Eastenders General News Thread

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Originally Posted by Perdita

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.

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EastEnders bosses have today denied claims that Mark Wright is joining the cast of the soap.

The Only Way Is Essex star Wright has recently been linked to a part in the BBC show after he spoke of his desire to play a new Walford tough guy.

Earlier today, a report in the Daily Star suggested that Wright was close to landing a three-month trial, which would see his character become a rival for Phil Mitchell.

However, an EastEnders spokesperson told Digital Spy this afternoon: "There is no truth to the rumour that Mark Wright is joining EastEnders and we're not in any discussions for him to join the show."

Wright is currently appearing in the third series of The Only Way Is Essex, which airs on ITV2.

Oh wow, there’s a new EastEnders romance ahoy! SHONA MCGARTY and MATT LAPINSKAS, who play Whitney Dean and Tony Moon* *respectively, are an item!

The pair chose the wedding of cast member JOHN PARTRIDGE and his partner JON TSOURAS in Greenwich to step out for their first official outing. And don’t they look cute? I think so.

Earlier in the week Shona was more coy and said: “There is a certain someone in my life. It’s all very new and fresh, it hasn’t even been a month. He took me to a nice Italian.” No doubt somewhere ‘up West’.



Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/...#ixzz1ZbsgpqOM

Several EastEnders stars are reported to gone public with their new relationships over the weekend.

The actors are said to have shown their mutual affection while attending the wedding of John Partridge (Christian Clarke) and his partner Jon Tsouras.

Matt Lapinskas, who plays Anthony Moon in the BBC One soap, is dating Shona McGarty (Whitney Dean), according to the Sunday Mirror.

Earlier this week, McGarty was quoted as saying: "There is a certain someone in my life. It's all very new and fresh, it hasn't even been a month. He took me to a nice Italian."

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Tony Discipline, who plays Tyler Moon, is in a relationship with co-star Jacqueline Jossas (Lauren Branning).

Speaking of the party, a source told the Daily Star Sunday: "The civil ceremony started at 4pm but the majority of the guests didn't leave until 3am. It was a good old-fashioned East End knees-up and everyone was in good spirits for John's special day.

"Once the formalities were over it really was all about celebrating and boy did they put on a good bash. The champagne flowed all night and everyone took to the dancefloor until the early hours."

McGarty recently admitted that co-star Patsy Palmer had helped her mature since joining

EastEnders actors Matt Lapinskas and Tony Discipline have confirmed their off-screen romances with fellow cast members Shona McGarty and Jacqueline Jossa.

The pair, who play Moon brothers Anthony and Tyler on the BBC soap, sparked speculation about their love lives earlier this month when they were spotted looking cosy with their colleagues at co-star John Partridge's wedding.

Lapinskas and Discipline were guests at Radio 1's Teen Awards yesterday and revealed that the recent press reports were true.

Asked by Yahoo whether he is dating McGarty (Whitney Dean), Lapinskas replied: "Yes."

Meanwhile, discussing his romance with Jossa (Lauren Branning), Discipline said: "It's early stages but it is true."

The pair, who joined EastEnders earlier this year, added that they are still adjusting to the media interest surrounding their personal lives.

Discipline explained: "It's completely different to what we're used to. People writing about your private life is strange and something we're getting used to."

EastEnders continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.

EastEnders star Matt Lapinskas has insisted that he and girlfriend Shona McGarty remain professional on set.

The actor, who plays Anthony Moon in the BBC One soap, was first reported to be dating McGarty (Whitney Dean) earlier this month, when the pair were spotted together at co-star John Partridge's wedding.

He has since confirmed the romance but insisted that the couple don't publicly display their affections while at work.

"When we're on set we try and keep it as professional as possible. There's no sneaking off and kissing," Lapinskas told The People.

Tony Discipline, who plays Lapinskas's on-screen brother Tyler, is dating fellow EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa (Lauren Branning).

Speaking of their relationships being in the public eye since joining the show, Discipline recently explained: "It's completely different to what we're used to. People writing about your private life is strange and something we're getting used to."

EastEnders bosses have denied reports that they are considering relocating to MediaCityUK in Salford.

Reports of the move first surfaced in June, but were quickly dismissed as false by producers.

Fresh reports suggested that the BBC was again considering moving the soap to MediaCityUK - as Coronation Street has - as part of the corporation's attempts to cut its budget by 20 percent.

"A move was rumoured a couple of months ago but denied. But it's been talked about again recently," a source told the Sunday Express. "The other suggestion is Cardiff, where Casualty has been relocated."

However, a spokesperson for EastEnders insisted that there have been no new discussions and that the soap's set will remain at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.

"There have been absolutely no discussions about EastEnders' production moving to Salford or Cardiff and we're committed to Elstree until at least 2014," a statement said.

Shows such as Blue Peter, Dragons' Den, Songs Of Praise and Match Of The Day are all being relocated to Salford, with around 2,300 staff members moving to the North West.

EastEnders star Scott Maslen has revealed that he and his wife managed to catch out a burglar who stole valuables from their home.

The actor's Primrose Hill property was ransacked in June after 22-year-old Thomas O'Connor broke in through an upstairs window, the Evening Standard reports.

Maslen, his wife Estelle and their 10-year-old son Zak were asleep at the time and woke up the next morning to find that two iPhones and a laptop had been stolen. Estelle's handbag had also been taken along with a variety of other belongings.

Speaking of the incident for the first time, Maslen told the newspaper: "My wife had the foresight to put a tracker on our phone, which is how we managed to trace our gear. We lost jackets and clothes and money, but it was the phones and computer that we were really worried about.

"When we got over the shock, my wife had a moment when she said the phone has got a tracker. We got on Google Earth and traced the location and called the police."

The 40-year-old, who plays Walford's Jack Branning, added: "It wasn't as harrowing for me as it was for my wife. It really affects you psychologically when you don't feel safe in your own home."

Maslen also praised police for doing "a remarkable job" dealing with the matter.

Reports say that O'Connor was yesterday given a 22-month jail sentence, but is expected to serve seven months because of time already spent in custody.

Shane Richie has hosted a celebrity fundraising event in aid of a children's charity.

The EastEnders actor, who plays Alfie Moon in the soap, said that he feels "proud" to be an ambassador for Barnet-based children's charity Noah's Ark Children's Hospice.

Richie led a silent auction and sold raffle tickets at the Big Night In event held at Elstree Studios on October 25. According to the Barnet and Potters Bar Times, Sonia de Freitas gave a tribute speech in honour of her son Pedro who died earlier this year.

Along with daughter Rachel, she talked about how much Pedro had loved watching EastEnders and revealed how much support the family has received from the staff at Noah's Ark since he became ill.

After their speech, Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley performed on stage, followed by dance group Flawless and X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon.

Richie said after the event: "I'm very proud to be an ambassador for Noah's Ark Children's Hospice. Tonight's event has raised a phenomenal amount for the charity - thanks to everyone who took part and came along to make the evening such a success."

The star managed to raise £19,000 at the charity gala. :clap: Well done, Shane :thumbsup:

New pictures have been released today showing the special Queen sketch that the EastEnders cast have recorded for Children In Need.

Stars from the Walford soap recently filmed a musical tribute to the iconic band on the show's Albert Square set to help raise money for this year's charity appeal.

Cast members involved included Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), who dressed up as a housewife in the style of Freddie Mercury in the video for 'I Want To Break Free'.

Speaking of how he prepared for the shoot, Woodyatt revealed: "I went on YouTube and had a good look at the original video as it's so long since I've seen it. I mean everyone's got a rough picture in their head of what was in it, but I wanted to get a few pointers in the right direction - like how to hoover because I haven't got a clue!"

Asked whether he liked his costume, the actor replied: "It was quite disturbing and I really don't look that attractive as a 46C, and I can definitely see why spanx were invented!"

Marc Elliott (Syed Masood), John Partridge (Christian Clarke), Matt Lapinskas (Anthony Moon), Lindsey Coulson (Carol Jackson) and Cheryl Fergison (Heather Trott) were among the other stars involved in the shoot.

EastEnders fans can see the special sketch when Children In Need airs on Friday, November 18 from 7pm on BBC One.

Below, a full set of pictures from the shoot.

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EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt has revealed he spent ages trying to remove his nail varnish after dressing up in drag for this year's Children In Need Queen tribute.
The 43-year-old soap star - who stars as Albert Square businessman Ian Beale - donned a wig, skirt and pink lipstick and nail varnish to look like Freddie Mercury in the video to 1984 hit I Want To Break Free.
Adam revealed: "It was quite disturbing and I really don't look that attractive as a 46C, and I can definitely see why Spanx were invented.
"I've got to say it was actually quite quick the make-up, it only took about 20 minutes, although my wife did paint my finger and toe nails the night before - that was quite weird!"
But while it was quick to put on, Adam and co-star Nitin Ganatra struggled to get their make-up off.
He said: "Me and Nitin, we couldn't get the nail polish off! We were stood in make-up afterwards like a pair of old women rubbing away with something that stunk, just chatting away. Rita [Simons] said it was one of the funniest things she'd seen, us trying to remove nail polish."
And Adam didn't enjoy recording the song either.
He revealed: "It was absolutely hell! I am definitely not a singer."
The EastEnders' Queen tribute performances will air on BBC One on Friday November 18 with other cast members recreating famous videos including Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You.

PA