EastEnders

Judging by other peoples comments here, I must be the biggest fan of EastEnders on TV Forum! I have watched every episode since it started (yes I do mean every episode, I have not missed 'one or two').

It was a fantastic programme right up until 2003, even to 2006 to an extent before this Santer Claws became the executive director. We now have to wait until there is a holiday before we get any decent storylines.

Still at least it has some storylines going unlike Coronation Street. However I do believe EastEnders is slowly turning into a Southern version of Coronation Street as very recently it has been inserting more 'funny bits', EastEnders is famous for irregular 'funny bits' but not so much that dialogue entirely consists of it.

With Peggy going it is only a short amount of time before the other long term 'big characters' will follow. Pat is my favourite character if anyone wanted to know. She was first in EastEnders in 1986. One day I do believe that EastEnders will have more 'Trackies', 'Gays', 'Young 'uns' and less older people. When that days comes I shall not watch EastEnders anymore. Also they better make the live Anniversary episode fantastic as they have 25 years of heritage behind them and it has to be as good as when it first started.

I'd say it's turning into a southern version of Byker Grove.

Well i was only a baby when it first began, but from what I've seen and remember 1998 to now, plus the old epsiodes, yes its changed with the times but still remains at heart what it has set out to do. I did "Why Is EastEnders Depressing" which i wanted to explore why people hate it and say its depressing. And to say its aimed at teenagers is wrong I feel, Hollyoaks is aimed at teens, whereas EastEnders, the main bulk of storylines and cast are aimed at adults. Unless im watching a different programme.

Ridiculous statement to make.

eastenders is so implausable they can't even number the square correctly, clockwise from the car lot it goes
5,3,1,
47, pub,
bridge street,
45, 43, 41,
20, 18,
31, 29, 27, 25, 23

and it's one big cul-de-sac

Bryan Kirkwood to take over from Diederick Santer next year:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a184853/kirkwood-replaces-santer-as-enders-exec.html

...Babs (Peggy) leaving EastEnders?!!! I can't believe it! When does she film her final scenes, does anyone know?
Even though the following link (Sky) says she leaves 'In the new year' ... that could mean anytime in 2010?! http://tv.sky.com/barbara-windsor-quits-eastenders She will be missed - anyone know what her plans are next?

I do quite like the idea of this, I wonder if Peggy will leave during this extra special commemorative episode. And most definatley I would say Julia's theme would be played at the end of the episode. Where did you hear the episode would be live? Sounds very exciting - look forward to seeing how they all fair with it as Corrie and The Bill have both done it in the past - they've never done a live episode of EastEnders before, have they?!

I wouldn't count on it. They didn't bother when Pauline left.

I think that's one of the only times they didn't - even when grant (re)left a couple of years ago they played it & a couple of months ago they played it when Gary & Dawn left. So I'm sure there play it for Peggy's exit!

I'm sure they will. I think there was a bit of bad blood between Wendy and the old producers which may be why she was given such a shoddy exit. I don't think she left on the best of terms.

Wendy hated Pauleen being remarried as she thought it totally out of character for her

I am sad that Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning) is leaving the programme for good. I always thought he was one of the better/stable characters and who came across as a genuinely nice bloke.