Eastenders General News Thread

June Brown has revealed that her career has been "frustrating" during her time on EastEnders.

The veteran actress, 83, was speaking in the BBC1 documentary Fern Britton Meets... about her time on the soap and how she would have preferred to have appeared in other projects.

She said: "You may think I'm successful, but I don't. This will sound dreadful, but I didn't want to end my life playing a soap character. I wanted to end up playing wonderful characters like Dame Judi Dench.

"There are no longer any parts I want to play. I'm too old to play parts that are interesting. Just what comes along, I think."

Referring to a controversial storyline ten years ago regarding euthanasia, Brown also revealed that fans had told her they had also helped loved ones commit suicide.

She said: "I had so many letters from people saying they had never told anybody they had been asked to do it, and actually had done it."

A local council officer in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire has claimed that EastEnders favourite Dot Branning should be issued with a fixed penalty notice for littering.

Wendy Mills recently made a complaint to the BBC after spotting that Dot - played by 83-year-old June Brown - continues to throw her cigarette ends on the ground without punishment.

Speaking to the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, Mills explained that she feels strongly about the issue as she is currently leading a 'No Excuses' anti-litter campaign as part of her council role.

She commented: "I think the show has a responsibility to set a good example. We are hugely influenced by this soap. Dot is a main character and she's old enough to know better."

Mills's letter to the corporation received a response from a BBC Complaints representative, who wrote: "Good drama rarely involves the portrayal of the normal, the well-adjusted or the well-run.

"Writers of compelling drama scripts are, by the very nature of the medium, more likely to focus on the dubious than on people who are quietly going about their daily lives in a responsible manner, taking part in all sorts of activities, professions or sharing a particular belief.

"As littering is a problem within society, the EastEnders team are simply reflecting what happens in day-to-day life. I appreciate that you feel that Dot should maybe be apprehended by the council for these actions. We're guided by the feedback that we receive and to that end I'd like to assure you that I've registered your complaint on our audience log."

The actions of Coronation Street's Becky McDonald (Katherine Kelly) have also previously sparked criticism from anti-litter campaigners.

Apparently bears sh!t in the woods too. Maybe she should report them too. Obviously some folk have too much time on their hands. Some people will print anything

EastEnders has picked up a top prize at the CDN Diversity Awards.

The ceremony is held by the television industry's voluntary collaboration the Cultural Diversity Network and was hosted by Gok Wan.

EastEnders won the Sainsbury's Award for Mainstreaming Disability for its "rich, complex and human portrayal of disabled characters across major storylines".

The judges praised the character of Jim Branning, played by real-life stroke survivor John Bardon, and the representation of bipolar disorder through the characters Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner) and Jean Slater (Gillian Wright).

Meanwhile, Victoria Wright won the 'Best On Screen Performance' award for her role in the Channel 4 drama Cast Offs. However, the show lost out to My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in the 'Most Groundbreaking Programme' category.

EastEnders newcomer Stefan Booth has revealed that he is keen for his character Greg Jessop to have a long-lasting relationship with fiancée Tanya Branning.

Greg made his first appearance on screen back in October, having been mentioned as the new love in Tanya's life some months earlier. However, the pair have only been appearing on screen infrequently as they are currently still living away from Albert Square.

Speaking at a recent photo shoot for Gay Times' Naked Issue, Booth was asked whether the characters will come to the fore in the months ahead.

He replied: "I hope so… It's funny, because people want to know what's going on at the moment because there's been a big press release that I'm in EastEnders, but I had lots of prior work commitments before I came in, so I'm in, then I'm out for a bit, then I'm back in.

"Jo Joyner, who plays my on-screen fiancée, has also just come back from maternity leave. We haven't quite hit the ground running as a couple, but yes, I'd like to think that our future could sustain a very healthy and long-term relationship. But I have no idea what they've got planned."

The actor said that he is having "a lot of fun" at EastEnders and will appear on screen again from mid-December.

Asked whether Tanya's heart belongs to Greg or her ex-partner Max, he replied: "You know what I think about that! Of course I want her to be with Greg. Greg loves her. Greg absolutely adores Tanya and I think she knows that.

"She probably hasn't had that sort of doting affection from her previous partner. He's just there as a rock for her, no matter what happens. I think that's what she's been after - someone that's going to be true and genuine."

ACTRESS Jill Halfpenny has split from her husband Craig Conway - but will still star in a film with him.
The ex-EastEnder and Strictly Come Dancing winner, who is dating a new man, has vowed to stay pals with actor Craig.

The pair, both 35, have a two-year-old son Harvey. Geordie Jill is living apart from Craig in London while they film the comedy How To Stop Being A Loser, due for release next October.

A source said: "They're definitely still friends. It's sad, but they get on together now much better than they did before."

Jill recently revealed she has given herself a new look since separating from Craig after four years of marriage.

She said: "I've downsized my whole wardrobe by about half.

"I've a new partner who is very complimentary of both my tomboy look and my glamorous look."

Soap characters should be just as susceptible to catching the flu as everyone else, a leading public health advisor has suggested.

Professor John Ashton claimed that Heather Trott from EastEnders, portrayed by actress Cheryl Fergison, would offer an excellent opportunity to show the potentially fatal dangers of contracting the seasonal virus.

Speaking to PA, the chairman of the UK Public Health Association said that Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks also had an opportunity to highlight the issue, which is often overlooked as a health concern.

He explained: "Soap operas can play a vital role in educating the people on public health messages, whether it's breaking down preconceptions around HIV/AIDS, eating disorders or mental illness.

"They provide a perfect platform to both normalise health problems and inform people of the choices available to them, to protect themselves often in a sensitive and well researched manner."

Ashton has written to producers of the UK's four biggest soaps, to ask them to consider writing a plot which centres around the illness.

He continued: "I am now hoping that by raising the issues around the dangers of the influenza virus and how some people miss the opportunity to protect themselves, some of the scriptwriters may consider including flu in future plotlines.

"A soap opera could illustrate the dangers of the virus, by showing a character such as Heather in EastEnders deciding consciously not to have the seasonal flu vaccine. Following this decision she could then become acutely ill due to her pre-existing chronic asthma.

"I hope that by demonstrating how a character became ill after missing the opportunity to protect themselves it may resonate with some viewers and make them think twice in the future."

Ashton added: "As the flu season runs from November until March there is still time for something to be done."

Ok gang for the heck of it , who do you think pushed Glenda down the stairs ? My partner thinks it was a robber. It has to be a female cos the person picked up an earring ??? so what do U all think ??

BTW I could not find a THREAD STARTER,, so I am using this instead hope it is OK,, :readtheru

I reckon either Shirley or Jay

Being a dad on screen has its challenges, so spare a thought for EastEnders star Neil McDermott, who is also going to be a parent off-screen.

The actor, who plays Ryan Malloy in the BBC soap, has revealed he got "freaked out" as he filmed the scenes of his screen daughter's birth - because, in a weird coincidence, he had just discovered his real-life wife Michelle was expecting a baby too.

In EastEnders, he is the father of Stacey Branning's (Lacey Turner) baby Lily.

"The day I found out Michelle was pregnant was the day I was filming Stacey giving birth. I was holding the three-week-old baby we had in there and I wasn't telling anyone at the time that Michelle was pregnant, so that was a very strange day. I was getting freaked out," he said.

Neil is looking forward to fatherhood and has been getting some practice in with the two babies who play Lily.

"Hopefully I won't have to save my daughter from a fire... but it's been great having two little Lilies around," he added.

The actor, who celebrated his 30th birthday on December 15, can't wait for the arrival of his real bundle of joy, a daughter, due on New Year's Day.

"I'm really, really looking forward to it now," he said. Sounds like it's going to be a happy new year!