60 % extras sacked in Emmerdale

[Perdita]

EMMERDALE is facing a mutiny on set after 60 PER CENT of the show’s extras were axed.

The backgrounders — some have been seen supping pints in the Woolpack for more than 20 years — have been told the cull is to make the ITV1 soap more realistic.

Emmerdale bosses have written to regulars: “One of our aims is to try to represent a small village community more accurately.

“At present we have over one hundred regular supporting artists, and in the small and fairly remote North Yorkshire village that it represents, our current thinking is that this number is too great to be realistic.”

But last night four extras — who have been spared the chop but do not want to be named — hit back in a stinging statement.


They said: “Before the new series producer Anita Turner came along no one was stupid enough to believe viewers had stopped watching because there were too many background artists.


“We feel very strongly the production company are ducking the issue.”

An ITV spokesman responded, saying: “It is the nature of production that there is a creative review from time to time.”


Despite the tension, bosses were celebrating yesterday after Emmerdale trounced EastEnders on Tuesday.

Viewing figures peaked at 7.1 million against Enders’ 6 million.

[Chris_2k11]

its 60% of the proper cast they want axing never mind extras

[Abbie]

what have the extras ever done

[Perdita]

The 31 Emmerdale background artistes who were axed earlier this month have accused actors' trade union Equity of abandoning them in their hour of need.

ITV Productions axed 27% of their regular walk-ons following a creative review which concluded that the reduction would give the show a 'more realistic village feel'.

According to The Stage, those actors involved in the cull have accused Equity of responding 'too slow' and failing to 'explore options' with the soap's production house before they were dropped.

One actor involved in the dispute with the union is quoted as saying that he has been 'passed from pillar to post', resulting in his decision to discontinue his membership after feeling 'abandoned' by representatives.

He said: "I think if I had been an actor their attitude would have been completely different, and yet Equity’s membership from supporting artists must be great."

Another also resolved to terminate her membership, saying: "What is the point paying all this money every year? It's the dearest diary I have ever bought. And then when you really need them you have to keep ringing, emailing and pushing them, asking what they will do for you."

Equity chiefs refuted suggestions that the union has acted inadequately, confirming that thorough meetings were held prior to the decision to axe 31 of the 113 walk-ons. The meetings in question reportedly dealt with how those involved in the clear-out were to be chosen.

Spokesman Martin Brown said: "Our conclusion was it was hard to doubt the exercise was genuinely driven by artistic considerations. They gave us absolute assurance that trade union membership and age were not factors in the selection."

He did, however, empathise with 'the upset and anger' of those affected by the job losses.

[lilliput]

31 isn't 60% of 113.

if they were prepared to work sporadically without contracts and freelance to avoid paying agency fees, then they have no cause for complaint.