What is it with familys falling apart at the moment?

 

The butchers are not the same without Bianca and now Ricky's gone

 

The slaters have all gone. Only Mo and Jean. Mo only related by marriage. Kat is a Moon really

 

There is only one Beale and that's Ian

 

 

 

David Essex is brilliant as Eddie Moon, a great addition to the cast, I hope he sticks around for a long time.

 

And if I remember rightly there is another Branning family coming into the mix pretty soon

I don't think the extension of the Branning family is actually happening. Seems like it was just rumours.

 

The Moons are an all-new, fairly complete family though - Eddie has three kids (Tyler, Antony and Frankie) and Michael is their half-brother.

Surely the most random return of them all - as posted on DS...

 

 

EastEnders bosses have confirmed that Nicola Stapleton is reprising her role as Mandy Salter after 17 years away from Albert Square.

 

The residents of Walford are in for a shock when the tearaway makes a surprise return to the area later this year, stirring up trouble as she did during her teenage years in the '90s.

 

Viewers last saw Mandy in 1994 when she fled from the Square suddenly, heartbroken after her boyfriend Aidan had returned to Ireland.

 

As Mandy settles back into Walford life, fans will see that she has grown up slightly during her time away, but she remains fun, chaotic and wild.

 

Billed as a "manipulative force of nature", Mandy also has a spiteful streak and she is already being tipped to cause trouble for at least one of Walford's well-known residents.

 

Speaking of her EastEnders return, Stapleton commented: "I'm looking forward to playing Mandy again - it will be interesting to see what she's been up to all this time. I'm excited to be coming back and working with some old friends."

 

Since departing EastEnders, Stapleton has made appearances in Emmerdale, Hollyoaks Later and Bad Girls among other shows.

 

EastEnders fans will see Mandy's comeback scenes in the autumn.

 

 

I only vaguely remember her and Aiden (who I think was the one played by Sean Maguire?), and I can't think what possible links she has left to the show. The only ones who would have been around back then are Ian, Pat, Phil and Carol, but I can't think whether Mandy was particularly close to any of them.

 

 

How bizarre, I strangely just about recall her though, I've seriously been watching this show for FAR too many years of my life :lol:

Her link to the square is Pat. Pat used to look after Mandy

 

I am still crying out for a return for Sharon.

David Essex is a murderer :o

David Essex is a murderer :o

 

Well he's murdered some bloody songs in his time!

 

Seriously - couldn't they get the money together to get someone decent like Ian McShane to play this new Moon fella?

 

Kath

After a slow start I'm really warming to David Essex you know... could be one to watch. Also Michael really pulled it out of the bag tonight. I've got a good feeling about this Moon clan.

 

My favourite story strand at the minute though is easily Janine and Lydia... I just know that when

Lydia dies next week it's going to be so bloody emotional. I'm already really invested in her character.

 

I'm rather liking Nicola Stapleton making a return, if only for how gloriously stupid and unneeded it is. It's been 17 years, she's hardly a well remembered character on the whole and has no real links. Oh there's Pat, but everyone has links to Pat so she doesn't count.

 

I personally am now holding out for the return of Huw and Lennie therefore. I like to think Nicola's name was drawn out of a hat for this return aswell.

Oh yes, great storyline for Janine next week regarding Lydia. This might lead viewers to actually feel sorry for her.

 

 

Oh yes, great storyline for Janine next week regarding Lydia. This might lead viewers to actually feel sorry for her.

 

 

I always feel sorry for her. She's the most layered villain in the history of soap.

I felt for her when Ryan cheated on her. She was a cow to Ryan but he gave as good as he got but she without a doubt loved that man. Her heart is still broken from it of course.

 

I am eager to see where they will take her. It has shown great character development since the arrival of Lydia.

I personally am now holding out for the return of Huw and Lennie therefore.

 

Oh HELL YES. Bizarrely they actually were my favourite EE characters at the time, what with me being a naive schoolboy who had no interest in whether actors could actually ACT or not.

 

Whilst we're at it, can we PLEASE bring back Mick the cafe owner, Jules Tavernier and Shirley Benson's cat Boots?

 

EDIT: Oh no we can't - Jules DIED :(

Michael is veering into right proper psycho territory now! Suddenly the spoiler about him

sneaking into Ronnie's bedroom to sniff her knickers

makes sense...

Oh HELL YES. Bizarrely they actually were my favourite EE characters at the time, what with me being a naive schoolboy who had no interest in whether actors could actually ACT or not.

 

Whilst we're at it, can we PLEASE bring back Mick the cafe owner, Jules Tavernier and Shirley Benson's cat Boots?

 

EDIT: Oh no we can't - Jules DIED :(

 

So did Shirley's cat - the noisy neighbour murdered it remember!

 

I think Blossom's mini return last year was cause enough for celebration alone :D Sanjay and Gita would be the ideal comeback for me though!

They're doing a whole week of episodes set in Southend to air over Summer! Dot, Rose, Whitney, Tiffany, Morgan, Liam, Rob, Lauren, Ryan, Fatboy, Carol, Eddie, Tyler/Anthony & Frankie Moon, Shirley and Heather have all been filming there.

I LOVE MICHAEL

 

He is fast becoming the character I have the most interest in and he's really delivering as a character now. Proper nutter, and it's amazing.

Them filming in Southend ties into two storylines. Dot reuniting with her sister and the return of Whitney's Pimp Rob.