Eastenders General News Thread

Another celebrity relationship bites the dust. SUGABABES singer JADE EWEN and EastEnders actor RICKY NORWOOD – Fatboy in the soap – have called it a day.

The pair had been dating since 2009 and were even close to announcing an engagement, according to pals. But it seems it wasn’t meant to be. The reason for the split? Work c*ommitments (that old chestnut, I hear you cry).

Jade is throwing everything into the Sugababes’ comeback as they prepare to release new single Freedom while Ricky’s busy becoming a soap fan fave.

A pal tells me: “It’s sad. But the door is still slightly ajar, they could still reunite one day.” Watch this space...



Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/...#ixzz1XcOT5rda

Jessie Wallace has returned to work after recently cancelling her wedding.

The 39-year-old actress, who plays Kat Moon in EastEnders, was expected to take several weeks off after dumping ex-fiancé Vince Morse hours before their wedding, having found out that he had been sending raunchy messages to his former girlfriend.

An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed to The Sun: "Jessie is back filming this week," while a friend of Wallace said: "Jessie has had two weeks from hell. Getting back on Albert Square will help her get some normality back. And being surrounded by the cast will give her a massive boost. It all feels raw and surreal but she's determined to get her life back."

> Jessie Wallace fiancé: 'She was right to dump me'
> Kym Marsh: 'I feel sick for Jessie Wallace after cheating scandal'

As Wallace appeared back on the EastEnders set after lying low in Crete for the past week, Morse went on This Morning begging for the actress's forgiveness.

"She'll be furious that I'm speaking publicly," he said. "But I just want to say... I'm really sorry. I made a real idiot of myself and of her.

"I know I've humiliated you but it doesn't stop me loving you. It doesn't stop me wanting to be with you. I just want you to know from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I can't do anything more than that.

"Hopefully between now and two months, or whatever, things will thaw. Even if we just talk, that's the most important thing. It was ridiculous. I'd never do it again. I'm sorry. From that moment it made me love her more."

Jessie Wallace has reportedly been eating meals in her dressing room since returning to work on the EastEnders set.

The 39-year-old actress, who plays Kat Moon in the soap, went back to work earlier this week after cancelling her wedding to set caterer Vince Morse, but is now hiding away between scenes to avoid him in the canteen.

According to The Mirror, Wallace has warned Morse to "back off" at work and refuses to see anyone except on-screen husband Shane Richie.

One source said: "Jessie has barely left her dressing room. She is just coming out at the last possible second when called for a scene, and then going straight back into isolation. Her dressing room is practically in lockdown, with only Shane Richie being allowed inside because they're very close friends.

"She's embarrassed about everything that has happened and doesn't want to be drawn into awkward discussions with other members of the cast and crew. But more importantly she's terrified about seeing Vince. He runs the on-site catering department and could very easily bump into her at any second around the studios, which would cause major drama."

The insider continued: "She's planned to see him quietly alone but a public confrontation would be likely to end with a meltdown. If there is going to be a reunion, she is determined it will be on her own terms behind closed doors. He has embarrassed her in public enough already."

Friends of Wallace claim that the star has been in contact with Morse but added that there is "a long way to go", while others believe that a reconciliation is "just around the corner".

"We are all expecting a reunion," one friend revealed. "They're still very much in love. They are still planning to meet up quietly this week. But after all that has happened, Jessie is determined to take control and make sure the future of their relationship is her own decision."

London Mayor Boris Johnson has accused the BBC of being "wasteful" for not moving EastEnders to new studios in Olympic Park.

It recently emerged that the corporation had scrapped plans to relocate from their current base in Elstree to the East End from 2012.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt held unsuccessful last minute talks with BBC director general Mark Thompson, according to the Evening Standard.

Johnson exclaimed: "This was an opportunity for the BBC to deliver better value for money for hard-pressed licence-fee payers and confront critics who say it's bureaucratic, wasteful and out of touch.

"There was the chance for the BBC to show genuine commitment to the East End - an area it has harvested for audiences for decades. I'm astonished that the boss class don't see the obvious advantages of rooting a popular drama in an area it claims to portray."

Meanwhile, the 47-year-old politician also criticised the supposed "relentless negativity" in EastEnders' storylines.

"Perhaps if they seized this opportunity their plots and script lines would reflect the vibrancy and optimism of this critical part of the capital and not the relentless negativity that often comes across," he added.

A BBC spokesman confirmed to property website CoStar News: "EastEnders is committed to Elstree and there are no plans to relocate any time soon. We are not currently in active negotiations with any party."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

London Mayor Boris Johnson has accused the BBC of being "wasteful" for not moving EastEnders to new studios in Olympic Park.

It recently emerged that the corporation had scrapped plans to relocate from their current base in Elstree to the East End from 2012.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt held unsuccessful last minute talks with BBC director general Mark Thompson, according to the Evening Standard.

Johnson exclaimed: "This was an opportunity for the BBC to deliver better value for money for hard-pressed licence-fee payers and confront critics who say it's bureaucratic, wasteful and out of touch.

"There was the chance for the BBC to show genuine commitment to the East End - an area it has harvested for audiences for decades. I'm astonished that the boss class don't see the obvious advantages of rooting a popular drama in an area it claims to portray."

Meanwhile, the 47-year-old politician also criticised the supposed "relentless negativity" in EastEnders' storylines.

"Perhaps if they seized this opportunity their plots and script lines would reflect the vibrancy and optimism of this critical part of the capital and not the relentless negativity that often comes across," he added.

A BBC spokesman confirmed to property website CoStar News: "EastEnders is committed to Elstree and there are no plans to relocate any time soon. We are not currently in active negotiations with any party."

---

The BBC has reportedly claimed that technical issues prevented EastEnders from moving to the site of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Secret talks to move production of the soap from Elstree Studios to Stratford recently fell through, prompting accusations of snobbery from London Mayor Boris Johnson.

"There was the chance for the BBC to show genuine commitment to the East End - an area it has harvested for audiences for decades," Johnson said earlier this week.

"I'm astonished that the boss class don't see the obvious advantages of rooting a popular drama in an area it claims to portray."

However, a BBC insider has told The Guardian that the Stratford move was vetoed due to a number of complications, such as a 23ft privacy wall around the EastEnders set interfering with sight lines.

The source added that 30% of filming time would have been lost by 2015 had they made the move, due to air traffic around the Olympic park. The site also costs considerably more to film on than Elstree, where the BBC is the freeholder.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

Jessie Wallace has reportedly been eating meals in her dressing room since returning to work on the EastEnders set.

The 39-year-old actress, who plays Kat Moon in the soap, went back to work earlier this week after cancelling her wedding to set caterer Vince Morse, but is now hiding away between scenes to avoid him in the canteen.

According to The Mirror, Wallace has warned Morse to "back off" at work and refuses to see anyone except on-screen husband Shane Richie.

One source said: "Jessie has barely left her dressing room. She is just coming out at the last possible second when called for a scene, and then going straight back into isolation. Her dressing room is practically in lockdown, with only Shane Richie being allowed inside because they're very close friends.

"She's embarrassed about everything that has happened and doesn't want to be drawn into awkward discussions with other members of the cast and crew. But more importantly she's terrified about seeing Vince. He runs the on-site catering department and could very easily bump into her at any second around the studios, which would cause major drama."

The insider continued: "She's planned to see him quietly alone but a public confrontation would be likely to end with a meltdown. If there is going to be a reunion, she is determined it will be on her own terms behind closed doors. He has embarrassed her in public enough already."

Friends of Wallace claim that the star has been in contact with Morse but added that there is "a long way to go", while others believe that a reconciliation is "just around the corner".

"We are all expecting a reunion," one friend revealed. "They're still very much in love. They are still planning to meet up quietly this week. But after all that has happened, Jessie is determined to take control and make sure the future of their relationship is her own decision."

---

Jessie Wallace's ex-fiancé Vince Morse has claimed that the former couple are trying to rekindle their relationship.

The EastEnders actress called off her wedding last month after discovering that Morse had sent lewd emails to an old girlfriend.

Morse has since accepted that Wallace "did the right thing" by cancelling their nuptials and this week publicly apologised for his actions on This Morning.

Speaking to The Sun, Morse claimed that he had managed to win Wallace over with his on-air plea and the pair would be meeting once the 39-year-old is able to take a break from EastEnders filming.

"I made a complete muppet of myself talking to her on TV but it's worked," the catering boss said. "Well, not 100%, but she's talking to me now a little bit.

"[We will meet] maybe next week. I don't want to say too much in case it jeopardises things. She says she'll consider meeting me soon. I don't want to mess up again and lose the best thing that's ever happened to me."

He is going to milk this celeb sob story for all it's worth. Just like her previous boyfriend. Watch this space he'll be signed up for I'm a Celeb.

The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright has revealed that he is hoping to land a role on EastEnders.

The 24-year-old told the Daily Star that he would like to stir up life on Albert Square by playing a new tough guy character.

Wright commented: "I'm still really pursuing the acting and I have spoken with one of the producers of EastEnders.

"I want to play a hard man role, but to be honest, I reckon I could pull anything off."

The reality TV star also explained that he wants to branch out with a high-profile presenting job.

"I'd like to have Paddy McGuinness's presenting gig on Take Me Out, but I wouldn't appear on a celebrity version of it as I'm not ready to date again," he said. "I'm still upset about splitting with Lauren Goodger. I hope we can be friends but I don't think she wants it."

The Only Way Is Essex returns for a new series on ITV2 on Sunday, September 25.

EastEnders actresses Jacqueline Jossa and Tameka Empson have revealed that they would be open to the idea of Mark Wright joining the soap.

The Only Way Is Essex star Wright recently explained that he dreams of landing a role on the BBC show and would particularly like to play a tough guy character.

Jossa, who plays Lauren Branning on the programme, told The Sun that she believes Wright is good enough to secure a place in Walford.

"I think he's probably really talented," she explained. "He's the only one out of The Only Way is Essex I believe when I watch it."

Meanwhile, Empson - better known as outrageous Kim Fox - said that she would be happy for Wright to have an opportunity to prove himself.

Empson commented: "The proof is in the pudding so he'd have to show how good an actor he is.

EastEnders star John Partridge married his long-term boyfriend yesterday.

The actor, who plays *Christian Clarke in the BBC One soap, wed Jon Tsouras in a civil ceremony after eight years of dating.

They pair tied the knot in front of family and friends at the Trafalgar Tavern pub in Greenwich, South East London, according to The Mirror.

Guests included Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner and several of Partridge's EastEnders co-stars.

Partridge announced his plans to marry Tsouras last year.

"We've been together for seven years and it's about time I made an honest man of him," he said. "My lovely Jon's Canadian and it's all about when his family can come over, which might be this autumn."

He recently said that he thinks his EastEnders character Christian and Syed would make good parents.