Larry Lamb faces EastEnders axe as Archie Mitchell

[Perdita]

EastEnders baddie Larry Lamb is being axed – as stars fear that bosses want a clearout to save cash.

Larry, 65 – evil grandad Archie Mitchell – will go despite being a hit with fans.

It comes after Kara Tointon and Ricky Groves were told in March their characters – on-off couple Dawn Swann and Garry Hobbs – were being written out.

Chiefs claim Archie, who joined last year, has run out of plotlines.

But a Walford insider said stars blamed cost cuts, adding: “These are difficult times. Everyone’s keeping their heads down and hoping they still have a job at the end of each month.”

Barbara Windsor – Archie’s screen wife Peggy – claimed budget cuts were ruining the show. The TV favourite, 71, said: “It’s really worrying, what’s going on with the cutbacks.

“As a result of the changes, I think we’re missing out on some of the things that made EastEnders so special.

“But we have to consider ourselves lucky to be in work at the moment.”


Archie was seen leaving the Square in April on his wedding day after Peggy learned the truth about him and asked son Phil to murder him.

The scheming OAP lied to daughter Ronnie that Danielle, the child she put up for adoption, was dead – when she was living with the Slaters. He also bedded Phil’s former lover Suzy. Viewers see him return next month and beg for forgiveness. But his stay will be short.

A second insider said: “After the things he’s done, there isn’t much more the writers can do with him. He’s peaked.

“He’s evil through and through, and even if he manages to wheedle his way back for a while, we can’t make him good. It would ruin the character.

“Everyone thinks Larry is great, but for storyline reasons he’s got to go.”

A show spokeswoman said: “Every BBC programme has to make savings. But viewers can be assured that every effort goes into making sure EastEnders is of the same high quality.”

Daily Mirror

If they don't kill him off, they could make another Nasty Nick out of his character and he pops up everytime they need a baddie, Nick can't keep coming back after what he is trying to do to Dot this time. :nono:

[parkerman]

I didn't know he was still in it. I thought he'd already gone...

[Perdita]

I didn't know he was still in it. I thought he'd already gone...

He is coming back next month, begging for forgiveness. By the look of things, he will be chased out of Walford, whether for good or not remains to be seen. I hope they don't kill him off :eek:

[parkerman]

Me neither. He was one of the best soap villains ever.

[tammyy2j]

I hope they dont kill him off he is a great villian

I surprised they havent gone rid of some of the other talentless worthless characters Chelesa, Darren, The Massods, Libby, Denise, etc

[parkerman]

I hope they dont kill him off he is a great villian

I surprised they havent gone rid of some of the other talentless worthless characters Chelesa, Darren, The Massods, Libby, Denise, etc
The Masoods? They're great. The best thing to happen to Eastenders in years. Great characters. Great actors.

[angel_eyes87]

They wont get rid of him, they know that he can keep the viewers coming back, how on earth can they run out of plots, he hasn't even been in it that long and there is so much we don't know about his back ground, its the same rumour as yesterday with Billy, it will be denied later today.

[Perdita]

I hope they dont kill him off he is a great villian

I surprised they havent gone rid of some of the other talentless worthless characters Chelesa, Darren, The Massods, Libby, Denise, etc
The Masoods? They're great. The best thing to happen to Eastenders in years. Great characters. Great actors.

I agree, the Masoods are fantastic, especially with Syed now in Walford. The only one I would not miss would be Chelsea and Denise, all other characters at the moment are fine imo. :)

[Jessie Wallace]

Ah get rid of him, his charcter is over, couldn't careless now. It ended with the Danielle storyline!

[Chloe O'brien]

There is no point to bring him back for a couple of episodes to beg forgiveness then disapear again. They would be better to just shelve the idea of him coming back at all. Or they could get rid of Peggy, Chelsea and a few more planks of wood to pay Larry's salary.

[Perdita]

Perhaps Phil is going to finish what he did not do last time he had Archie tied up in the Arches to gain ultimate revenge for his mum. She is then nice to him and he can stop boozing. :D

[di marco]

i thought he was only originally meant to be there for a year anyway so i dont think him leaving has anything to do with budget cuts. i hope they dont kill him off though

[Chloe O'brien]

Here's to another pathetic exit in a black cab.

[Perdita]

From DS:

A tabloid report today claims that EastEnders actor Larry Lamb's character Archie Mitchell has been axed from the show in order to cut costs.

So what's the score? Well I'm told that it was only ever intended that he stay in Walford for the duration of the Danielle (Lauren Crace) storyline. His exit - which saw Phil (Steve McFadden) force him to leave the area - was intended to be just that: his exit from the soap.

However, as his initial stint was so successful, the producers decided to hand him another set-length storyline, which will again apparently reach a natural conclusion and he'll more than likely depart again at the end of it.

That's the nature of storytelling, though, isn't it? A character has a story which plays out and if the storyline dictates that there's no reason for them to be there afterwards, they leave...

[Chloe O'brien]

But what about us finding out that Archie is Phil's real dad on the Christmas day episode. :lol:

[Siobhan]

But what about us finding out that Archie is Phil's real dad on the Christmas day episode. :lol:

Is this around the same time Heather tells Phil he is the daddy??? :rotfl::rotfl:

[sindydoll]

i think archie gets the vic

[Perdita]

I don't think he is staying around long enough for this to happen

[Kim]

But what about us finding out that Archie is Phil's real dad on the Christmas day episode. :lol:

Maybe they thought that Phil finding out that Grant is Ben's real dad would cut costs further :lol: After what Phil was saying to Ronnie the other day about Kathy and Grant I don't see that being the end of it. A DNA test and then Ian having some digs at Phil about it won't break the bank.

[Chloe O'brien]

But what about us finding out that Archie is Phil's real dad on the Christmas day episode. :lol:

Is this around the same time Heather tells Phil he is the daddy??? :rotfl::rotfl:

No little Pickle Beetroot will make an appearence either Halloween or Bon fire night. I think come christmas all the mitchells will be taking loads of photos of Amy and putting them in an album, there they will come across a photo of Larry as a baby and see he is a dead ringer for little Pickle and the penny will drop that Larry is Phil's Daddy. MOHAAAWWWWW.

[Siobhan]

ah the plot thickens and it involves yet again the Mitchells... so Grant is Ben's dad, Archie is Phil's dad and Phil is heather's baby dad... Peggy is actually Phil's sister and roxy was found and not really a Mitchell at all...

[di marco]

i think archie gets the vic

i dont think so, if archie got the vic i doubt hed be leaving

[parkerman]

ah the plot thickens and it involves yet again the Mitchells... so Grant is Ben's dad, Archie is Phil's dad and Phil is heather's baby dad... Peggy is actually Phil's sister and roxy was found and not really a Mitchell at all...
And Winston turns out to be Tracey's long lost brother and they are both the children of silent movie stars.

[Chloe O'brien]

Picture the scene. It's Archie's last night on the square and he's in the pub arguing with Phil and Peggy.
Peggy yells "Get out of ma pub"

Phil "Mum I'll sort this out"

Archie "Alright I'm going but I've got a surprise for you first" He reaches up and goes to tear of a mask he is wearing and while doing an Alan Carr impression he yells.

"It's me Grunt. I've come back to rescue your jobs" :rotfl: :rotfl:

Geezo I need help