I wonder what their new storyline will be?
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I wonder what their new storyline will be?
EastEnders boss Bryan Kirkwood says he's been working hard to line up a "good week of episodes" to coincide with Corrie's big anniversary.
The rival soap celebrates its 50th birthday on December 9, and plans include a live episode and a tram crash that will kill off key characters.
Speaking of what he has in store to keep his own viewers interested, Walford's executive producer told This Morning: "We plan up to nine months in advance with storylines. Some of our long-term storylines are two or three years in the future. We knew Corrie's 50th was happening in the first week of December so we've got a good week of episodes."
He went on: "There are no explosions, there are no trams but I'm really happy with the material we've got."
He also praised the long-running ITV1 soap, saying: "I say good on them and good luck. It's a great show. They've embarked on a live episode. When I see the pictures of their tram crash I feel more than a little bit jealous - they've got a huge stunt on the way. But I'm sure they'll do it brilliantly."
Bryan also revealed that the sets at the soap's Elstree HQ are "all gleaming and shiny and new" following refurbishment ahead of the soap's move into HD.
"We'll hopefully be able to announce a date [for HD] quite soon," he added.
EastEnders star Scott Maslen has revealed that he once feared he had killed a man during a street fight.
The actor, who plays Jack Branning in the BBC One soap, admitted that he hit the man with a steel pipe when he was a teenager, after arriving to back up a friend who was being racially abused.
He told The Mirror: "I met him there and he knocked on their door. He received a complete tirade of racist abuse from this 40-something geezer, the father of some of the boys. We were just 16. I was about 15st and had just been sitting on the wall listening.
"Suddenly it had all gone off and turned very nasty. The father went back in the house, I thought to call the police, but actually came back outside with a baseball bat. One of the kids pulled a bit of steel piping from a nearby skip. He swung it into my ribs, then into the side window of a car.
"I was an animal trapped up a dead end street. Somehow I grabbed the piping, went back up the street and whacked the dad. We ran off. It was a mad two minutes. I stayed up that night studying for my O level history exam the next day but all the time in the back of my mind thinking 'maybe I killed him'."
Maslen, currently starring in Strictly Come Dancing, also revealed that he once got involved in football violence as a teenager.
EastEnders star Charlie Brooks has admitted that she wants her character Janine Malloy to discover the truth about Archie Mitchell's murder.
Most of Albert Square's residents are still unaware that Stacey Branning killed the Walford villain last Christmas - instead believing that her now-deceased husband Bradley was responsible for the crime.
However, in a twist which airs in tonight's episode of the BBC soap, Janine is present as Stacey blurts out that Archie raped her last year. Immediately afterwards, Stacey fears that she has let slip too much by accidentally revealing her motive.
Ex-EastEnders actress Lucy Benjamin is reportedly three months pregnant with her second child.
The star, who played Lisa Fowler on the Walford soap, revealed that she cannot wait to have another baby.
She told The Mirror: "I am so looking forward to having baby number two next April... and to all the noise, laughter and chaos he or she will bring to our home."
Benjamin is already mum to daughter Bessie, who was born in November 2006.
A special scene referencing George Osborne's spending review is to be edited into tonight's episode of EastEnders, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.
Yesterday, the Chancellor officially announced £81bn of spending cuts as part of the Government's ongoing plan to reduce Britain's record peacetime deficit.
Following Osborne's statement to the House Of Commons yesterday afternoon, EastEnders bosses began working on a last-minute scene which will allow the national talking point to be reflected on screen this evening.
The scene in question will see Walford residents Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) and Charlie Slater (Derek Martin) discussing the impact of the Chancellor's plans.
EastEnders producers have often referenced issues of national and international importance on screen in recent years. Back in May, a last-minute scene saw the result of the UK general election mentioned on screen, while other episodes have referenced Michael Jackson's death, President Obama's US election victory and the results of various football games.
The main focus of tonight's episode will be troubled Carol Jackson as she continues to lash out at her loved ones following the tragic death of her son Billie.
BBC soap EastEnders will be broadcast in high definition for the first time on Christmas Day, it has been announced.
Fans of the show will get their first glimpse of Walford in HD in the show's December 25 episode, which is expected to feature more festive drama for the residents of Albert Square.
In order to ensure that the drama's base at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Herts is prepared for the high quality filming format, a series of improvements have been made to sets. Most notably, a new-look Queen Vic will soon be unveiled on screen following the huge fire which engulfed the pub last month.
EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood commented: "Christmas Day in Walford is traditionally turkey, tinsel and turmoil for the residents of Albert Square. This year will be even more spectacular with viewers having the opportunity to watch the festive drama unfold in HD for the first time."
Yesterday, it was confirmed that BBC One HD will launch on multiple digital TV platforms on November 3.
EastEnders is to appear on BBC One HD in the run-up to Christmas, but will transmit as upscaled SD material until December 25.
Former EastEnders star Michelle Collins has claimed that the actors on the BBC One soap hate working there.
The actress, who played Cindy Beale until the character was killed off in 1998, admitted that she is glad she can't return to the soap because of the extra pressures to attract high ratings.
She told the News of the World: "Everyone who works at EastEnders doesn't want to be working there. Ask any of the actors - they complain all the time.
"I think soaps are under so much pressure to scandalise. It's all about boosting ratings these days. I didn't really see the point of doing a live episode, especially because a lot of those people have never done live theatre before.
"It put them under a huge lot of pressure. Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) forgot his lines, and now he's always going to be remembered as the man who forgot his lines on telly."
Speaking of a possible return for her character, she said: "They'd be very silly to bring Cindy back. I don't think anyone would take it. I'm actually quite pleased that she died - at least I'm not being enticed into going back."
SOUR GRAPES coming from Michelle Collins,,
That went through my mind too, Jodi :)
EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood has revealed that a new family may be introduced to the soap within the next year.
The programme's showrunner disclosed the news on yesterday evening's special edition of Points of View, on which he fielded questions that had been submitted by viewers of the Walford drama.
One fan enquiry questioned the recent return of Kat and Alfie Moon to Albert Square, asking whether their places on the show should be filled by new characters instead.
Speaking in response, Kirkwood explained: "I love seeing Kat and Alfie back on screen and acting alongside icons like Phil, Carol and Bianca, and new stars like the Masood family.
"We are always looking for new characters and great new actors, and that's going on behind the scenes. We may unveil a new family in the next year or so."
Meanwhile, Kirkwood also spoke of how much the BBC soap values viewer feedback, explaining that the opinions of fans are discussed by the show's team on a daily basis.
He said: "The first thing I do every day is to read the duty log, which is a reflection of the audience's reaction to the previous night's episode. We take a huge interest in [feedback], we discuss it every day and take feedback as an opportunity to learn lessons."
Kirkwood began heading up production at EastEnders earlier this year following the departure of previous exec Diederick Santer.