Eastenders runs on Dish Network as pay per view exclusively. It's 5 weeks behind.

Some PBS stations run it several years behind but not any PBS station anywhere I've ever lived. BBC Worldwide charges a fortune for it. Even the very wealthy Boston station which produces Masterpiece Theatre & Mystery refuses to pay the amount BBC Worldwide demands.

It's strange they charge so much for it to the US. In Australia it's on basic cable and has been for quite a few years.

Fantastic episode on Friday. The first in as long as I can remember that kept me gripped throughout whereas I'd usually do something else at the same time. The story with Tanya's sister is really gritty stuff and opens a whole can of worms. It turns out that they lived on a rough council estate. Rainie was a bright teenager destined for uni and then Tanya who dabbled in drugs got her involved too. "It's what every kid on the Ainsworth did." Also really interesting when Tanya tried to rationalise it -- "I never injected. I told you not to."

Lucy's new boyfriend is interesting. She's turning into a mini Cindy. A nice racial abuse plot bubbling along as well.

The story, as I heard it, was Doctor Who & Eastenders were 2 big hits & therefore big moneymakers for them. So they charged really high for both. This was well before the new Doctor Who showed up.

I also believe the reasons BBC America dropped EE had as much to do with the cost as ratings.

But they still have their hand in the pie somehow. When EE runs on Dish PPV there's a BBC America logo on the screen sometimes during the show which comes & goes.

For months the ratings of Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten have been declining - in 2003, more than 5 million people watched the soap every day; these days the average number of viewers is 3 million people. Die-hard fans are upset because the show has become unwatchable. A lesbian storyline between Paula (Josephine Schmidt) and Franzi (Jasmin Weber) was created to raise attention but both actresses expressed their aversion against lesbian love scenes openly in a newspaper article. Nevertheless the story will be carried out as planned. Meanwhile, two male cast members have been let go: Stefan König and Robert Lyons. König joined the cast in November 2005 in the recurring role of Sebastian Winter; last summer he was placed on contract but has seen limited airtime ever since. Lyons who is a native US-American joined GZSZ in January 2004. Both actors depart in September 2007.

Meanwhile, Sat1 announced that the telenovela Verliebt in Berlin will end its run in October 2007 after 2 1/2. Based on the hit "Betty La Fea" ("Ugly Betty"), the telenovela was launched in February 2005 and attracted more up to 5 million viewers - until lead actress Alexandra Neldel opted not to re-new her contract last summer. Two new main characters were created but both were not accepted by the audience.

Overview of cast changes on German daily soaps in 2007:

Alles was zählt

Sam Eisenstein as Marian Öztürk - former recurring character placed on contract as of 03/07

André Dietz as Ingo Zadek - former recurring character placed on contract as of 03/07

Norman Kalle as Oliver Sommer - new contract role, arrived 04/07

Juliette Menke as Lena Bergmann - new contract role, arrived 05/07

Susanne Schlenzig as Jutta Sommer - original cast member, gone as of 06/07

Jan Niklas Berg as Ben Roschinski - original cast member, gone as of 07/07

Igor Dolgatschew as Deniz Öztürk - new contract role, arrived 08/07

Rumoured out: Original cast members Armin Dallapiccola (Dieter Sommer) and Andreas Seyferth (Grandpa Lutz Reichert)

Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten

Nik Breidenbach as Alexander Cöster - new contract role, arrived 02/07

Kristin Meyer as Iris Cöster - new contract role, arrived 02/07

Hanne Wolharn as Senta Lemke - joined in 2000, gone as of 03/07

Klaus-Dieter Klebsch as Hannes Bachmann - joined in 2002, gone as of 03/07

Stefan König as Sebastian Winter - joined in 2005, gone as of 09/07

Robert Lyons as Vincent Buhr - joined in 2004, gone as of 09/07

Sarah Tkotsch as Lucy Cöster - new contract role, will arrive this fall

??? as Dominik Gundlach aka Felix Gerner - new contract role, possibly SORASed, will arrive this fall

Rumoured out: Josephine Schmidt as Paula Rapf (2002-present), recast?

Marienhof

Mary Muhsal as Lilli Weidemann - joined in 2003, gone as of 03/07

Julika Wagner-Hohenlobbese as Amelie Verhaag - new contract role, joined 06/07

Christian Volkmann as David Verhaag - new contract role, joined 06/07

Gerd Udo Feller as Friedrich Dettmer - joined in 1995, gone as of 08/07

Susanne Steidle as Regina Zirkowski - joined in 1996, gone as of 09/07

Janne Drücker as Anne Maldini - joined in 2004, gone as of 09/07

Katharina Woschek as Marie Adler - new contract role, will arrive this fall

Unter Uns

- absolutely nobody arrived, nobody left -

Verbotene Liebe

Klaus Zmorek as Adrian Degenhardt - new contract role, arrived 01/07

Miriam Lahnstein as Tanja von Anstetten - joined in 1995, gone as of 03/07

Tobias Schönenberg as Paul Brandner - joined in 2005, gone as of 04/07

Tabea Heynig as Anne Siebert - joined in 2006, gone as of 04/07

Nina Juraga as Max Frei - contract role 2005-2006, short-term return

Verena Zimmermann as Nico Brandner von Lahnstein - joined in 2002, gone as of 09/07

??? as Miriam - new contract role, will arrive this fall

Jo Weil as Oliver Sabel - contract role 2000-2002, will return later this year

Rumoured out: Dominic Saleh Zaki (Andi Fritzsche), joined in 2001

This week EE was pretty strange for me (5 weeks behind.) First appearance of Shirley's friend Heather. More information about Stella's past and her parents. Mad May kept seeming to be gone but then reappearing. Lots of stuff about the smoking ban. Stuff about the Vic being renovated & being closed. In a lot of ways it was like watching a completely different show. They even had Mo dressed in a nightie singing something. They had Mickey as a gigolo with some woman who looked an awful lot like Gary's mother.

It wasn't bad but it was different and a bit strange.

Verbotene Liebe celebrates its 3000th episode on September 5th, 2007.

Claudia Hiersche (Carla), Miriam Lahnstein (Tanja), Sina-Valeska Jung (Sarah) and Kristina Dörfer (Olivia)

New promo shots have been released for all current cast members:

Konrad Krauss as Arno Brander (original cast member), Claudia Scarpattetti as Susanne Brandner (1995-1997; 2005-), Lilli Hollunder as Lisa Brandner (2005-), Vanessa Jung as Jana Brandner #2 (2005-), Thomas Gumpert as Johannes von Lahnstein (2003-), Martina Servatius as Elisabeth Ryan Brandner von Lahnstein (1999-), Wolfram Grandezka as Ansgar von Lahnstein (2004-), Claudia Hiersche as Carla von Lahnstein (2003-), Lars Korten as Dr. Leonard von Lahnstein (2004-), Verena Zimmermann as Nicola "Nico" Brandner von Lahnstein (2002-2007), Milan Marcus as Constantin von Lahnstein (2004-), Jenny Winkler as Nathalie Käppler von Lahnstein (2004-), Dr. Gabriele Metzger as Charlotte "Charlie" Schneider (original cast), Herbert Ulrich as Lars Schneider (2002-2005; 2006-), Kristina Dörfer as Olivia Schneider (2006-), Dominic Saleh-Zaki as Andi Fritzsche (2001-), Mariangela Scelsi as Coco Faber (2004-), Thore Schölermann as Christian Mann (2006-), Andreas Jancke as Gregor Mann (2005-), Sina-Valeska Jung as Sarah Hofman (2006-), Klaus Zmorek as Adrian Degenhardt (2007-), Miriam Lahnstein as Tanja Wittkamp von Anstetten (1995-1998; 2001; 2004-2007; currently on maternity leave)

Meanwhile the other ARD soap, Marienhof, celebrates its 15th anniversary in October. A new cast picture was taken which already features characters that have not yet debuted on-screen.

Front row: Clara Maria Graf as Pia Busch (2004-), Fabian Baier as Steve Busch (2004-), Erwin Aljukic as Frederik Neuhaus (1998-). Second row: Isabella Hübner as Dr. Lisa Busch #3 (2004-), Viktoria Brams as Inge Busch (original cast), Julika Wagner as Amelie Verhaag (2007-), Simon-Paul Wagner as Marlon Berger (2000-), Sandra Koltai as Toni Maldini #2 (2006-), Mirco Wallraf as Raul Garcia (2002-), Katrin Ritt as Yasemin Özgentürk Garcia (2005-), Alfonso Losa as Carlos Garcia (2000-), Bernd Bozian as Luke-Robin Stockner #2 (2005-), Nicole Belstler-Boettcher as Sandra Behrens (1995-1998; 1999-). Third row: Wolfgang Seidenberg as Frank Töppers (1995-), Sebastian Reusse as Harry Töppers (2007-), Christian Volkmann as David Verhaag (2007-), Antonio Putignano as Stefano Maldini (2000-), Heike Ulrich as Tanja Maldini (2000-), Giovanni Arvaneh as Sülo Özgentürk (1995-1998; 2003-), Julia Dahmen as Constanze Riemer (2005-), Michael Meziani as Kai Süsskind (2005-), Fourth row: Sven Thiemann as Charly Kolbe (1997-), Ivonne Polizzano as ??? (2007-), Katharina Woschek as Marie Adler (2007-), Maike Billitis as ??? (2007-), Hanna Köhler as Francesca Maldini (2001-), Christian Buse as Torsten Fechner (1999-), Roland Pfaus as Dr. Jakob Weidemann #2 (2005-).

Sandra Koltai, Katrin Ritt and Julika Wagner

Future EastEnders spoilers from the sun

WALFORD’S Jane Beale will be left fighting for her life after being shot by a mystery character from hubby Ian’s past.

Waitress Jane, played by Laurie Brett, is rushed to hospital after the attack in dramatic scenes to be shown in EastEnders this autumn.

TV Biz knows who pulls the trigger but we have decided to keep viewers in suspense. But we CAN tell you the shooting comes after Ian (Adam Woodyatt) receives spooky messages from beyond the grave from late wife Cindy.

We have already revealed how the storyline could signal a return for actress Michelle Collins who played superbitch Cindy — or they could be from an imposter bearing a grudge.

A BBC insider said: “This will be the storyline of the year. It’s a huge mystery and cast and crew have been sworn to secrecy.

“It’s all related to the apparent return of Cindy — but is it really her? The culmination of the plot is that Ian’s new wife Jane is shot in the stomach.

“Cindy would have reason to do it but is she the only one?”

Ian’s ex died during childbirth in prison nine years ago.

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: “We never comment on future storylines.”

Future EastEnders spoilers from the sun

WALFORD’S Jane Beale will be left fighting for her life after being shot by a mystery character from hubby Ian’s past.

Waitress Jane, played by Laurie Brett, is rushed to hospital after the attack in dramatic scenes to be shown in EastEnders this autumn.

TV Biz knows who pulls the trigger but we have decided to keep viewers in suspense. But we CAN tell you the shooting comes after Ian (Adam Woodyatt) receives spooky messages from beyond the grave from late wife Cindy.

We have already revealed how the storyline could signal a return for actress Michelle Collins who played superbitch Cindy — or they could be from an imposter bearing a grudge.

A BBC insider said: “This will be the storyline of the year. It’s a huge mystery and cast and crew have been sworn to secrecy.

“It’s all related to the apparent return of Cindy — but is it really her? The culmination of the plot is that Ian’s new wife Jane is shot in the stomach.

“Cindy would have reason to do it but is she the only one?”

Ian’s ex died during childbirth in prison nine years ago.

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: “We never comment on future storylines.”

Thanks for the info! I've been seeing rumors on some EastEnders websites about a possible Cindy return. I wasn't watching back when she was on the show before, but I've heard a lot about her. Should be interesting. But Jane getting shot -- ugh, I love Jane.

I've been enjoying the show much more recently than I have during the past few months (I watch via pay-per-view on Dish).

EastEnders

Tim Teeman

You can always guess the scale of trauma, and likely violence, at a Mitchell wedding in EastEnders by the scale of the Queen Vic landlady Peggy's hat and hair. Both were vertiginous last night: a feathery tower of blonde blow-dry and pink netting. This was going to be nasty.

For months Phil Mitchell's intended, Stella (Sophie Thompson, Emma's sister), has been secretly torturing Phil's son Ben by burning him with spoons and convincing him that he's responsible for every evil in the world.

Until this week, Ben's mind has been well and truly pickled, but he finally saw Stella, a lawyer by day, for what she was – a middle-class character on EastEnders and therefore due a very bad end. After all, only last month, Mad May, the baby-napping doctor, was carted off into custody.

After standing up just as Phil (Steve McFadden) and Stella were about to exchange vows, and announcing: "Can somebody help me?", Ben revealed two bloody marks on his shirt where Stella's talons had dug into his chest just before the wedding ceremony.

"I will kill you in your sleep," she had told him. "I will suffocate you in your bed. And your daddy will find your little dead body in the morning. He will have to bury you in the ground just like your mummy."

Is the child actor Charlie Jones (a master of brilliant terrified squeaking) scarred for life after months of this? "Dad, I don't want to die, I don't want you to find me dead in the morning," Ben said tearfully and became hysterical as Stella, play-acting the good stepmother, went to comfort him.

Peggy's voluminous barnet wobbled menacingly. Ben tried to tell Phil the truth, but Stella interrupted them and in a tense, well-directed scene Phil and Stella circled each other around a pool table. She blamed Ben's abuse – "pinches, punches, little burns, it was the conspiracy of silence that scarred him the most" – on Phil's nemesis, the all-round louse Ian Beale.

But Phil guessed she was lying. Stella, sensibly, got the hell out of there. Peggy, feathers and flounce now on maximum vibrate, was relieved that Stella hadn't touched Ben "in places she shouldn't". But about what Phil should do next, she was resolute. "Make 'er pay," she said in the witchily malevolent tone usually reserved for instructing offending Vic regulars to "get ahhhht my pub".

The strange thing wasn't that Stella and Phil ended up on the roof of a disused factory, but that this factory was apparently situated on Access Road. Not an access road. But "Access Road" (although research reveals a South Access Road in E17). Phil, redder than when he was an alcoholic, swore that he was going to kill Stella. "You're a bunny-boiling nutjob," he noted cogently. "You crawled inside his [ben's] head and picked it apart." Stella blamed her behaviour on being ignored as a little girl. "I wasn't abusing him, it's about trying to feel that I'm here."

By now Phil was code-red murderous. "I chose you 'cos you were easy. I thought you'd look after Ben, iron my shirts and keep your mouth shut for 30 years," he snarled. Ah Peggy, you've done a wonderful job with those boys. Stella looked over the edge of the roof. Phil goaded her: "You aren't going to do it." "Watch me daddy," she said, and she fell. Did Phil push her? He was looking at his hands, horrified, but we don't know. Whatever its day-to-day faults, EastEnders does this kind of hyperdrama extremely well. Stella was splayed out dead, a mass of twisted, blissed-out white, on the bonnet of the wedding car.

The lesson? No matter the gentrification and rising house prices of the East End, the middle classes will never be welcome in Albert Square.

Great article. Thanks!

Oh my -- this sounds good , in that special EastEnders' way. I've been waiting for that crazy cow Stella to get hers. This kind of episode is what I adore about EE.

Edited August 17, 200718 yr by KSlater

It was good in a really crazy way but as soon as the Stella story finished, the show really started taking off. I don't know if it's just having a break from the Mitchells but every story is fantastic at the moment and there's loads of interaction between all the characters. No more islanding.

It's been getting more critical acclaim in the past few weeks than it has in years too.

It was good in a really crazy way but as soon as the Stella story finished, the show really started taking off. I don't know if it's just having a break from the Mitchells but every story is fantastic at the moment and there's loads of interaction between all the characters. No more islanding.

It's been getting more critical acclaim in the past few weeks than it has in years too.

That's great news! The show has been getting slammed for quite awhile in the UK press I've noticed, so it's good to hear that it is being viewed in a more positive light. I hope the ratings are climbing too. I'm really enjoying it right now--so if it's getting even better, that rocks! Wish the same upswing in quality and critical acclaim would happen on the American soap that I watch. But I guess you can't have everything.

Edited August 17, 200718 yr by KSlater

KSlater, which American soap are you watching?

JamesF, how do you keep up with American soaps? Do they show them in the UK?

When was the wedding shown - I need the exact date? Thanks!

KSlater, which American soap are you watching?

JamesF, how do you keep up with American soaps? Do they show them in the UK?

When was the wedding shown - I need the exact date? Thanks!

Hi Sylph! I watch Days of our Lives on NBC--one of the silliest soaps on US television. Worlds apart from EastEnders.

The wedding took place on Thursday 19th July and Friday 20th