Groan. :wall:Quote:
Originally Posted by alan45
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Groan. :wall:Quote:
Originally Posted by alan45
PHIL Mitchell ends up in a coma after a £1million car crash stunt to boost EastEnders’ flagging ratings.
The dramatic scenes will see Albert Square bad boy Phil thrown through a windscreen and left fighting for his life.
The soap’s bosses have forked out for a helicopter to fly in and airlift Phil — played by Steve McFadden — to hospital.
They will also film from the chopper — giving viewers a stunning bird’s eye view of the carnage.
Phil and new character Carl White crash into a lorry on their way to do a dodgy deal.
Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor, will return to the show to visit Phil in his hospital bed.
A show source said: “This is going to be the most dramatic and the most expensive stunt in EastEnders’ history.
“No expense has been spared and show bosses are determined to make sure it is the most talked about TV moment of the year.
“Carl gets distracted from the road and swerves into the path of a lorry, resulting in a huge smash.
“Phil flies through the windscreen on to the road, leaving him with terrible injuries.
“A rescue helicopter airlifts him to hospital, filming all the while.
“He ends up in a coma, on life support, fighting for his life.
“Peggy then comes back to see Phil in hospital for a one-off special appearance.”
The stunt is a bid to win back viewers who have deserted the 29-year-old BBC show since the start of the year.
Just 5.2million viewers tuned in to one episode two months ago — 2.3million fewer than Emmerdale attracted on the same night.
The source added: “EastEnders has been going through a bad time as far as ratings go. These days it’s regularly the third most watched soap, way off Corrie and even behind Emmerdale.”
The crash will happen this autumn and bosses are hoping it will come around the same time as Samantha Womack (as Ronnie Mitchell) and Michael French (David Wicks) return to the show.
But frustratingly for EastEnders, Coronation Street is running a similar story which will see David Platt and Nick Tilsley hospitalised after a horror road crash.
The cliffhanger episodes will be shown in August, before Phil’s smash.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz2Yhn8JjHq
And yet within a couple of weeks no doubt Phil will be fully restored and un-bruised and unscratched.
EastEnders bosses have released new pictures previewing Peggy Mitchell's return.
As previously announced, Peggy (Barbara Windsor) will return for a one-off episode which will focus on her trying to get her son Phil back on track.
Viewers saw Phil Mitchell end up in a critical condition last week after he was involved in a terrible car crash caused by Carl White's erratic driving.
In the aftermath of the accident, Phil will face a tough time as his injuries leave him feeling vulnerable and weak.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x392/wk...y-and-phil.jpg
© BBC
Peggy tries to help Phil.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x428/wk...-and-phil2.jpg
© BBC
Peggy speaks to Phil.
Reminiscent of her very first episode, former landlady Peggy will return to visit Phil in hospital.
Peggy's mission is to get her son to pull himself together, get back to his family and protecting his businesses from Carl, but will she succeed?
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x429/wk...-and-phil3.jpg
© BBC
http://i2.cdnds.net/13/36/618x454/wk...-and-phil4.jpg
© BBC
Peggy returns to visit Phil.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x415/wk...-and-phil5.jpg
© BBC
Peggy tries to talk sense into Phil.
EastEnders airs Peggy's return on Friday, September 20 at 8pm on BBC One.
Wonder how much the BBC are paying this woman to come back to prop up their ailing soap
EastEnders bosses have released new pictures previewing Peggy Mitchell's return.
As previously announced, Peggy (Barbara Windsor) will return for a one-off episode which will focus on her trying to get her son Phil back on track.
Viewers saw Phil Mitchell end up in a critical condition last week after he was involved in a terrible car crash caused by Carl White's erratic driving.
In the aftermath of the accident, Phil will face a tough time as his injuries leave him feeling vulnerable and weak.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x392/wk...y-and-phil.jpg
© BBC
Peggy tries to help Phil.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x428/wk...-and-phil2.jpg
© BBC
Peggy speaks to Phil.
Reminiscent of her very first episode, former landlady Peggy will return to visit Phil in hospital.
Peggy's mission is to get her son to pull himself together, get back to his family and protecting his businesses from Carl, but will she succeed?
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x429/wk...-and-phil3.jpg
© BBC
http://i2.cdnds.net/13/36/618x454/wk...-and-phil4.jpg
© BBC
Peggy returns to visit Phil.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/36/618x415/wk...-and-phil5.jpg
© BBC
Peggy tries to talk sense into Phil.
EastEnders airs Peggy's return on Friday, September 20 at 8pm on BBC One.
Wonder how much the BBC are paying this woman to come back to prop up their ailing soap
More good news for Alan :D :p
EastEnders star Barbara Windsor has revealed that she is tempted to return to the show on a regular basis.
The actress, who will make a one-off return as Peggy Mitchell next week, has said that she will not rule out another full-time stint on the soap.
Windsor said to The Sun: "Of course it has tempted me but who knows what the future holds? To be a part of such a great British institution is an honour.
"Going back was exactly the same as I had felt 19 years ago. I felt sick with nerves. I was the new girl again.
"I was absolutely overwhelmed to see all those familiar, friendly faces again. EastEnders will always be so very special to me."
Windsor has also heaped praise onto her co-star Steve McFadden, who plays Peggy's son Phil.
Windsor said: "Steve was the reason I had no hesitation in returning to the show for this storyline. It's no secret how close we are in our personal life.
"My admiration for him as an actor is way up there with the best."
Windsor added: "Since I left, I have been asked to go back on various occasions. When Phillip Schofield asked me on This Morning earlier this year if I had been tempted to return, I said, 'Many times' - but I was not sure that the time or storyline was right at that time.
"I was then told of the current storyline with Phil having been involved in a bad accident and he had given up on life.
"It seemed right to me that Peggy was the only person who could go back and give him a much-needed kick up the backside."
EastEnders airs Peggy's return on Friday, September 20 on BBC One.
I'd prefer Grant back
EastEnders star Steve McFadden has admitted that he is "torn" over whether his on-screen mother Barbara Windsor should make a full-time return to the soap.
Windsor bowed out as Peggy Mitchell in 2010 to spend more time with her family, but she reprised the role for one episode earlier this year and has refused to rule out another future comeback.
Speaking to Soaplife, McFadden commented: "I loved Barbara being back in the show for that single episode, but I want what's best for her. She's a great friend and we're very close - more than work colleagues.
"But I'm kind of torn between what I want for her as a colleague and what's best for Barbara. Barbara's a huge influence in my life. She's taught me all sorts, like how to roll with the punches and be professional."
On the possibility of his on-screen brother Ross Kemp (Grant) returning, he continued: "I haven't heard from Ross for ages so I don't know if he wants to come back. There have been a few brothers since the Mitchell brothers, haven't there? I think it would strengthen the Mitchell family if Grant came back and therefore strengthen EastEnders.
"You need your established characters, like Phil and Ian who've been in the show for ages, and familiar faces to give it continuity - and even the Queen Vic is a sort of familiar face. But you need dynamic new characters too."
Discussing future hopes for his alter ego, McFadden said that he wants Phil to have a "big, white romantic wedding" next year.
He explained: "Remember when Frank Butcher married Pat in the Square? There was a massive street party and a horse and carriage? That's what I'd like for Phil! He's never done anything like that. He's in this love triangle at the moment - torn between Sharon and Shirley."
Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2nkXOWMWn
EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor has made a one-off return to the soap.
The actress reprised her iconic role as Peggy Mitchell in Thursday night's episode (September 25) in scenes which had been kept strictly under wraps ahead of transmission.
The scenes in question saw Peggy have a heated discussion with Ronnie (Samantha Womack) in Portugal, where she is currently living.
After receiving an invitation to her son Phil's upcoming wedding to Sharon Rickman, Peggy was livid at the prospect of Sharon becoming a Mitchell again.
Determined to interfere, Peggy soon put Ronnie under strict instruction to return to Walford and stop the ceremony from going ahead.
Speaking of her surprise return, Windsor commented: "Peggy just couldn't resist putting her oar in when it comes to Sharon, who she has never forgiven for breaking up her precious boys Phil and Grant!
"The scenes are typical Peggy and it was great to play her kicking off again and of course working with the lovely Sam Womack as Ronnie. I hope it was a nice surprise for the EastEnders fans."
Friday's episode (September 26) will see Ronnie and Aunt Sal both arrive on Albert Square and make it clear to Phil that the whole family are against his marriage plans. However, with Phil also secretly doubting Sharon's loyalty, it remains to be seen whether their words will have any impact.
Peggy was last seen on screen in September 2013, when she visited Walford to see Phil in hospital after he was involved in a terrible car crash.
Windsor played the role on a regular basis between 1994 and 2010.
her return was a letdown and not needed