Eastenders General News Thread

[Perdita]

Tuesday 20 March

10.35-11.30pm

BBC ONE



EastEnders actress Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell) has six-year-old twin daughters, Maiya and Jaimee. Maiya was diagnosed with hearing loss at six months old and Rita and husband Theo have been told that one day she will probably lose her hearing completely.

This deeply personal documentary follows Rita and her family as they make life-changing decisions for Maiya’s future. Do they embrace the Deaf world, learn to sign and send her to a specialist school, or try to give her hearing with technology, implants and artificial sound? The choices that lie ahead for Rita and her family are vast and complex.

Along the journey, Rita meets a hearing mother with a deaf daughter who has embraced the Deaf Community, watches a young boy have his Cochlear Implant turned on for the first time and engages with a group of people who are strong supporters of their Deaf Culture. Rita also experiences first-hand what it is like to be deaf in a hearing world.

Rita Simons: My Daughter, Deafness and Me is part of the Disability Season on BBC One. The programme will be shown on the Sign Zone and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

[Perdita]

EASTENDERS stars Cliff Parisi and Ricky Groves have gone into business together — driving brides to their weddings.

Cliff, 51, the soap's Minty Peterson until 2010, is using his £35,000 blue Bentley for the venture which launches this week.

He said: "It's the best job in the world.

"What could be nicer than driving a bride?"

Cliff, most recently seen as maintenance man Fred in BBC1 drama Call The Midwife, formed a strong Albert Square friendship with Ricky, 43, who played mechanic Garry Hobbs until 2009.

He said: "I'll be a chauffeur at weekends and when I'm not busy doing TV and stage work.

"I'll do weddings in North London and Ricky will do them in Peterborough where he lives."

The pair will be happy to act in their EastEnders' roles when they drive brides on their big day.

Cliff said: "I did a bit of chauffeur work before. I love getting suited and booted for a big day out."

The Sun

[Perdita]

Former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie has been reported as missing by her family and friends.

McCluskie - who starred in the soap for over 30 episodes as Kerry Skinner in 2001 - vanished from her London home on Thursday (March 1).

A large search has been undertaken by police in the local area, with a body being discovered in a canal, reports The Mirror.

"We've been told the police have found the body of a woman and we're now waiting to find out if it's Gemma," a friend of the family said.


I hope they find her safe and sound

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed: "A body was found in Regents Canal near Broadway Market in East London at 2:40pm. Enquiries are under way to establish the identity of the deceased.

"A post mortem will be scheduled to ascertain the cause of death. Pending that post mortem we will be treating the death as unexplained."

McCluskie's brother Danny said: "We are all going out of our mind with worry. Her phone has been switched off since Thursday afternoon. We've not heard from her."

Over 100 people have assisted police in the search for the actress in the Bethnal Green area.

EastEnders stars Martine McCutcheon, Brooke Kinsella and Natalie Cassidy have also helped with the search on Twitter.

Kinsella wrote: "Please get in touch if you have seen her".

Gemma McCluskie's character Kerry Skinner was a close friend of Zoe Slater in the soap, and the great niece of Ethel Skinner. She also dated Robbie Jackson, who proposed to her at one

[alan45]

A 35-year-old man has been arrested after a female torso, feared to be that of a missing former EastEnders actress, was found in a canal in London.

The body, which was found in the Broadway Market stretch of Regent's Canal in Hackney on Tuesday, is feared to be that of Gemma McCluskie, 29.

The arrested man is believed to be her brother Tony McCluskie.

Ms McCluskie, who starred as Kerry Skinner in 2001, disappeared from Bethnal Green, east London, last week.

Twitter appeal
Scotland Yard said it knew the victim's identity but was awaiting results of further forensic tests before formal identification.

Family and friends have been carrying out searches across east London and handing out missing person posters.


The actress appeared in the BBC One soap in 2001
Gemma McCluskie appeared in the BBC One soap in 2001.

Her former co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Brooke Kinsella have both appealed for help on Twitter to find her.

Ms Cassidy, who played Sonia Jackson in the soap, also posted on the website: "Gemma Mcluskie, missing since Thurs, if u have sn her/have any info PLS contact @CarlyKarma ... #FindGemma."

A post-mortem examination on the body is due to take place at Poplar Mortuary later.

The arrested man remains in custody at an east London station.

Police were called to the scene after a passer by noticed something suspicious in the canal.

Divers from Scotland Yard's Marine Support Unit recovered the torso and additional searches are due to be carried out in the water.

Ms McCluskie is 5ft 1in (1.5m) tall with straight black hair.

Police said at the time she went missing she had been wearing a cream coloured top, blue leggings and sandy coloured Ugg boots.

Ms McCluskie appeared in the BBC One soap for 30 episodes.

Her character was a friend of Zoe Slater and the great niece of the late Ethel Skinner. Her character briefly dated Robbie Jackson and got him to propose to her.



Its rumoured that the arestee is her brother

[Perdita]

Dean Gaffney has said that he is "utterly devastated" over the disappearance of his former EastEnders co-star Gemma McCluskie.

McCluskie, who starred on the soap for over 30 episodes as Kerry Skinner in 2001, vanished from her London home on March 1.

A police search for the actress recently led to a female torso being discovered in Regent's Canal in Hackney, but the remains have not yet been formally identified.

"It's tear-jerking to hear what's happening and I'm utterly devastated," Gaffney told The Mirror.

"It's something you see in a movie and there are no words to describe the situation. This was a lovely girl with a heart of gold. I'm speechless and it doesn't make any sense. Not knowing is the hardest thing - it's tear-jerking and totally heart-wrenching."


Gaffney's character Robbie Jackson was briefly engaged to Kerry during her time on EastEnders. The actor added that he has fond memories of working alongside McCluskie (pictured left).

"She came in and was immediately a very important and instrumental part of the show, causing a ruckus in the characters' lives," he commented.

"She was so popular with all the cast and so small in height that you just wanted to cuddle her - and everyone did. There was a definite connection between us.

"We were engaged [on screen] and it was a silly childish thing for us to do - and then she went off to Ibiza without me. Effectively, she came in, caused a stir and went off. She was an important part of the show and she really shaped my character."

BBC News has reported that a post-mortem examination carried out on the body found in Hackney proved inconclusive. Further investigations could take some days.

A 35-year-old man, thought to be McCluskie's brother, has been arrested in connection with the case and remains in police custody.

[Perdita]

A body discovered at a canal in London has been formally identified as ex-EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie.

Police have confirmed that the headless torso found in Hackney is that of McCluskie, who played Kerry in over 30 episodes of the BBC soap in 2001.

The 29-year-old disappeared from Bethnal Green, east London, last Thursday (March 1).

Scotland Yard officers, who are reviewing CCTV footage of her last movements, say she was murdered and dumped in the canal after attending the opening of a new hospital.

A 35-year-old man, thought to be McCluskie's brother, still remains in custody following his arrest in connection with the case.

Her EastEnders co-star Dean Gaffney recently said that he was "utterly devastated" by her disappearance.

[Perdita]

EASTENDERS star Shona McGarty was booted out of Asda — for suggestively smearing herself with YOGHURT.

Shona, 20 — Whitney Dean in the soap — was challenged by security men after she and boyfriend Matt Lapinskas were spotted larking around with the food.

One angry mum who alerted staff said: "It was disgusting. The man was opening up pots and looked as if he was throwing it around.

"Then the girl started to smear it over herself in a suggestive manner.

"I had my kids aged ten and nine with me and they certainly don't need to see that in the shopping aisles of Asda." Shona and EastEnders co-star Matt, 25, who plays Anthony Moon, were ordered out of the superstore in Watford, Herts, and told not to return unless their behaviour improved.

An Asda spokeswoman confirmed the incident, saying: "This isn't us being Albert squares. As with any customer found to be causing a ruckus in our stores, we politely asked the culprits to leave so they didn't offend other shoppers."

An EastEnders source said the pair had been chucked out for throwing food and added: "They were larking around with products they were planning to buy."

An EastEnders spokeswoman refused to comment.

[flappinfanny]

EASTENDERS star Shona McGarty was booted out of Asda — for suggestively smearing herself with YOGHURT.

Shona, 20 — Whitney Dean in the soap — was challenged by security men after she and boyfriend Matt Lapinskas were spotted larking around with the food.

One angry mum who alerted staff said: "It was disgusting. The man was opening up pots and looked as if he was throwing it around.

"Then the girl started to smear it over herself in a suggestive manner.

"I had my kids aged ten and nine with me and they certainly don't need to see that in the shopping aisles of Asda." Shona and EastEnders co-star Matt, 25, who plays Anthony Moon, were ordered out of the superstore in Watford, Herts, and told not to return unless their behaviour improved.

An Asda spokeswoman confirmed the incident, saying: "This isn't us being Albert squares. As with any customer found to be causing a ruckus in our stores, we politely asked the culprits to leave so they didn't offend other shoppers."

An EastEnders source said the pair had been chucked out for throwing food and added: "They were larking around with products they were planning to buy."

An EastEnders spokeswoman refused to comment.

go to tesco shona better quality.

[Perdita]

Former EastEnders star Laurie Brett has explained her decision to bow out from the role of Jane Beale.

Jane departed Walford in January after accepting a new job in Cardiff, while in real life, Brett has just signed up for a new regular part in Waterloo Road.

The actress is also competing on the current series of Let's Dance for Sports Relief, recently appearing as Lady GaGa for a rendition of 'Telephone' on the show.

Speaking to the Daily Record about her EastEnders career, Brett insisted that it was the right time to say goodbye to Jane for the time being.

The Scottish star has also said that she is "really excited" about working in her native accent for Waterloo Road when she begins filming next month.

[alan45]

© BBC Pictures
Ricky Grover has revealed that he has battled dyslexia from a young age, and aims to help other sufferers.

The EastEnders actor - who plays Andrew Cotton in the soap - explained that he was diagnosed with the learning disability late, and was often called "thick" while growing up.

He added that his life may have taken a very different route, due to his stepfather's links with underground crime.

"My stepfather was an armed robber, and for a long time it looked like I was going to go that way too," he told The Daily Record. "When you come from quite a rough area and you grow up having problems reading and writing, you feel like society is against you.

"That's certainly how I felt and you can go astray, to try to get your own back on society. Thank God I never did. I stayed on this side of the fence and I think I got my aggression out in the boxing ring.

"In school, I was just labelled thick. The way I used to deal with it, when the book came round for reading, I'd say 'I'm not reading that, it's rubbish' or storm out or something. Even as an adult, if anyone gave me a form or asked me to write out a cheque, I would go to pieces. I couldn't face it."

Grover explained that he finally decided to learn how to read when he realised he wanted to become an actor.

"I decided out of the blue. It was a brainstorm because I had tried lots of other things. I was a boxer, I was a hairdresser, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I went to a place in East London and said to the teacher there, 'I want to act but I have dyslexia quite bad'.

"I thought she would say, 'Well, fine, you can improvise around the lines', but she said, 'Well, you better learn to read then, hadn't you?' I was gutted but it started me off, getting me to read out loud and face my fears. Even now, I'm not a brilliant reader. I put a lot of my lines into a dictaphone and listen to them and memorise them."

The 50-year-old revealed that his dyslexia cost him a part in the recent remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before landing his role in EastEnders.

"The way I love working is improvising, that is my strength, coming in and ad-libbing. When I was offered EastEnders, I thought, 'Hold on a minute, this has all got to be word for word, and you've got to churn out script after script, and I am not going to be able to do it'. So I kept saying no. They were saying, 'This is going to be brilliant for you, you'll fit right in'.

"When I eventually read the part, I really liked it and I thought, 'I am just going to give it a go'. It has been a great discipline for me because I have had to learn lines and what I didn't realise was they are really good about you being loose, as long as it works.

"Even just last year, I was asked five times to be in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I kept saying, 'No, it's not for me'. But if I put my hand on heart, the reason I never went to meet them was because I was scared of the speech they had sent me."

Grover added that he tries to help other sufferers of dyslexia whenever he can, saying: "There is still a lot of stigma around dyslexia and I would imagine there are so many talented people out there who are just too scared to make a go of it.

"The good side of it is I can go round my area, or other areas, and say, 'Don't let it hold you back. Anyone can do anything'."

The actor recently said that he cried real tears while filming Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison)'s death on EastEnders.