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Digital Spy soaps editor Kris Green rounds up the latest gossip in soapland.
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Lynda Baron's not returning to 'EastEnders'
Despite a report in one of today's tabloids, former Open All Hours actress Lynda Baron is not returning to reprise her role as Jane and Christian's mum, Linda Clarke.
A spokeswoman for the soap today told me: "There are no current plans for Lynda to return."
It's a shame because she'd explain a lot about Jane (Laurie Brett) and Christian's (John Partridge) relationship. I have been told, however, that we should be seeing a lot more of Jane and Christian in the coming months.
| Posted Wednesday, May 7 at 16:29 by Kris | Click to see and add comments (0) |
Bonus Scoop: 'Doctors' series producer Peter Lloyd
I managed to catch up with Doctors' series producer Peter Lloyd last week to chat about what's coming up for his characters over the coming months. If you haven't seen the interview yet, what are you waiting for? Click here to read more. Otherwise, if you fancy reading about Melody/Archie, Eva/Jimmy, Vivien, Daniel, Julia, Ruth and Michelle first, here goes:
Melody and Archie
"I want to test these characters because although they’re great fun, I don’t think they’ve really thought deeply about their relationship, so we’re going to force the issue. Though it’s useful to have ‘lighter’ characters, I would never pigeonhole a character in such a way and I know that Liz and Matt are hungry for a more dramatic storyline. Archie’s jealousy over Daniel is always useful, but I think we’ve pretty much played that now. Instead, Melody is going to be under a great deal of stress as she’s got to deliver on her year’s training. Without Joe, she’s had to go to Nick as her mentor, which doesn’t go too well. And she gets easily distracted, especially by her younger brother JJ who we’ll be bringing in.
"I like the innate tension within Melody – the ditzy girl struggling to grow up and take control. This story is going to help that. For Archie it’s just as important. He always has to do the right thing – sometimes to the detriment of his relationships – and that’s certainly going to be the case here. I think Archie’s fascinating – beneath the blokey exterior is an extremely moral and judgemental young man. Matt Kennard plays this with such subtlety that it only really comes to the fore in stories like this. I think the viewers are going to be surprised.
Eva and Jimmi
"They’re so good together; we could never keep them apart for long, could we? Or am I just being soppy? Any excuse to hear that lovely Lewis Morgan voice! Adrian and Angie have such a great working relationship that really comes across on screen, and so we can pretty much go anywhere with them. We’re going to have some fun with Jimmi’s commitment issues and they’re always going to give us entry into a different world down at the police station. But things are going to get very dark for Jimmi and Eva in a very exciting storyline in the autumn – can’t wait for people to see it."
Vivien
"She’s really caught everyone’s attention and I’m so pleased with what Anita has been doing with the character – it’s that great fusion when writers feed off an actor’s performance as well as the other way round. She’s hugely popular and instantly recognisable as a ‘type’. In the past, we’ve had a lot of attractive young things running reception and I’ve always wanted a battleaxe – cos I think they’re more realistic! But Anita has given Vivien such warmth and vulnerability; she’s become an immensely successful character. We’re going to be having lots of fun in the next couple of months as Vivien decides to learn to drive, but refuses to pay for lessons – guess who the mug is that ends up teaching her? And then after our Wimbledon break, there’s a really shocker that’s going to turn everything on its head, so keep watching!"
Daniel
"Bad boy or just misunderstood? We’re going to be playing with that question forever with this character – just when you think he’s a great guy (he’s been really kind to George recently) he goes and does something really stupid. We’re going to be looking at this in more depth – is it some kind of self-destruct button or a search for a gambling replacement? Daniel’s going to meet a woman who’s going to really give him a run for his money. Something to do with a launderette, an extremely tall building and a very valuable vase … It’s pretty nuts, but should be fun and will provide a stark contrast to the loneliness that Daniel feels, particularly after the departure of his beloved and long-suffering Uncle Joe."
Julia
"I’ve talked a lot to Diane [Keen] about Julia and where she’s going this year. We both think she’s still dealing with the horror show that was Leo Jackson and that’s going to affect any relationship she has in the future in quite a complex way. So I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when Julia goes on holiday and meets a very attractive man – one that all our audience will recognise, I’m sure. But it’s the consequences of the holiday that are going to prove interesting, in more ways than one!"
Ruth and Michelle
"Let’s not forget our new character of Ruth – she’s deliberately something of an enigma when we first meet her, but it’s going to be exciting to learn more, believe me. We’ve found a really talented young actress in Selina Chilton, who has embraced Ruth and all her complexities in super quick time.
"And last but by no means least, the wonderful Michelle, who becomes something of a mentor to the slightly lost Ruth – she’s going to take her clothes-shopping at the very least! But even Michelle hasn’t quite bargained for what happens subsequently. Despite her bluster and immense confidence, personally Michelle is still guarded about her personal relationships with men. She’s going to try to do something about that in the autumn, but it doesn’t quite go as planned. This is a slow burner of a story that starts in quite a subtle way but is going rise to quite a climax by next year, I promise!"
> Click here to read the rest of the interview
| Posted Tuesday, May 6 at 06:18 by Kris | Click to see and add comments (0) |
What a night...
Camera man, check. Camera, check. Mic, check. Questions, check. Soap stars, check. Technical glitch, check... Following a brief hiccup with the sound devices, we are ready to rumble - and by 'eck, mania follows...
It's generally a slow start with the actors strolling down the purple carpet, but all of a sudden, a hybrid wave of Corrie, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale cast are thrown at you in one go. It's what can only be described as a 'free for all' - every man for himself.
Roughly half way through the proceedings, an unfortunate - some may say lucky - event occurred. A pigeon took it upon itself to dispel the entire contents of its bowels onto the shoulder of my suit. Rob Kazinsky found it all highly amusing, as did my camera man Raphael, while the legend that is Barbara Windsor became my saviour and scraped the dark-green dollop off me with a tissue from her handbag.
I've already searched on eBay for "Barbara Windsor" and "Bird Crap", to no avail. If anyone came across it, please let me know - it's mine! And there is video evidence of the 'incident' - somewhere...
The awards themselves were very interesting, with a couple of shock results along the way - in my opinion, anyway - while the production team pulled out some great award presenters, most notably Prunella Scales and Julie Goodyear who are both legends in their own right.
Here's to another decade of Great British Soap.
Finally, a brief mention must go to 'iscreamloud' from the forums. You know who you are!!
| Posted Monday, May 5 at 18:46 by Kris | Click to see and add comments (0) |
'Liarla' begins and Roxy's nightmare unfolds
We've seen it coming for months and in a fortnight's time, it finally happens - Liam betrays Maria by sleeping with Carla. At last, 'Liara' begins...
Carla seizes her opportunity to pounce on Liam when Maria moves out of the house. Confused and distressed by his fiancée's decision, Liam seeks solace in his sister-in-law and turns up on her doorstep racked with guilt. Carla suggests that the reason for his break up is due to his feelings for her, but Liam's still in denial. When he returns, however, he apologises to Carla. But as he's about to go home, she stops him in his tracks and leads him to the bedroom... 
These scenes are due to air on Monday, May 12 on BBC One at 8pm.
Meanwhile, over in Albert Square, Roxy discovers she's pregnant after collapsing twice in two days. Ronnie forces her to take a pregnancy test, but Roxy lies to her sister and tells her the test is negative. Roxy is left feeling isolated as she attempts to deal with the shock revelation on her own. But will she decide to keep the baby?
These scenes are due to air on Monday, May 12 on ITV1 at 8.30pm.
Let me know your thoughts on the above using the form below!
| Posted Sunday, May 4 at 13:27 by Kris | Click to see and add comments (0) |
Bad boy gone good?
It looks like David Platt could finally be on the straight and narrow as his stint in HMYOI Larchfield comes to an early end.
But just where can Platt Jnr. go from here? Reading ahead, I'm pleased to see that they're resting his character for a while. Don't get me wrong, he's a great actor and portrays David well, but isn't there only so much bad one person can do before they become irredeemable?
What would you like to see David do next? Or do you think they've come to the end of the line with him? Let me know your thoughts using the form below!
Pictures copyright Mark Campbell / Rex Features
| Posted Thursday, May 1 at 11:14 by Kris | Click to see and add comments (8) |
