweaking, not a big overhaul.

I meant in the way stories are crafted, the types of stories being told, and in the the way they're executed, which seems to be a big problem with EE these days.

Usually when a new producer comes in at one of the Brit soaps, there's always some overhauling though. I don't expect this transition to be any different, especially with Kirkwood.

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I meant in the way stories are crafted, the types of stories being told, and in the the way they're executed, which seems to be a big problem with EE these days.

Ah, I see. Yeah, execution (pacing, setup, interweaving/integration, physical affection shown) seems to be the main problem that is coming up in the disgruntled comments people are making in this thread. That's probably why I can't tell from just reading episode synopses - from a removed, summary level, the stories seem fine.

Usually when a new producer comes in at one of the Brit soaps, there's always some overhauling though. I don't expect this transition to be any different, especially with Kirkwood.

Oh wow, really? I never noticed before. EastEnders transitions of producers seemed to flow so smoothly when I was a regular viewer in the 90s-early 2000s. Then five years later, you could look back and go OMG half the cast has changed, but it was never jarring on screen. I hope this transition can be just as smooth.

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by jfung79

Seeing as my name was mentioned, and I've been looking for a reason to post after merely being a lurker for the best part of the year, I thought I would comment on this.

I think it goes without saying that I did NOT see this coming. If there was ever a show Bryan Kirkwood was 'destined' to write for, it was Coronation Street. Then again, Maria Arena Bell wasn't supposed to be the Big Bad Wolf, so nothing can be taken for granted.

This is possibly the biggest challenge of Bryan Kirkwood's producing career. With all due respect to Hollyoaks (which has, for the record, declined massively since Lucy Allan has taken the helm), Eastenders is a much bigger soap. Not only that, it is an institution, as much a part of the British psyche as The Queen, Wimbledon and the Teletubbies (I hope you can all appreciate how legendary the latter truly is).

It is also a machine, one that is not easy to mould or manipulate in the same way Hollyoaks was. Bryan Kirkwood will not be able to stylise the show, add music or incorporate the quirks he did with Hollyoaks. Musical scores are virtually non-existent and the tone of the show, whilst gritty is not dark in the same way Hollyoaks.

His success on Eastenders will depend almost soley on his storytelling. I've waxed lyrical since 2006 about his abilty to tell stories, and whilst the run-up to his departure didn't tally with the rest of his tenure, his time on Hollyoaks has shown his ability to craft stories and create interesting characters.

Obviously he will be working within stricter parameters and a firmer production frame, but if his creative ability has been refined and improved since he became an executive, then this gig should establish Bryan Kirkwood as a production heavyweight. One that will allow him to break free of the 'Hollyoaks Man' shackle he undoubtedly has.

It is also a machine, one that is not easy to mould or manipulate in the same way Hollyoaks was. Bryan Kirkwood will not be able to stylise the show, add music or incorporate the quirks he did with Hollyoaks. Musical scores are virtually non-existent and the tone of the show, whilst gritty is not dark in the same way Hollyoaks.

That's a good point.

Eastenders is gritty in the sense that characters are often miserable but it's more where you can see it's just for drama. Everything is very safe, very cozy. The Jackson kids always look like stage actors who are told to pout on cue -- you'd never believe they're struggling for money, or from lack of a father. You know the Mitchells will never seriously be affected by their problems, you know Stacey will come in and out of sanity depending on the plot. The bad characters tend to be more sleek now, like an Archie, or even an Owen or a Lucas. The days of characters like Donna, slowly sinking into the depths, you wouldn't have that now, because of complaints. You'd certainly NEVER have a story like they had on Hollyoaks with Jack Osborne being so overcome by debt that he faked his death, ending in him being sent to prison. That was unremittent darkness and it destroyed the character.

I do think there is more room for some darkness. The way it is now, the show is so obvious in wanting it both ways. Bury Max alive? That's OK, just send him away so we can't see his devastating psychological damage. Kill off Ronnie's daughter? That's OK, edit out any talk of her suicidal thoughts and just focus on her being a crazy baby-obsessed lady.

Probably the one who reminds me most of the old days of EE is Jean Slater. That ugly rant she threw at Charlie after he told her he was sick of hearing about her and Stacey was magnificent.

The change will be a big adjustment and I'm not sure if Kirkwood's up to it but I think a lot of the stuff he did at Hollyoaks in terms of montages and music was already part of Hollyoaks before he arrived.

I do think there is more room for some darkness.

Who wants darkness?

Who wants darkness?

That's always been a part of EE. Even now they do dark stories, they just end up skirting the surface, which I think leaves an empty feeling.

If they're going to do them I think they should get the most possible mileage out of them. It doesn't have to be like what Kirkwood did at Hollyoaks, with the long, depressing Niall storyline, or the Osborne debt story, but there's a way to make people feel moved, instead of just hoping they'll forget.

That's always been a part of EE. Even now they do dark stories, they just end up skirting the surface, which I think leaves an empty feeling.

If they're going to do them I think they should get the most possible mileage out of them. It doesn't have to be like what Kirkwood did at Hollyoaks, with the long, depressing Niall storyline, or the Osborne debt story, but there's a way to make people feel moved, instead of just hoping they'll forget.

That might be true, but every time EastEnders went dark, they were simply - an awful soap. Every dark tale had tonnes of criticism and generally the viewership decreased.

That might be true, but every time EastEnders went dark, they were simply - an awful soap. Every dark tale had tonnes of criticism and generally the viewership decreased.

I think it depends on the handling. The first 3-4 years were quite dark and the ratings were great. They hit a rough patch when they started to become more lighthearted. I think the problem with darkness now is it does not feel organic, it's just there for the sake of it.

This is from the Mirror, so take it with a grain of salt...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/11/03/enders-boss-could-cheer-up-walford-115875-21793893/

Bryan Kirkwood, a former Coronation Street writer, will take the reins at Albert Square and insiders claim he'll be injecting some muchneeded humour into Walford.

Most of his time at Corrie wasn't exactly known for comedy. There were very very dramatic, hard-hitting storylines. But if this means the level of comedy will go above "Look at how fat Heather is," yay.

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by CarlD2

Someone at The Mirror invented it.

Based on reading some comment on some soap message board how Kirkwood's HO had humour. Or something.

Yeah, maybe they'll be more comedic situations, but I think Kirkwood will still be doing mostly hard-hitting dramatic storylines. The comedy will probably be more apparent, yet very low key.

I have faith he's smart enough to know that EastEnders isn't Hollyoaks or Corrie.

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

<p><span style="font-size:19.5pt;"><font face="Verdana">In Profile: Diederick Santer</font></span>

<span style="font-size:7.5pt;"><b><font face="Tahoma">Written by John Mason</font></b></span>

<span style="font-size:9pt;"><font face="Verdana">Following the news that EastEnders Executive Producer Diederick Santer is to step down from the role in the new year and hand over the EastEnders reins to former Hollyoaks supremo Bryan Kirkwood, ATV News takes an in profile look at the man who has been responsible for some of EastEnders most successful and controversial storylines...

Early Career

Diederick became EastEnders head honcho in October 2006 but what did the man do before he took over one of Britain's top television series? Diederick Santer graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in Psychology and the History of Philosophy of Science.

His TV Career began ten years prior to his EastEnders appointment in 1996 when he became a freelance script reader for United Productions. After that he took up the role of Script Editor on the first two series of hit ITV drama Where The Heart Is. Following this Diederick moved to Granada where he continued to script-edit working on series such as A&E and The Last Train.

Joining The BBC

He joined BBC Drama production at the turn of the century where he produced the first three series of hit hairdressing drama Cutting It. He continued his producing career at the BBC by producing The Taming Of The Shrew and the Bafta-nominated Much Ado About Nothing for BBC One. In 2006 his lavish production of Jane Eyre proved a hit with critics and viewers alike.

In October 2006, Diederick became Executive Producer of EastEnders and gained a place on the board of BBC Drama Production. His first credited EastEnders episode was 5th January 2007.

EastEnders

Taking over the BBC's biggest show must surely be a daunting task but Diederick is one man who rose to the challenge. Shortly after he joined the soap casting was announced on two new Asian characters who would later form part of a full Asian family. The Masood family have been one of the most successful additions to EastEnders with fans warming to the popular clan consisting of matriarch Zainab (Nina Wadia), father Masood (Nitin Ganatra), daughter Shabnam (Zahra Ahmadi) and son Tamwar (Himesh Patel). Although Ahmadi later quit the series the family were joined by estranged son Syed (Marc Elliott) in 2009. Two other hugely popular characters Diederick Santer introduced to EastEnders are sisters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell played by Samantha Janus and Rita Simons. A huge marketing campaign saw that their arrival was a hit with viewers and since then the pair have continued to remain popular with viewers and subsequently have remained right at the heart of the programme.

Not only has Diederick Santer introduced a string of highly successful new characters to the soap he has also revived several past ones securing the returns of hugely popular characters including Ricky and Janine Butcher and Bianca Jackson. From the new year they will be joined by other members of the Jackson clan Carol, Robbie, Sonia and Billy. He has also been responsible for the short term returns of Steven Beale, Clare Bates, Diane Butcher and Sam Mitchell. With the reintroduction of Sam Mitchell earlier this year the role was returned to the original actress Danniella Westbrook.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, the show began to have an increasing focus on the popular Branning family. Max and Tanya's turbulent relationship gripped the nation with storylines focusing on affairs, rivalry and even attempted murder more than once. Max's affair with daughter in law Stacey was one of the show's longest running storylines which built momentum over a full year. When the affair was finally revealed during the Christmas 2007 episode EastEnders was the most watched TV programme that year with over 14 million viewers tuning in for the fallout.

Under Diederick Santer EastEnders has remained dominant when it comes to Soap Awards picking up gongs on a regular basis. The show was named Best British Soap at the 2008 and 2009 British Soap Awards and Most Popular Soap at the National Television Awards in 2007 and 2008. Other awards include two TRIC awards for TV Soap Of The Year in 2008 and 2009 and Best British Soap at the Inside Soap Awards in 2008 and 2009. The show has also maintained healthy viewing figures gaining on ITV soap Coronation Street which had been clearly dominant in the ratings for several years prior to this.

Other storylines and episodes Diederick Santer's reign at EastEnders will remain notable for include soap's first single hander episode starring EastEnders veteran Dot Branning (June Brown) reflecting on her past and the future, a storyline featuring Ben Mitchell being tormented by his dad's new girlfriend Stella, a pedophilia storyline with the characters of Tony King and Whitney Dean, a violent attack on the Vic in 2007 and the story of Ronnie Mitchell's long lost daughter coming to Walford to find her mother and later being killed off. Additionally, Diederick also introduced a set of new opening and closing titles to the programme, initiated a production shuffle behind the scenes of the soap, produced EastEnders first real time episode, and introduced the show's first disabled character Adam Best (David Proud).

Although Santer's reign over EastEnders has been a successful one with a string of popular storylines the show has not been without controversy. Two stabbings, a gay kiss, tackling the taboo subject of pedophilia, a storyline involving a threatened home caesarian on one character and the death of character Danielle have all met with some controversy and a number of viewer complaints.

Diederick will leave his EastEnders post on February 20th following the show's 25th anniversary.

</font></span>

<span style="font-size:7.5pt;"><b><font face="Tahoma">http://www.atvnewsnetwork.co.uk/today/index.php/atv-today/1671-in-profile-diederick-santer-</font></b></span></p>

Edited November 3, 200916 yr by Sylph

ETA: Major storyline spoiler for Lucas/Denise/Owen.

'EastEnders' Lucas Johnson to kill again

EastEnders holier-than-thou priest Lucas Johnson is to commit murder at the end of the month when he kills his fiancée's ex-husband Owen Turner.

In a one-hour episode, Lucas - played by Babyfather actor Don Gilet - reaches boiling point with Owen (Lee Ross) on his wedding day to Denise (Diane Parish) as Owen continues to push for the truth about Trina's (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) death.

On the eve of Lucas's nuptials, Owen realises the true extent of Lucas's involvement in his ex-wife's demise and confronts Walford's man of the cloth with his beliefs. However, concerned that his web of lies is about to untangle, Lucas tries to force Owen out of Walford.

Despite his attempts to remain calm, Lucas snaps and ends Owen's life to ensure his sins remain a secret.

In an ironic twist to the tale, Lucas then decides to bury Owen's body under Trina's memorial tree in the Square.

A show source told DS: "Lucas realises that his game's nearly up and panic-stricken, he lunges at Owen and takes his life so he can't tell anyone else that he covered what actually happened when Trina died."

So much for all that potential...

Ben, were you thinking of Kate Harwood maybe?

I realize I got confused between the three. It's been a while since I've read that blog (even though I posted it the other day).

Edited November 6, 200916 yr by Ben