Whether it's true remains to be seen, but it seems likely now that Ross Kemp will return as Grant at some point this year. All we need now is an official announcment by the BBC...
I just think that it was an improvement on the poor standards recently.
If that's the case I dread to think what I'm missing.
This year I've only watched two high profile episode - Den's death and Phil's return (though only the last ten minutes!) - and both were awful.
When these storylines pop up the soap pundits always saw EE is back on track (how often have we heard that in the last few years?) - but EE certainly isn't.
I've said it before but the biggest problem is EE is stuck in it's own 1980's soap bubble. According to TV mags they had a storyline a couple of weeks ago about the Minute Mart deciding to stock fruit and veg - I don't know any grocery shop from our local corner shop through to Tescos that doesn't!
And bringing back old tired characters like the Mitchells isn't going to help - especially when they bring them back under the same guise as they were before with little feuds like Phil vs Ian that quite frankly only the die-hard EE fan cares about. And as those still watching it breathe a sigh of relief the Sharron / Dennis storyline is over, the bosses just go and bring them back in it a few months later.
I've said for a while axing the Slaters, Moons and Mitchells would help give the show a clean slate - so Shane Richie going may be a blessing!
With the new characters I think they need to be introduced with far superior storylines. They didn't have a clue what to do with the F********* and with the Millers they decided after a few months the dad couldn't read and sent a pregnant teenage girl in without dealing with the circumstances around it.
Look at Corrie - over the last few years the major new characters have come in with pretty explosive long-running storylines (Hillman, Maya, Charlie).
A major makeover is required if EE has any chance of regaining credibility. They need to take some risks - and quickly!
Trouble is EE got out of the 1980's soap bubble when the Mitchells were introduced in 1990. Since the invasion of the Ferrieras, it just seems they have reverted back to that period and can't get out of it. They are having to use many scenes with Dot and Pauline as a substitute to the absence of storylines! Also they're abusing Billy Murray's character Johnny Allen something rotten at the moment.
Er.. and Den is still buried in the Vic's cellar...
I agree, even now under new management, EE is still stuck in a rut but at the same time I can't see Corrie or Emmerdale being any better. ITV seem to think by ramming six or seven episodes of both will increase ratings but lately this has not been the case. The Katy Storyline in Corrie was hardly the huge rating figure winner they expected, and as for Emmerdale, they use the same old plot again and again, X and Y get together then X meets Z and they have an affair. I mean Paddy & Viv for god sake and poor old Patsy Kensit and that geeky kid!
I agree that the show is stuck in a rut, but its not irretreivable. Remember the big story that Emmerdale did with the plane crash? It breathed new life into a tired show.
I agree that the show is stuck in a rut, but its not irretreivable. Remember the big story that Emmerdale did with the plane crash? It breathed new life into a tired show.
Perhaps EE should do something similar?
That was in very different circumstances though - the show had just moved to primetime and there was far less competition in those days.
I do agree though that it's a big event that completly changes the course of the show that EastEnders need. It's just finding something original - serial killers and plane crashes are out of the question - and I think people are sick of the terrorist type dramas BBC was obsessed with last year.
Also, I'm not even sure if the public would be interested - sceptics like myself would just see it as a sign of desperation!
I agree that the show is stuck in a rut, but its not irretreivable. Remember the big story that Emmerdale did with the plane crash? It breathed new life into a tired show.
Perhaps EE should do something similar?
Have one of them eastend partyson the street, they all seem to love having and how about a tube being derailed and crashing down on to them.
Something which is stupid which is highly noticeable is the Millers are skint, but yet can afford SKY+ and they decide to sell the TV but not the SKY+??? Thats gotta be costing them at least £10 a month, (obviously more for plus features and higher packages) which surely if they are so skint for food they would cancel
