Barbara Windsor - Peggy Mitchell

[parkerman]

From this week's Radio Times:

"Go on, admit it. In the great Queen Vic blaze, which caused consternation and coughing across Walford, were you disappointed no one perished? Did you feel cheated that Peggy wasn't cooked like a poussin, Sam wasn't incinerated, and silent Tracey didn't at least singe her split ends?

The fire, we were promised, would be a life-changing affair - and what could be more life changing than death? It was dramatic - poor Peggy! Barbecued Billy! Spluttering Stacey! - but did it live up to the hype? Or was it an example of what former Eastenders executive producer, Diederick Santer, calls "fake high-stakes mush", meaning a soap promising (corporeal or emotional) but ultimately delivering little?

Absolutely not, says current Eastenders boss Bryan Kirkwood. "We could have had body-bags dragged out of the Vic - we did think about it and, having let some actors go, there were opportunities there - but that would have had two major negative consequences.

Firstly, Phil would be a murderer again [following the tramp who was toasted when he torched the car lot in the early 1990s] and I've no desire to see him leave the show. Second, it would have meant Peggy leaving under a cloud, in effect scarpering from a murder inquiry, and we were keen on a poignant, truthful exit for her."

Setting aside whether Peggy scarpering from a murder inquiry is any worse than her absconding from an arson investigation, Kirkwood is aware of the perils of fake high stakes, but argues that the Vic fire worked because the audience has an emotional engagement with Peggy and Phil and the pub.

Hollyoaks producer, Paul Marquess, is sceptical. "Eastenders is very good at mythologising itself, but it was just a pub on fire. Most people I spoke to were disappointed because their expectations were so high - raised by the BBC's PR machine. It almost wasn't the programme's fault."

Over to you, alan....

[alan45]

Yet again the producers seem keen to pander to the Mitchell characters. Eastenders was never all about the Mitchells until the arrival of the Poison Dwarf. She made herself into a legend in her own mind. She thought she was Eastenders and that Albert Square should resolve round her and her criminal family. For once I agree with The Angel of Death Paul Marquess. The BBC hype machine promised so much but in the end delivered nothing other than yet another blaze in a run down east end pub. There will be no consequences for any of the Mitchell clan because the luvvies at Elstree are so concerned at keept The Poison Dwarf and Beetroot Man sweet so as they will return to this flagging soap.

What did the fire actually acheive. Well it allowed the Beeb to have an excuse to rebuild the Queen Vic at the Licence payers expense. It showed Peggy up for the shallow vacuous character she really is. All this bollocks about fairmily is as false as her candy floss like wigs.

[Chloe O'brien]

How many times can an insurance policy pay out due to a fire in the pub.

[Perdita]

BARBARA Windsor will NEVER return to EastEnders - even though she stopped bosses from killing off Peggy Mitchell.

Babs had said that she'd like to return in 2012 - but has now ruled that out. She pleaded for her character not to die but has vowed that her time at the soap is over.

Veteran actress Babs, 73, said: "It was a bit selfish of me but I didn't want to be killed off.

"I am never going to go back but I like to think that she's still out there somewhere." Peggy left Albert Square after the Queen Vic burnt down.

And Babs said saying goodbye to Steve McFadden, who played her on-screen son Phil, was the hardest part of leaving the soap after 16 years.

The tearful star, being filmed for an upcoming instalment of ITV1's Piers Morgan's Life Stories, said: "It was so hard, we were all great friends. I love that show, and I miss the camaraderie." Her husband Scott Mitchell made her realise it was time to go. Babs said: "Scott said I wasn't switching off.

"I was Peggy 24 hours a day. It was taking over my life."

The actress, now preparing for panto, blasted modern celebs who moan about life in the spotlight. She said: "I can't stand new stars who don't like the public - I can't bear it."

I thought she said earlier that she did not want to be killed off because she wants to come back in a couple of years? Bet Alan will be upset

[alan45]

BARBARA Windsor will NEVER return to EastEnders - even though she stopped bosses from killing off Peggy Mitchell.

This is the best news I have heard about Deadenders

[Dazzle]

Thought I'd be disappointed to hear Peggy won't be back in EE, but it feels like her era is finished, so I'm fine about it. I hope Barbara enjoys her semi-retirement.

[sean slater]

Yeh I know what u mean. I don't feel sad about her leaving. Not like I did with Bradley or Dennis. I think even Stacey, I dont really care anymore if she leaves. I used to love her, but her storyline is getting a bit repetitive now.

[Chloe O'brien]

It's been weeks since the poison dwarf departed the square and she's still milking her exit. does she think that if she goes on about it for long enough EE will beg her to come back.

[alan45]

It's been weeks since the poison dwarf departed the square and she's still milking her exit. does she think that if she goes on about it for long enough EE will beg her to come back.

The sad thing is that the luvvies in Elstree are so pathetic that if the dwarf wanted back they would pay her whatever she demanded and give her top billing just to up the viewing figures with this pathetic old crone

[alan45]

He she is showing just how talentless she is