Ray Brooks axed

[Kim]

It's Ender the whine for Joe

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6599/charjoemacerkf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

September 30, 2006

EASTENDERS star Ray Brooks has been axed from the BBC1 soap, we can reveal.

The actor, who plays Joe Macer, will meet an explosive end after nearly a year married to whingeing Pauline Fowler.

Ray — best known as the voice of cartoon character Mr Benn — will leave in January, just weeks after po-faced Pauline is killed off on Christmas Day. Last night, a show insider said: “With Pauline going, there’s not much more we could do with Ray’s character.

“Viewers will see him leave in January — and it’s going to be a dramatic exit.” The source added: “Ray is fine with the decision.”

It marks the end of a difficult year for the 67-year-old actor who endured a challenging working relationship with unhappy EastEnders legend Wendy Richard.

Wendy, 63, previously admitted the pair didn’t share the same “chemistry” as she had with first on-screen hubby Bill Treacher — who played her beloved ‘Arfur’. And she told The Sun how she quit over Pauline’s second marriage — because she felt it betrayed her character.

Wendy explained: “The bosses all thought we looked good together on screen.

“But when I watched it back, I just thought it looked like I was working very hard.

“I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and say, ‘You should never have married.’ ”

An EastEnders spokeswoman refused to comment last night.

[Babe14]

Here we go again "explosive"! Where? When?

Joe has never been involved in Enders from day one really and his character never developed, he just became lost like many others.


An EastEnders spokeswoman refused to comment last night.

Probably because they have run out of "excuses"

[Bryan]

From Digital Spy:

EastEnders actor Ray Brooks is to leave Walford in dramatic style, DS can confirm.

Brooks – who has played builder Joe Macer for just over a year – has been axed from the BBC soap after the decision was made that his character would have no more shelf life following the forthcoming departure of his on-screen wife, Pauline (Wendy Richard), at Christmas.

A spokeswoman for the soap told DS: "Ray will be leaving towards the end of January and it will be a dramatic storyline with lots of twists and turns along the way."

The 67-year-old actor will film his final scenes in December.


My guess - another black cab job :rolleyes:

Finally some more of the dead wood is burnt off, let's hope he takes that useless Bert and half of the cast with him!

[Xx-Vicky-xX]

Cant say im overly bothered, he made no impact what so ever i doubt he will be to missed seeing as he is hardly ever in it anyway

[Footie_Chick]

It makes sense though doesn't it, with Pauline gone EE hasn't much use for him!!!

[Chris_2k11]

Is that Bert on his way out too then??

[Bryan]

Is that Bert on his way out too then??

here's hoping

I've thought of one reason why we should be grateful for Joe... it wa becuase of him coming that Wendy Richards quit... hallejuah! No more moaning Pauline after crimbo! :cheer:

[littlemo]

So Pauline's leaving at Christmas and Joe's leaving in January, is that right?!

So do you reckon they both die at different times, or one dies and one leaves?

I suppose they could bring up the thing about Joe's first wife again. There was that whole thing about euthanasia, but maybe there could be more to it?!

[Bryan]

I hope that Sonia kills Pauline by smashing her over the head with that beloved fruit bowel on Christmas Day and Joe goes down for the murder... that would be slightly entertaining at least, if your going to get rid of two boring characters then make the most of it!

[Chris_2k11]

You don't think he murders her and gets sent to prison do you? LMAO :D

[Chris_2k11]

I hope that Sonia kills Pauline by smashing her over the head with that beloved fruit bowel on Christmas Day and Joe goes down for the murder... that would be slightly entertaining at least, if your going to get rid of two boring characters then make the most of it!Or maybe that! :D

[Kim]

Hopefully Bert would do it and get sent down then we're rid of all three. I'm guessing Joe will be devastated and go off to live with his daughter Megan or something; how dramatic!

[Luna]

seen this coming if pauline and martin are both leaving then theres no need for him to stay on

[Mr Humphries]

Maybe with he now axed, maybe Pauline might stay or at least not be killed off, so she could return later! He was a pants actor anyway

[Richie_lecturer]

Bye bye Mr Benn.

His exit will probably be low key. He will enter one of the clothes stalls in the market, go in the changing room and disappear.

[Xx-Vicky-xX]

Yeah he will probably just disapear and no one will notice, hopefully hell take Bert with him though saying that aint seen him for a while

[DaVeyWaVey]

I am not surprised, i could see it coming...i really liked his character though, but there's nothing much left for him to do once Pauline goes. Let's hope Bert isn't too far away...

[Jojo]

Once your "wife" has gone, theres not really a lot keeping him there, so this announcement doesn't really surprise me. And its not as if they've done much with his character. And with Martin going too - whats keeping him there now...

[hayley]

Maybe he kills her!

wont miss him really, never really liked him and bert.