Eastenders Whodunnit Plot

EastEnders' Max Branning is left fighting for his life at the end of the month when he is knocked over in a hit and run, according to an exclusive Digital Spy report.

A source told DS, "Max has made enough enemies over the last year to last him a lifetime. So the big question will be - who tried to kill Max? Was it Bradley? Stacey? Tanya? Callum? Peter? The list could go on!"

The hit and run will be part of an hour-long Halloween special on Thursday, October 30 at 7.30pm on BBC One.
Image: BBC

Wendy Richard 'Dying Of Cancer'

Wendy Richard has revealed that she is dying of cancer.

The 65-year-old actress, who played Pauline Fowler on Eastenders, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease in January this year. She has previously fought breast cancer twice.

"I went for my usual annual check-up and they found that some cancer cells had returned in my left armpit," Wendy explained. She told the Sunday Express newspaper that she has already made out her will and discussed plans for her funeral.

"The drugs I was given to help had an adverse effect. If anything, they did more damage than good so my health has really deteriorated," she continued. "Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones.

"Twice I've had breast cancer but this is different. It's more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs."

Richard plans to marry her partner John Burns before starting a course of chemotherapy later this month.

Before joining the cast of EastEnders in 1985, Richard was best known for her role as shopgirl Shirley Brahms in the 1970s comedy Are You Being Served?

Nasty Nick In Walford Return

EastEnders' Nasty Nick will return to the BBC One soap this Christmas, seven years after he left, reports BBC.

Nick Cotton, played by John Altman, will make his way back to Albert Square hoping his mother Dot Branning (June Brown) will welcome him.

Altman said he was "thrilled" to be returning and was looking forward to seeing if Nick would "spread fear and loathing" in Walford.

The actor appeared in the soap's very first episode in February 1985.

Stictly Come Dancing Lineup Revealed

Rachel Stevens and John Sergeant have been confirmed among this year's Strictly Come Dancing lineup.

Male celebrities taking part in the BBC reality show include Andrew Castle, ex-soap star Phil Daniels, veteran actor Don Warrington, chef Gary Rhodes and Holby City's Tom Chambers.

The other female contestants hoping to match last year's winner Alesha Dixon will be Heather Small, Gillian Taylforth, Jessie Wallace, Jodie Kidd, Cheri Lunghi, Christine Bleakley and Lisa Snowdon.

Also taking part in the show are swimmer Mark Foster and rugby star Austin Healey.

Professional dancers Brian Fortuna, Hayley Holt and Kristina Rihanoff have joined the dance competition for its sixth series.

The show, which will be hosted as usual by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, starts on September 20, reports Digital Spy.

Eastenders Stars Banned From Strictly Dancing

The EastEnders cast has reportedly been banned from appearing on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

According to The Sun, producers won't let any of their stars appear on the show because the reality series is now running for 16 weeks.

Christopher Parker (Spencer Moon), Jill Halfpenny (Kate Mitchell), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson), Louisa Lytton (Ruby Allen) and Matt Di Angelo (Deano Wicks) have all appeared on previous series of the dance competition.

"We love the show. But we can’t spare anyone for that long," an insider told the newspaper.

However, Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell), who departs the soap later this year, is apparently in talks to appear in the sixth series.

Source

Eastenders Star Reveals Disappointment

EastEnders star Jo Joyner has admitted feeling "disappointed" with many of her character's plots.

"I have to be honest, in the past I've been a little bit disappointed with the way things have gone for Tanya," Jo told the Daily Star Sunday. "I really didn't think she'd be so mumsy. And I don't feel like I've made much of an impact since I've been in the show.

The actress revealed that she did not enjoy playing Tanya Branning explaining, "I spent a year just being Max's wife. But then things really took off when the affair was exposed. I loved the way Tanya took her revenge by burying him alive."

An insider revealed, "We've got huge plans for her character. And she's got the biggest storyline of the year to look forward to. Obviously we can't say too much but it's going to be explosive."

Eastenders Yolande Trueman Axed

EastEnders actress Angela Wynter has been axed from the soap after five years, reports Digital Spy.

The 54-year-old has played Yolande Trueman since 2003 and producers have decided not to renew her contract due to a lack of storylines for the character.

Her exit storyline is yet to be decided, but she will film her final scenes in the coming months and depart on screen in the autumn.

Speaking to The Voice, she said, "I'm not unhappy to leave EastEnders because life is about changes and new beginnings, but I am unhappy about the producers reasoning in how they came to their decision because you can always write stories for people to act."

Baby Girl For Actress Tamzin

Former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite has given birth to her first baby, it was announced.

The 37-year-old star married actor Tom Ellis in June 2006. They have named their first child together Florence Elsie Ellis.
A spokesman said, "We are pleased to announce that Tamzin Outhwaite and Tom Ellis are the proud parents of Florence Elsie Ellis who arrived last week."

Bissix To Leave Eastenders

Gemma Bissix is to leave EastEnders later this year, it has been confirmed.

The actress, who plays Clare Bates, will leave the BBC1 soap when her character's selfish intentions are exposed.

A source told The Mirror, "Clare has been working her way round the men of Walford for the past few months but what she had thought was a masterplan to bag the man of her dreams soon gets out of hand."

"She is forced to flee as it is clear she is not welcome in Albert Square anymore."

Eastenders Actor's Financial Worries

EastEnders star John Bardon is struggling to make ends meet after being out of work for eleven months.

The actor, known for his role as Jim Branning on the BBC One soap, is still recuperating at home and attending frequent physiotherapy sessions after suffering a stroke in June last year.
"People think the BBC pay you when you're not working due to ill health, but that's not so," John's wife Enda told The People. "Actors only get paid for the work they do. There is no animosity between us and the BBC because they don't owe John anything. But there is not much money coming in."

She added, "Thankfully, medical insurance has paid for his physiotherapy twice a week. We are not destitute but if you haven't got money coming in, one day there could be nothing."

Bardon is hoping to return to the soap next month to appear in a one-off episode alongside June Brown, who plays his on-screen wife Dot. He may then make monthly appearances to prepare him for a permanent comeback.

"John's speech comes out as gobbledygook," Enda said. "But he can swear! June Brown stays here. She has been wonderful. I hope being with his colleagues will get more out of him."

Eastenders Returns: Janine & Mad May

EastEnders actress Amanda Drew is to reprise her controversial Walford role as warped Dr 'Mad' May Wright. The 38-year-old actress will resurrect her sinister screen counterpart after almost a year's break. Viewers last saw May tangled in the midst of Albert Square's baby abduction storyline which led to her character's exit from the soap. Her on-screen husband Rob Minter will not be returning.

Meanwhile Charlie Brooks has signed up to make a permanent return to the soap. The 26-year-old recently reprised her Walford role as Janine Butcher. EastEnders bosses so were impressed by her performance and the audience reaction that they discussed a longer-term contract. Brooks returns to filming in the summer and will re-appear on screen at the end of October or beginning of November.
Image: BBC

Eastenders 'Honey' Axed

EastEnders actress Emma Barton has been axed by the soap's producers after joining the BBC One soap in late 2005 as Honey Mitchell.

Her on-screen husband Billy - played byPerry Fenwick - will not be leaving the soap.

An insider told The Sun, "Emma's a lovely actress, but we've just come to the end of her storyline. Honey will go this summer."

Emma said, "I'm looking forward to going back to musical theatre."

Bianca Back In Eastenders

See this funny trailer of Patsy Palmer as she returns to Walford as Bianca Jackson along with her kids.

Tanya Plans Her Revenge Against Max

Tanya Branning is to drug her cheating husband and bury him alive in EastEnders.

Tanya is out for revenge after she discovered Max's affair with Stacey on Christmas Day. The couple are also battling over the custody of their kids.

Tanya plans to seduce and drug him, then place him in a coffin and bury it in woods. The ordeal resurrects painful memories for Max, as his father Jim Branning buried him alive as a child.

A BBC source told The Sun, “Viewers will have to wait to find out whether Max lives or dies.”

The scenes are due to be shown at Easter.

My Family Star Joins Eastenders

Siobhan Hayes has joined the cast of EastEnders.

The 32-year-old – who is most noted for playing dimwit Abi Harper on My Family – is to play the role of Melinda, the WAG-wannabe partner of Walford returnee Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen).

A Walford source told DigitalSpy, "Ricky returns to the Square for his dad Frank's funeral and turns up with Melinda - but is it true love or just a fling between them?"

Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer (Bianca) returned to filming with the BBC soap last month and will make their on-screen comeback in March.

Complaints Over 'Enders Stabbing

Nearly 200 people complained about Jay getting stabbed on Eastenders, reports Daily Mail.

The episode which was broadcast at 7.30pm - pre watershed - led 184 complaints to the BBC and Ofcom received another seven.

Many parents were angry that children would have seen 13-year-old character Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) knifed.

BBC chiefs allowed the broadcast - knowing it would be controversial - despite watchdogs recently ordering a clampdown on soap violence.

A BBC spokesman said yesterday: "EastEnders has always tackled difficult issues and we acknowledge that some viewers could consider this storyline challenging. This is part of a long-running storyline that in no way glamorises the use of knives."

Eastenders Star Ends Relationship

Eastenders star Joe Swash has split with his girlfriend – just months after they had a baby, reports The Sun.

Emma Sophocleous, 24, has moved out, taking seven-month-old Harry with her.

A pal said, “They tried to make it work, but realised it wasn’t going to happen.”

Joe – who plays Mickey Miller on the BBC soap – has had a turbulent relationship with Emma.
She nursed Joe, 25, through meningitis in November 2005 but they split a month later.

All seemed well after Harry’s birth but Emma has now left.

The pal added, “It’s sad for both of them – but life goes on.”
___________________________________________________________
Source / Image

Eastenders Is 2007 Most Watched

The EastEnders Christmas episode - when Max & Stacey's affair was exposed -was the most watched TV programme of 2007 with 14.38 million viewers.

BBC One had six programmes in the top 10, while ITV1 had four according to audience research body Barb.

The Doctor Who Christmas special was second, with 13.31 million viewers. ITV1's most watched show was the Rugby World Cup final, with 13.13 million.

Also featured in the top 10 was an episode of Coronation Street, The Vicar of Dibley, The X Factor, Concert for Diana, Strictly Come Dancing, Britain's Got Talent and Match of the Day.

In other ratings news, Vera Duckworth's exit from Coronation Street last night was watched by an estimated 12.5 million people.

'Gus' To Leave Eastenders

Mohammed George who has played market sweeper Gus Smith since 2002 – has agreed to bow out of Eastenders by "mutual consent".

Of his exit, a BBC spokeswoman said, "As the character did not have any big plots coming up it was agreed Mohammed would leave. He is in talks with the BBC about other projects."

George has been suspended from the soap in the past over suspicion of causing actual bodily harm to partner Emma Archibald, reports Digital Spy.

Kazinsky Heading To Hollywood

Eastenders hunk Rob Kazinsky has decided to quit the soap.

Rob, who has played bad boy Sean Slater since August 2006, will carry on filming until October and remain on our screens for nearly another year. One insider claimed he will not be killed off – so Rob could return.

Rob is hoping to make it in Hollywood and has been signed by Brad Pitt’s agent, who hopes to get him a big-money role.

An insider told The Sun, “He’s desperate to be a Hollywood star. He’s ambitious, which Americans love, and easy on the eye – the first thing that Hollywood producers look at.”