Eastenders General News Thread

[lizann]

Actress Danniella Westbrook will once again return to EastEnders as Sam Mitchell, Digital Spy can confirm.

The 36-year-old - who recently finished fourth in this year's series of Dancing On Ice - makes her comeback in the summer for a handful of episodes.

Little is known about the circumstances surrounding Sam's reappearance in Walford, other than that she is released from prison harbouring grudges and "a big secret".

It is thought her return will coincide with Barbara Windsor's departure as Peggy Mitchell, after 15 years in the role.

Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood this afternoon told Digital Spy: "When Sam Mitchell is in Albert Square, trouble is never far behind. We last saw her heading for a stretch in prison and ostracised by her family. When she returns on her release, it's with a lot of grudges and a big secret."

He continued: "Danniella brings a lot of fun and mischief to the role of Sam and I'm looking forward to having her back where she belongs."

Westbrook reprised her role as Sam in April last year. On screen, the Mitchells attempted to hide her from the police but the law quickly caught up with her when she was arrested for trying to flee the country again.

While rekindling her romance with Ricky, Sam also had an affair with Jack Branning. She then became embroiled with Archie, who convinced her to skip bail and ultimately cause the Mitchells to lose The Vic.

She made a surprise return on Christmas Day ahead of Archie's murder and quickly became a suspect. However, on hearing her mother Peggy and brother Phil's plan to use her as a scapegoat, Sam turned herself in to the police.

In a final showdown with her mother, Sam rejected her mother and made it clear that she had no interest in the Mitchell name.

This is a spoiler so shouldnt it be in the spoiler thread

[Perdita]

EastEnders star John Partridge has vowed to embrace the ageing process, claiming that attempts to hold back the years can do more harm than good.

The 38-year-old, who plays Christian Clarke on the BBC soap, confessed that he has used Botox on one occasion in the past and was unimpressed by the results.

Partridge told Closer magazine: "After one jab of Botox, I'll never mess with my face again. Plastic surgery on men looks horrendous."

He added: "Women need to be careful too. What's wrong with ageing gracefully like Joanna Lumley? Heidi Montag's ruined her face by having so much surgery."

Partridge recently appeared as a judge on Andrew Lloyd Webber's talent search Over The Rainbow.

He sure soes not need Botox!!!

[alan45]

EastEnders star Liam Bergin has revealed that he would like to reprise his role as Danny Mitchell in the future.

The actor's final scenes in the role will air later this month following the decision to bring the character's story arc to a close.

Speaking to All About Soap about his alter ego's exit, Bergin teased: "His last few scenes are really emotional, and there's one final twist to the tale!

"I can't say whether Danny leaves Albert Square alone or with another character in tow - but his exit sums the character up perfectly."

Asked whether viewers have seen the last of the schemer, he replied: "Who knows? I've had the best time on EastEnders and I'd love to come back again sometime in the future. It's good because Danny's story is left on a cliffhanger, so he may well show his face again in Walford."

Bergin has previously had small roles in Doctors, Trinity and Five's Minder remake.

[alan45]

Jake Wood has said that he believes his EastEnders alter ego Max Branning "is his own worst enemy".

Speaking to Holy Soap, the actor also expressed "great affection" towards the troubled character.

He explained: "I think Max is his own worst enemy really, he always has been. His driving force is that he wants his family back and I think, more than anything else, he wants to be a good father.

"I think he missed out on that with his own son Bradley and that's left a gaping hole that he's struggling to fill."

Wood added: "I've got great affection for him. He's always well-intentioned but I think he makes the wrong choices. He can be weak, he's easily led when it comes to sex specifically. But underneath all the shenanigans, his heart is in the right place."

Jake Wood has praised Zöe Lucker for being a "fantastic addition" to the EastEnders cast.

The actor, who plays Max Branning in the soap, revealed that he enjoys good chemistry with the former Footballers' Wives actress. Lucker's character Vanessa Gold was confirmed earlier this year as Max's love interest.

Wood told Holy Soap: "I'd never met Zöe before, even though she's a friend of another good friend of mine, Kacey Ainsworth, and I think she's a fantastic addition to the show. She's fabulous in the part and we're having fun working together. It's been a joy."

Asked whether sexual scenes are embarrassing to film, he added: "No, you know, it's your job as an actor to make it seem as real as possible.

"He's not a shrinking violet, is he? There have been a few women over the years, but again it's just a job and everyone's professional."

Jake Wood has claimed that Lacey Turner is "right" to be leaving EastEnders.

The award-winning actor, who portrays Max Branning in the soap, also insisted that Turner - who plays Stacey Slater - has an "incredible future" ahead of her.

"I think the time's right for her as she's been here six years. She took a long time to come to that decision," he told Holy Soap.

"I think she'll do incredibly well and she wants to do other stuff for a while and I think she'll be successful doing that. She's an amazing actress and she's got an incredible future ahead of her."

It was announced in April that Turner will bow out of the serial later this year.

During their time together on screen, the pair have been heavily involved in the show's key storylines, such as their affair plot in 2007.

Meanwhile, Wood further paid tribute to the also-departing Maddie Duggan, who plays his on-screen daughter Lauren.

He added: "We all started off at the same time so we're very close. I'm very close with Maddie's family off screen and I've seen her a few times since she finished. We all stay in touch and I think again she's a fabulous actress and I think she'll do incredibly well."

[Perdita]

Justin Bieber has revealed that he was recently mistaken for EastEnders actor Thomas Law.

The Canadian star confessed that he was baffled when he was approached in the UK by a group of teenagers who were convinced that he played Walford's Peter Beale.

Bieber is quoted by The Sun as saying: "Some girls asked for my autograph and then said, 'We love you in EastEnders'.

"I'd never heard of the show. So I Googled the actor and I guess there are worse people to be compared with."

The 16-year-old, who is currently promoting latest single 'Somebody To Love', recently spoke of his desire to work with X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Jake Wood has confirmed that he is keen to stick with the soap "far beyond" the conclusion of his current contract.

The actor has played Walford's Max Branning since 2006 and is currently committed to continue in the role until spring 2011.

Speaking to Holy Soap about his future on Albert Square, Wood revealed: "At the moment I'm contracted until next May so that will be five years. As I've said all along, I'm very happy here and I've got a big commitment to the show.

"As long as they're happy for me to be here I'm happy to stay. But at the moment it's just until next May, but I hope it will continue far beyond that."

The 37-year-old was also asked how he juggles his TV part with his real-life role as a father-of-two.

He replied: "You have to work hard to make it work. I've been there four years and it's worked up until now so there's no reason why it can't continue. There's a good balance at the moment."

[Dazzle]

I hope Max stays in EE for a long time.

[megan999]

I hope Max stays in EE for a long time.

Me too, IMO he's the best actor in EE.

[Perdita]

A child rapist has been jailed after an EastEnders storyline inspired one of his victims to inform police about his abuse.

Raymond Sharratt, 37, has been sentenced to 18 years behind bars after pleading guilty to two rapes and two indecent assaults on three girls, The Mirror reports.

The crimes were committed more than a decade ago, but it is understood that a conviction was only possible after one of the girls, now in her 20s, decided to break her silence after watching a hard-hitting EastEnders plot centring around Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).

In 2008, it emerged that Whitney - then 15- had been subjected to sexual abuse by her stepmother Bianca's partner Tony King (Chris Coghill) for three years. The storyline concluded late last year when Tony was given a 13-year jail sentence.

Speaking of the Sharratt case, Detective Constable Catherine Thomas said: "It took great courage and determination to bring this man to justice."

[Dazzle]

Thank goodness - a child rapist actually receives a decent sentence.