EastEnders Summer 2015

[Perdita]

EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins has teased huge plots over the summer for a number of characters, promising that the show will not go quiet.

Vincent, Kim, Paul, Ben, Carol and Stacey are among those who have dramatic times ahead as the show heads towards an explosive autumn.

Speaking at an EastEnders press event, Treadwell-Collins said: "We haven't stopped working since live week and as like last year, we are not shutting shop for summer.

"Sometimes in the past, EastEnders has done stories about camping in the summer and we are not [going down that route]. We are going to propel all the way through, building to a very, very explosive September.

"It is not quiet over the next couple of months. We have the Kush, Shabnam, Martin and Stacey love square and some very big developments and twists in that story.

"Jean Slater comes back to get married and we find out more about Stacey's key. We keep going on about it but we find out a lot more. There is also Carol's departure building - this isn't for a while but we are already building that."
http://i2.cdnds.net/15/21/618x427/soaps-eastenders-5074-1_1.jpg
A shaken Kim tells Vincent to get out.
© ITV
Viewers will learn more about Kim and Vincent's relationship

Treadwell-Collins also teased that viewers will find out a lot more about Kim's relationship with Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood), with his mother Claudette also being brought to the forefront.

He said: "We learn a lot more about Vincent and Kim and their relationship and the mother-in-law, who sits there all smiley and lovely but she so is not.

"There will be a lot more about Claudette, Claudette's relationship with Kim and Kim's relationship with Vincent which will take us all the way through the summer and straight into September when it keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger. There are some surprises in that story as well.

"Claudette is also tied into Les and Pam. That is also going to explode massively and Les and Claudette's supposed affair is blown up - that is all I am going to say. Is it an affair?

"That also keys into Paul and Ben's big summer of gay romance which we had a lot of fun with, but it has a seriousness underneath it as well. It's a real love story and it keys Ben up as we dig into what makes Ben tick.

"He has been quite messed up by the death of his mother, which is obviously gearing up to the return of the undead Kathy."

Other big stories that will take focus over the summer include the upcoming departure of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), a sad story for Lee Carter and a big twist in the Lucy Beale murder case.

Treadwell-Collins added: "We have also got Jay and Lola - there is a big story for them which leads to Lola's departure - and Nancy and Tamwar - their relationship is going to up a gear quite massively and there are more twists and turns in that. Also, Lee and Whitney, which is going to take quite a serious turn as well.

"Another big story is the Lucy Beale one. We rested the story a little bit and gave it a little breather, but that kicks up a notch over the summer with a big arrest that is going to take us through to September and a few old faces will return for that as well."

[Kim]

"We are not shutting shop for summer." His exact words last year, I seem to recall. Let's hope that translates on screen this time.

[parkerman]

Dean, Jade?

[maidmarian]

Dean, Jade?

And no mention of Transgender character??

unless that is Deans comeuppance ??

Tho DTC did say he was looking for a
transactor for the role. I would agree
with that-if theres to be any believability!

[maidmarian]

Dupl

[Dazzle]

Dean, Jade?

It's a big relief to me that DTC doesn't mention Dean, but how will you cope if he has less screen time in the coming months? :(


Tho DTC did say he was looking for a
transactor for the role. I would agree
with that-if theres to be any believability!

If they're being as careful with casting as DTC previously suggested, then it might be a while yet before the character appears on screen. Let's hope he's to be believed on this!

[Kim]

After reading the news about Stacey, maybe it would be better if they did shut up shop for the summer? Give someone time to think up some more original plotlines.

[lizann]

lee carter will suffer depression

[parkerman]

lee carter will suffer depression

Must be through watching too many episodes of EastEnders.

[tammyy2j]

lee carter will suffer depression

I think a depression storyline would be better for a character like Max or Billy

[Kim]

I think a depression storyline would be better for a character like Max or Billy

It's surprising Billy doesn't get depression after Lola leaves. His wife left him when DTC was last on the show, his son's modelling contract should now be over (we didn't hear anything about an extension, did we?) but he doesn't get to see him, he'll have a downs child to cope with by himself and the remainder of the Mitchells treat him like a second rate relative.

Never mind, just as long as DTC gets a cast consisting of those characters he worked with last time around + his own creations...

[lizann]

I think a depression storyline would be better for a character like Max or Billy

yes billy with lola leaving would be a good candidate as said above post by kim

[maidmarian]

yes billy with lola leaving would be a good candidate as said above post by kim

I know there is a lot of sympathy for Billy on
here-but he arrived on EE as a child beater/
abuser-so thats my lasting impressionof him!!

[maidmarian]

dupl

[lizann]

I know there is a lot of sympathy for Billy on
here-but he arrived on EE as a child beater/
abuser-so thats my lasting impressionof him!!

yes he did beat poor jamie but was billy also beat and abused too in care homes?

[lizann]

I know there is a lot of sympathy for Billy on
here-but he arrived on EE as a child beater/
abuser-so thats my lasting impressionof him!!

yes he did beat poor jamie but was billy also beat and abused too in care homes?

[maidmarian]

yes he did beat poor jamie but was billy also beat and abused too in care homes?

yes- they did suddenly conjure up that
storyline .It didnt seem very realistically
done to me.
We do know from news stories that
many bad things were done to children
and young people in care homes and
other institutions over many decades.

I do have great sympathy with the victims
- many of whom are still trying to get
justice!!
One thing I do have great difficulty in
understanding is abused people/ children
becoming abusers. A pyschiatrist could
possibly offer an explanation??

But when they had the story about
Billy -it was too glib for me.

[maidmarian]

dupl

[lizann]

billy's backstory needs to be explored more

[parkerman]

Yes, Billy is a prime example of a character who underwent a complete personality change. Another was Minty, who first appeared as Phil's thug but later turned into everyone's mate. Barry was another nasty piece of work when he started but then became a hopeless buffoon. Perhaps Gavin will go the same way...

[Dazzle]

I know there is a lot of sympathy for Billy on
here-but he arrived on EE as a child beater/
abuser-so thats my lasting impressionof him!!

So much time has passed since he beat Jamie, and he's such a completely different character now, that I don't really connect him to the child beater any more. Also I sympathised with him when his own care home past was exposed and we discovered how he suffered too.

He was genuinely remorseful for beating Jamie and hasn't behaved that way since, so I can forget if not quite forgive.


One thing I do have great difficulty in
understanding is abused people/ children
becoming abusers. A pyschiatrist could
possibly offer an explanation??

I'm no psychiatrist but I'll give it a go. :D

I think it's to do with our evolutionary survival mechanism of copying the behaviour of those we grow up with in order to fit in. Our brains absorb that behaviour and it becomes our baseline for what constitutes "normal". Consciously hating that behaviour and knowing it's wrong doesn't necessarily mean we can stop ourselves unconsciously repeating it.

I'm sure most of us have experienced the horror of realising we're behaving just as our parents did - something we swore we'd never do. Those behavioural patterns are so ingrained they're very difficult to break.

Of course, most children who were abused don't go on to become abusers themselves, but for those who find themselves repeating destructive behaviours it's incredibly difficult to break the pattern. Desperately wanting to might not be enough. :(

I'm not letting criminals off the hook here because there has to be punishment for destroying other people's lives to deter others, but I think psychiatric help is also just as important. Of course, people have got to want to change for there to be any chance of doing so.

[maidmarian]

*** Dazzle**
Thankyou very much for your reply #21 to my
post about abuse victims becoming abusers.
I tried to reply but deleted 3 times. But here goes
I will try to be as brief as possible though it is
a very complicated subject. I did do some reading
on the subject a couple of years ago and below
are some bits I retained.

Abusing because it was part of your childhood
is a common.feature. Its the norm for the victim.
Its called "cyclical"

If whole family is dysfunctional the children can't
fully break theparents grip even when adults and
have moved away.
So.accepting that is does happen- quite frequently
doesnt explain to me why people who werent
abused go on to abuse. Why a good percentage
of victims.dont abuse. And why do siblings brought
up in sam environment can vary so much- one is
an abuser - others are not.

So then apparently we are down to personality types.
Some types eg narcissistic are more prone to.abuse
because they like to be in control. People with
certain personality disorders can be more likely
to accept abuse. All very complicated and one
probably needs qualifications and a full set of case
notes to understand the person. But it may explain
why some members of a family are abused and others
are not.

I remember it said there are 5 types of abuse
Physical Sexual Emotional then Neglect & Self- Abuse.
The last 2 are the most under- estimated both in
numbers & effect.

In general terms I would accept that unless the
abuse is heinous -that if the abuser shows genuine
remorse and makes reparation where possible
and the victim accepts that this is so- then there
should be some rehabilitation possible.And I
accept that some abusers are genuinely
shocked at what they have done.

I do wonder sometimes(.if abuser are schooled
in the right phrases to use to.obtain a lesser
sentence).A bit like guidance on how to.pass exams.

Two.points re Billy. Remorse & the abuse he suffered.

Remorse- I cant say I that I saw any - but I may
have missed it. A lot of time is given to trivial
matters and important things are swept away in
a couple of sentences.

Abuse he suffered -my problem with this is it
only seemed to be mentioned to make a storyline
more believable rather than an important issue
that would have affected his life & personality.
EG - when he became involved with Little Mo
and later when Lola came into EE.
A sort of Oh dear - not suitable boyfriend or
granddad- better think up a reason.!!
Which tends to devalue that type of abuse imo.
Billy seems now to be accepted as a well
meaning bumbler but parts of progress have
been poorly written.

Also as the Mitchell.family joke - he has probably
learned defence mechanisms over the years
and become a little bit crafty.!

So as I said initially a very complicated issue
and needing a lot of research and planning
when portrayed in a Soap.And in.real life
no easy answers!! And sadly a small part of
the human race is evil.

So.thanks again MM

[maidmarian]

dupl

[Dazzle]

Thanks for your detailed reply, MM. :)


So.accepting that is does happen- quite frequently
doesnt explain to me why people who werent
abused go on to abuse. Why a good percentage
of victims.dont abuse. And why do siblings brought
up in sam environment can vary so much- one is
an abuser - others are not.

Genetics must play a huge part but from what I've read and seen in documentaries, abusive parents can quite often favour one or some of their children over the other(s). These parents are without conscience and don't see anything wrong with loving one child and hating another. Abuse can cause personality disorders but so can the absence of love.

This happened to someone I once knew well. His father singled him out for beatings from when he was a toddler but left the other siblings alone. I disliked this person because he was abusive himself and had extreme control issues (even though he hated his father for the treatment he received). However, I did believe he was a good person at heart and would have been entirely lovely if he'd had a normal childhood. It's very sad. :(


I do wonder sometimes(.if abuser are schooled
in the right phrases to use to.obtain a lesser
sentence).A bit like guidance on how to.pass exams.

Without doubt they're told the right things to say by their lawyers.


Two.points re Billy. Remorse & the abuse he suffered.

Remorse- I cant say I that I saw any - but I may
have missed it. A lot of time is given to trivial
matters and important things are swept away in
a couple of sentences.

I'm sure I remember a scene where he cried and apologised to Jamie - but I could have imagined that.


-my problem with this is it
only seemed to be mentioned to make a storyline
more believable rather than an important issue
that would have affected his life & personality.
EG - when he became involved with Little Mo
and later when Lola came into EE.
A sort of Oh dear - not suitable boyfriend or
granddad- better think up a reason.!!
Which tends to devalue that type of abuse imo.

Agreed, but unfortunately that's so common for soaps. They introduce gritty plotlines for their sensationalism and often deal with the aftermath poorly, despite their assurances of following appropriate advice.


And sadly a small part of
the human race is evil.

I agree about the existence of evil, which is why I mentioned about people needing to want to change. Some abused who repeat the cycle are horrified by it, and some revel in making others suffer as they did. :(