From Todays Sun

AN ex-EastEnders writer blasted the soap yesterday — saying it has slumped into “the doldrums”.

Former chief scriptwriter Tony Jordan claims the show has suffered from being on TV four times a week.

Tony left the Square three months ago after 18 years.

And in his first interview since quitting he spoke out about plans to knock out FIVE episodes a week.

Tony said: “Was it a better show when it was twice a week? Absolutely — without a shadow of a doubt.

“They were shooting just an hour’s television and had time to spend on each individual episode.

“If you are producing two and a half hours it’s a movie a week and things suffer for that. EastEnders is going through the doldrums a little bit lately, but it will always come back because there is a great team working on it.”

EastEnders slumped to a record low of 3.9million viewers last year.

Ratings have recovered since — but the show has been criticised for duff plots.

And many viewers’ favourites have gone — including the Fowler family.


Tony is now planning a screenwriting competition through his production company Red Planet Pictures.

He said: “I used to do workshops and seminars with new writers at EastEnders and I am trying to find a way to continue that with my production company. I really want to find new writing talent and help them get their voice out there.”


Really Tony is just voicing the views of real EE Fans