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The latest issue of Inside Soap has some cast and character updates which will no doubt be of interest to fans of EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
For EastEnders, it's been confirmed that Jane Beale and Max Branning will both make their on-screen comebacks in November.
As viewers will remember, Jane departed screens earlier this year as actress Laurie Brett took maternity leave. Jane left Albert Square after her marriage had crumbled - but could she be returning to find Ian already planning his next wedding as we know that he proposes to Mandy next week?
Meanwhile, Max (Jake Wood) has been absent from Walford life since August, when his affair with Tanya came to light in explosive circumstances. His reappearance should see him thrown right back in the thick of things with the Brannings and the Crosses.
Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya, recently said: "There's some really great stuff to come with Max, Cora and Tanya and her past. It all comes to a bit of a head."
owenlee4me
12-10-2011, 14:37
:cheer:
Was wondering where maxy had gone, after alll he loves his kids, so it was out of character for him to just vanish.
So welcome back Max, you've been missed, and now Eddies gone, we need the balance restored age, wise on the male side of the show:thumbsup:
Dutchgirl
14-10-2011, 07:48
:cheer:
Was wondering where maxy had gone, after alll he loves his kids, so it was out of character for him to just vanish.
So welcome back Max, you've been missed, and now Eddies gone, we need the balance restored age, wise on the male side of the show:thumbsup:
Well Max is not that old, mind you.
I missed that epi, but are Eddie and Vanessa out of the picture or is there going to be an explosive exit for Vanessa?
Well Max is not that old, mind you.
I missed that epi, but are Eddie and Vanessa out of the picture or is there going to be an explosive exit for Vanessa?
Vanessa has gone.
EastEnders star Laurie Brett has revealed that she is "delighted" to be back at the soap after agreeing to reprise her role as Jane Collins for a brief stint.
As previously rumoured, Jane will soon return to screens and it has now emerged that her comeback scenes will air next month after her adoptive son Bobby Beale decides to go looking for her.
Once Jane has made her reappearance, she quickly realises that there are reasons she needs to stick around in Walford for a while.
EastEnders bosses have teased that there could be drama in store as Jane's return will no doubt cause problems for her ex-husband Ian (Adam Woodyatt), who now has Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) living under his roof.
Speaking of her comeback for the first time, Brett exclusively told Digital Spy: "I am delighted to be back at EastEnders as it feels like I have come home. I am only returning for a few months as I want to spend as much time as I can with my daughter Erin, but I can't wait to see what they have in store for Jane this time round."
Meanwhile, an EastEnders spokesperson confirmed: "Laurie Brett will be reprising the role of Jane for a few months and her arrival is bound to cause some problems for Ian."
A show insider added: "Jane's return to Walford won't just set the cat amongst the pigeons with Ian and Mandy, it will also ruffle some feathers with the Masoods as there has always been an undeniable spark between Jane and Masood."
Brett welcomed the arrival of baby Erin - her first child - earlier this year.
Dutchgirl
19-10-2011, 15:20
I hope she will come back indefinit someday. I like her character. Maybe she can take Bobby with her. She is the only mum he knows.
Jane Beale's old spark with Masood Ahmed is still apparent as she makes her return to EastEnders next week.
As reported at the weekend, Jane arrives back in Walford to bring Bobby home when the youngster goes looking for her unexpectedly.
Following a frosty encounter with Ian, Jane (Laurie Brett) heads off to find Christian but ends up bumping into Masood. The pair soon have a catch-up over recent events and it's clear that there's still chemistry between them.
Masood (Nitin Ganatra) later gets cold feet over spending time with Jane as he feels that his family and Zainab (Nina Wadia) need him at the moment.
However, when Masood discovers that Yusef (Ace Bhatti) is worming his way back in with Zainab despite his paternity test scheme, he's furious and wonders whether it's time to stop worrying about her.
When Jane announces that she's sticking around as Bobby needs her, could there be a chance for her and Masood after all, or are they over before they've even begun?
EastEnders airs these scenes on Thursday, November 10 and Friday, November 11 on BBC One.
EastEnders star Laurie Brett has confirmed that the door will be left open for her character Jane at the end of her current stint on the soap.
The actress is now back on screen as Jane after taking time off for maternity leave, but as announced in October, she is only back for a few months as she wants to spend as much time as possible with her baby daughter Erin.
Brett told This Morning today: "It's such a hamster wheel to run on, EastEnders - it's such a massive machine and the hours are so long. So I've decided just to go back for a few months and give myself a bit of flexibility after that.
"I don't want to miss the whole first year and everything that happens with the baby within that. I think that, if I've waited this long to have one, then I should enjoy it.
"I'm going back for a few months and they're not going to bump Jane off, I don't think, so the door will be left open for something in the future."
Discussing life with baby Erin, she continued: "It's going really well - she's amazing and I just can't believe it. The time goes so fast. It's an incredible time that we've had with her, and my mum and dad didn't think they'd ever be grandparents, so they're over the moon."
Brett also teased Jane's future with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) as the feelings between the pair will be revisited in upcoming episodes.
"Obviously the spark's there," she explained. "I think every woman is sitting at home thinking, 'Go on Jane!' So now they're both single and obviously there's things that have been spoken and said. Now they're single, perhaps something might come of it.
"I think it's brilliant that Jane, who is the normal woman - she's not the glamourpuss or anything - does get these moments where she gets the guy. I think there's a lot that will unfurl over the next few months."
EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.
EastEnders star Jo Joyner has revealed that she is thrilled to have Jake Wood back on the set of the soap.
Wood's character Max Branning took time out from Walford back in August, but he will be back on screen in a fortnight's time as the BBC show airs its five-episode 'Branning Week'.
Max was rejected by on-off partner Tanya in the summer after she suffered a health scare. She has since been receiving treatment for cervical cancer.
Reflecting on her alter ego's decision, Joyner told Inside Soap: "Tanya just didn't want Max to be around to watch her deteriorate. Their relationship has been based on Tanya having to be sexy and attractive to keep Max on his toes. But she hasn't got the energy to work so hard to keep him."
She continued: "It's been so lovely to have Jake back. I love the dynamics between Max and Tanya. It's a comfortable history for us as actors to understand their relationship."
As revealed earlier this week, Tanya's life starts to spiral out of control in the build-up to Max's return as she stops attending her appointments for treatment and has a drunken night out with daughter Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa).
Joyner said: "Tanya is escaping a dark situation that she doesn't want to think about. She's not thinking straight and she's just a bit high on life. It feels great, and it's complete escapism for her."
tammyy2j
11-11-2011, 14:15
EastEnders star Laurie Brett has confirmed that the door will be left open for her character Jane at the end of her current stint on the soap.
The actress is now back on screen as Jane after taking time off for maternity leave, but as announced in October, she is only back for a few months as she wants to spend as much time as possible with her baby daughter Erin.
Brett told This Morning today: "It's such a hamster wheel to run on, EastEnders - it's such a massive machine and the hours are so long. So I've decided just to go back for a few months and give myself a bit of flexibility after that.
"I don't want to miss the whole first year and everything that happens with the baby within that. I think that, if I've waited this long to have one, then I should enjoy it.
"I'm going back for a few months and they're not going to bump Jane off, I don't think, so the door will be left open for something in the future."
Discussing life with baby Erin, she continued: "It's going really well - she's amazing and I just can't believe it. The time goes so fast. It's an incredible time that we've had with her, and my mum and dad didn't think they'd ever be grandparents, so they're over the moon."
Brett also teased Jane's future with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) as the feelings between the pair will be revisited in upcoming episodes.
"Obviously the spark's there," she explained. "I think every woman is sitting at home thinking, 'Go on Jane!' So now they're both single and obviously there's things that have been spoken and said. Now they're single, perhaps something might come of it.
"I think it's brilliant that Jane, who is the normal woman - she's not the glamourpuss or anything - does get these moments where she gets the guy. I think there's a lot that will unfurl over the next few months."
EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.
Mas will get back with Zainab and Jane will leave again kinda predictable she should take Bobby with her this time around though
EastEnders star Laurie Brett has revealed that she had to keep quiet about her Walford return for months.
Last night, viewers were shocked as the actress's character Jane Beale made a surprise return to Albert Square to visit her ex-husband Ian (Adam Woodyatt).
Show bosses had kept Jane's comeback tightly under wraps prior to the broadcast of yesterday's episode.
Speaking on ITV's Daybreak this morning (January 7), Brett explained: "I told very little people. All the people at EastEnders were really keeping it hush-hush too. I don't know how they managed it. They did an amazing job of doing it.
"I've known for months that I was going to go and do [these] episodes. It's about five, six months I've been keeping it a secret."
Brett also plays Waterloo Road headteacher Christine Mulgrew and had to juggle both shows while filming the scenes last year.
She added: "I was filming some massive Christine scenes which come at the end of this block of ten [episodes]. So I was filming really, really intense Christine stuff, then coming down to Elstree to do this.
"We were actually on set and Adam Woodyatt said, 'You know you just sounded Scottish there!' I got a bit confused with the accent!"
EastEnders fans will see Jane reveal the reasons for her return tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.
EastEnders star Laurie Brett has confirmed that she wouldn't rule out another future return to the soap.
The actress was seen reprising her Walford role as Jane Beale this week as show bosses briefly brought back the character in a surprise storyline twist.
While fans have been speculating about a possible full-time return for Jane, Brett is still part of the cast of fellow BBC One show Waterloo Road, on which she plays Christine Mulgrew.
Asked if Jane could make a permanent comeback, Brett told Digital Spy: "I'm going back in late spring to film series ten of Waterloo Road, so apart from that I can't really think of anything else. That's there and I'm going to be doing that, so I've got no idea of what's going to happen.
"I don't really plan anything so it's a case of 'que sera sera' - whatever will be, will be."
Brett also admitted that she was surprised when EastEnders' new executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins first suggested Jane's return to her last year.
She explained: "I'd never actually thought about returning, to be quite honest. It was only a couple of years since I'd left and I've been so involved in Waterloo Road, so it never even crossed my mind.
"When Dominic called me and wanted to speak to me, it was just a really nice thing. Dominic's just great so when he asked me to come back for these episodes, of course I was going to do that for him.
"I think his work is fantastic and he's a dear friend. It was a lovely opportunity to come back in and surprise people. I can't believe it was kept so quiet."
Backing EastEnders for a bright future with Treadwell-Collins at the helm, she added: "I think Dominic is great and the team there are great. Dominic eats, sleeps and breathes it and he knows the show so well.
"He knows about drama and he's such a great man for the job, so I was really thrilled when he told me that he was going back as exec producer. I just think he was born to do it and the show will do really well under him."
Waterloo Road returns with a new block of episodes tonight (January 8) at 8.30pm on BBC One.
parkerman
08-01-2014, 13:53
Brett explained: "I told very little people."
What's wrong with telling tall people? Do they blab more?
parkerman
08-01-2014, 13:53
Brett explained: "I told very little people."
What's wrong with telling tall people? Do they blab more?
What's wrong with telling tall people? Do they blab more?
No but their voice carries further because of the height
ACTRESS Laurie Brett is returning to Albert Square as Jane Beale.
Producers managed to make Jane's return a complete surprise to viewers
Viewers were shocked when she arrived at ex-husband Ian’s house earlier this month as the soap’s bosses had managed to keep her return a secret.
But we can exclusively reveal it was always intended for her to do two stints.
However she had to work around her Waterloo Road role as Christine Mulgrew.
Laurie, 44, left the show in January 2012 when she left to take up a new job in Cardiff.
An EastEnders source said: “Bosses were keen to get her back to be a part of a bigger storyline that’s going on. There’s lots coming up with the Beales heading into the big 30th anniversary next year.”
Fans will be able to watch Laurie’s second spell as Jane next month.
owenlee4me
24-01-2014, 11:06
sorry but i'm not that fusssed on her as Ian's wife, she was not really convincing to me, so lets get her 2nd spell over with and move her on!
EastEnders' Jane Beale finds herself at the centre of more drama when she pays another visit to Albert Square later this month.
Jane (Laurie Brett) gets more than she bargained for when she returns to Walford to spend some quality time with her family.
The first bombshell for Jane comes when she learns that the local market is likely to be closed down and that Ian (Adam Woodyatt) has a surprising plan to keep his finances afloat during this difficult time.
Jane also quickly picks up on tension between Ian and his new partner Denise Fox (Diane Parish), which prompts Denise to privately tell her that she recently kissed someone else.
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The Beales enjoy some family time.
© BBC
The Beales enjoy some family time.
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Denise confesses to Jane about the kiss.
© BBC
Denise confesses to Jane about the kiss.
Later in the week, Jane starts to clash with Ian about his failures as a father and Bobby's welfare.
As the tension mounts, Jane starts to wonder whether leaving Walford again would be the wrong move, and she finds a willing confidante in Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) at the pub. What will Jane decide?
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Jane and Ian disagree about Bobby's welfare.
© BBC
Jane and Ian disagree about Bobby's welfare.
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Masood and Jane find comfort in each other's worries.
© BBC
Masood and Jane find comfort in each other
EastEnders airs these scenes next week on BBC One.
EastEnders star Laurie Brett will return to the soap on a permanent basis later this year.
The actress has now finished filming her latest stint as Jane Beale, but will be back on set as a regular cast member from the autumn.
Brett is taking time away from EastEnders again as she still has a number of Waterloo Road episodes to film in her role as troubled teacher Christine Mulgrew.
In EastEnders, viewers will see Jane remain on screen for the next few weeks as she deals with the devastating loss of her stepdaughter Lucy.
After Lucy's funeral, Jane will leave Walford again for the time being, but will make a full-time return later in the year.
Speaking at an EastEnders press event this week, Brett explained: "I'm on screen until the funeral and then I do have a job commitment, but then I will be back in September. I'm back in September once I've finished at Waterloo Road."
EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins also confirmed that Jane's return will be permanent.
Brett originally played Jane between 2004 and 2012. She made a shock return at the beginning of this year and has been appearing frequently over the past few months.
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