The extras almost ruined my enjoyment of last nights ep - aside from Fatboy of course.

 

God I absolutely hate those scenes where everyone stops and stares at someone. So ridiculous. [/rant]

 

Massods excellent. Roxy shouting her way through each scene, not so much.

Ya i hate the stop and stare from everyone and all the soaps do and it bugs me. The one thing that made this reveal different to others though it wasnt done in the Vic which makes a nice change.

Ya i hate the stop and stare from everyone and all the soaps do and it bugs me. The one thing that made this reveal different to others though it wasnt done in the Vic which makes a nice change.

 

Yup - I do admit EE is the worst for it though lol. The older woman who last night was in pink is the worst! As if they know or care!

 

Agree it was a nice change to have the reveal outside of Vic - now it just has to happen for someone apart from the Masoods!

I said to my dad as the show started 'I wonder how long it'll be before there's a stop and stare scene' and it happened practically 30 seconds in! Love it.

 

Interview from Walford Web with Dominic Treadwell Collins (Series Story Producer ie. in charge of thinking up and following through storylines and also introducing/creating new characters):

 

You’ve been in the role of Story Producer for three years now. Can you choose a favourite storyline from that time? One you’re most proud of, perhaps?

 

If I had to single one out it would be the Christian/Syed storyline. With most storylines, a writer will pitch an idea at story conference that will span over several months or years and it’s the job of my team to make that story work week by week, episode by episode. So different storylines are ‘owned’ by different writers. I pitched the Christian/Syed storyline at conference and then locked myself away to plan its arc over a year or so. So it was very much my story from the start.

 

I really wanted to do a contemporary gay love story and Christian and Syed were the perfect characters to do that with – we could explore what it’s like to be a gay man in contemporary London whilst also looking at a man battling with his sexuality and religion.

 

We got such good ratings and responses to the New Year’s episodes. My grandmother, who is pretty old-fashioned, was quite upset after those episodes. I assumed that it was because she didn’t like all the shouting… But actually, she said that she just wanted Christian and Syed to be happy together. If this show can change the opinions of a seventy-something year old woman then that’s amazing. And also reach out to young gay men and women who watch the show – whether they’re Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, whatever – and show them that it’s okay to be gay and that other people are going through the same thing they’re going through.

 

 

Are there any storylines that perhaps didn’t work out as well as you had hoped?

 

There are always storylines that you wish you’d told differently. I also think that Sean’s exit could have been so much better. And, when I started on the show, there was a whole storyline about Kevin Wicks going to Dungeness. That wasn’t good.

 

 

Some viewers on our forums were unhappy with the axing of Honey Mitchell. Did you feel she was holding back Billy’s character in some way?

 

I don’t think Honey sat well as a character within our show. Emma is a great actress but her character didn’t quite work. I’d never say never with Honey though, she is still out there. Maybe she and Billy can be happy and together one day…

 

 

The Mitchell sisters are your baby and have been central to several key plots of the last few years, and you’ve mentioned before that you’d always wanted Sam Janus for Ronnie. Can you tell us a bit more about how you devised the characters?

 

When Diederick took over from Kate, we sat down and talked about what the show needed. We wanted more energy in the Vic, Phil and Peggy were rattling around in there with Ben. We wanted to create two new tough brassy Mitchell women in their early thirties who could shake up the place a bit. Ronnie is quite a ‘male’ woman, doesn’t like to show emotion, takes control of Roxy… And I’ve always loved Sam so pushed for her to be seen for the role. And Sam’s made Ronnie even better than we could have dreamed her to be.

 

Roxy was always the spoilt princess that Ronnie had to mother, trouble, mouthy, but with a big heart. Roxy was harder to cast, I remember Diederick auditioning loads of girls and worrying that we still didn’t have the right one. Then he called us in to his office one day and showed us Rita’s audition tape – and she was perfect.

 

 

Sadly, the show will be losing Barbara Windsor later this year. How do you feel Peggy’s departure will affect the dynamic of the Mitchell family?

 

It’s a huge loss but the show – and the Mitchells – will keep going. We’ve actually got an amazing story for the Mitchells over the next year or so… And maybe even some joy for Ronnie! It’s time to give the girl a break.

 

 

You must be pleased with how the Masood family have taken off as well...

 

So pleased. We worked so hard on getting them right. The casting has been superb though – Nina, Nitin, Marc and Himesh are all such amazing performers. Zainab has become one of my favourite characters of all time – she’s a warm and funny matriarch and the audience have really warmed to her, but then you can have her coming out with some really terrible things when she confronts Christian or Syed.

 

 

Who’s your favourite EastEnders character of all time?

 

Pat. The earrings, the one-liners, the bad advice she gives out, her relationship with Peggy. She’s a legend.

 

 

Are there any teasers you can give us about upcoming storylines?

 

Shirley’s got some big stuff coming up. She was my first Enders character and Linda Henry is a fantastic actress. I think we’ve underused her a bit and we’re going to right that wrong.

 

We’ve storylined Barbara’s exit and that’s going to be epic and moving – Simon Ashdown's already chomping at the bit to write those episodes.

 

Christmas 2010 is going to be massive - and we’ve even got some great ideas for Christmas 2011. It’s fantastic to work with Bryan. He’s amazing at story and really inspiring to work for so the show’s going to get even better.

 

Good news about Shirley!

Read that this morning. Great read and equally great news re: Shirley and happy Ronnie.

 

Got a feeling Christmas might feature a Rack wedding.

I'm glad to hear Shirley gets a bigger role, but so long as it doesn't mean they're going to f*** her relationship with Phil up again.

I'm glad to hear Shirley gets a bigger role, but so long as it doesn't mean they're going to f*** her relationship with Phil up again.

Oh I hope not :( I love this little domestic Mitchell family going on atm, with Shirley at the helm.

im happy to see shirley get a good storyline but i hope it doesnt come at the cost of splitting her and phil up as she and phil are very well suited together.

Agreed with all above - Shirley and Phil have potential to be a really fabulous EE couple. With Peggy going, I think having a Shirley Mitchell would be great for the future!

 

Really hope Phil and Ben have a little chat soon. Liked Phil telling off the gossipers and then almost wanting to talk to Masood about it.

In his DS interview Nitin Ganatra who plays Masood mentioned how he'd suggested a Masood-Phil friendship a while back but nothing came of it, but one of the first things Bryan Kirkwood said to him was that Mas and Phil have something in common which is that they don't drink, so perhaps they could bond over their sobriety. :heehee:

That would be good! With Minty going, Phil will need a good male friend and someone like Mas would be perfect.

AWFUL NEWS :(

 

EastEnders stars Lacey Turner and Gillian Wright are to bow out of the soap later this year, Digital Spy can confirm.

 

The pair - who play bipolar-suffering mother-daughter duo Stacey Branning and Jean Slater - will step down from their roles after almost six years, with Turner in particular expressing her desire to pursue other acting opportunities.

 

The door for a potential return will be firmly left open for Stacey, while Jean's future has yet to be determined.

 

Storyliners are currently working on dramatic departures for the two characters.

 

Speaking of her decision to leave, Turner said: "I've had the most fantastic time at EastEnders. Stacey has been such a brilliant role for me to play, as has being part of the feisty Slater family.

 

"I'm so lucky to have had such challenging storylines, from the affair with Max and being diagnosed with bipolar to the complete shock of being revealed as Archie's killer during the live 25th Anniversary episode."

 

She added: "I'll miss Stacey and everyone in Albert Square very much but the time has come to try something different."

 

New executive producer Kirkwood commented: "We'll be very sad to see Lacey Turner leave the show. Lacey is one of the best young actresses on TV at the moment and the fact that she's won 28 awards in the last five years is testament to this.

 

"It's only right that someone as talented and versatile as Lacey should pursue new challenges and we wish her the very best of luck."

 

He continued: "In the meantime, viewers can look forward to a typically dramatic Slater family exit when she leaves and the door will be left open for Stacey Branning to return to Albert Square in the future."

 

Meanwhile, Wright (above left) said of her departure: "It's been an honour to play Jean especially as the public response to her has always been so supportive. It's been a real privilege to be able to heighten awareness of bipolar disorder.

 

"I've thoroughly enjoyed working with my onscreen Slater family, in particular working with Lacey and developing such a great rapport over the years."

 

Kirkwood added: "Gillian has brought real heart and pathos to the role of Jean Slater, a complex and fragile character who has really been taken into the public's affection."

 

Earlier this month, it was announced that head of the Slater clan, Charlie - Derek Martin - is to leave along with five others.

 

Turner first appeared in the Albert Square soap in November 2004 and has been a regular ever since, while her screen mother Wright made her brief debut the following month. She reappeared a year later for another short stint, before joining full-time from November 2006.

OH NO! I didn't even read beyond the intro, they're two of the best characters/actresses! :o :(

Beyond gutted :(

 

Losing Lacey is awful but to have Gillians exit confirmed at the same time is just..ugh :cry:

Oh dear, but I can't say I'm surprised by Lacey - they did well to keep hold of her for so long to be honest.

 

I have to admit I am slightly concerned for EE's future. Stacey and half of the Slaters, Minty, Peggy, Chelsea all going. But we get to keep Leon, Fatboy and the 10 million other teenagers on the show instead. Joy.

I'm actually ASTOUNDED. I don't know what to say. I guess Big Mo isn't far behind.

 

In response to Shoat though I'm not at all concerned. The only big losses are Stacey, Jean, Peggy and Chelsea (to an extent) and we're gaining Tanya back soon, not to mention the return of Kat and Alfie and the arrival of TANYA TURNER (I am presuming her character will be as wonderful as Tanya Turner anyway). And it's not a bad thing that they might have to focus more on existing but sidelined big players like Jane, Denise and Shirley if several big names are off.

Oh Jark don't :(

 

I can't believe we won't have much of Kat and Stacey. Just awful.

 

Brian Kirkwood is going to have to work some magic with so many leaving.

 

Never expected these two to be among the surprises the insider on DS hinted at.

I think it was always inevitable that Lacey would leave. She is a fantastic actress but I just hope to God she can get work and isn't forever typecast as Stacey Slater.

 

I'm gutted about this. Lacey and Gillian are both just amazing.

I did think that Denise seemed a bit too quiet a character (of late) to be the 'really shocking' departure mentioned but I didn't really expect Stacey.

 

I'm only really gutted in the sense that she's the best actor on the show and most of the really emotional stuff of late has come from her, but she has had a properly amazing run and perhaps it was time to move on. In a way better her than somebody like Ronnie who still has a story to tell. Plus Stacey is young, there's always room for a return.

 

Major shame to lose Jean too obviously but without Stacey there there'd be no point in her sticking around. They just better shoehorn a few more sausage surprise! moments in before she goes...

Becca might leave too :kink: Every cloud....

 

The end of Sausage Surprise though. :cry: