Ava Cross

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Clare Perkins has praised the soap for tackling the issue of street gangs.

The actress, who plays Ava Hartman, explained that she personally relates to the storyline because she has known victims of gang violence.

"I've always lived in London, and there have been times when it felt like you were waking up every day to the news that another young person had been stabbed," Perkins told The Sun.

"I have known youngsters who have lost their lives. I don't want to get too personal about it, but it is something that I'm passionate about. It's just senseless.

"I think it's really important for EastEnders to raise the issue of gangs."

Perkins has just had her EastEnders contract extended for another six months.

She added: "I feel really settled in. I've really bonded with Khali Best, who plays Ava's son Dexter. We have such a laugh - I call him son and he calls me mum!

"It's also been great to work with Patsy Palmer [Bianca] on this storyline. Patsy is nothing like Bianca at all, she's really sweet and really funny."

[lizann]

i like ava but if she don't want anything to do with cora why move into the square then

[Perdita]

EastEnders actress Clare Perkins has admitted that she isn't optimistic over her character Ava Hartman's future with Sam James.

Ava has recently reignited her relationship with ex-partner Sam (Cornell S John), who walked out of their family home years ago but now wants another chance.

However, Perkins told Inside Soap: "If that were me, it wouldn't be all that easy to walk back into my life. Sam didn't even call or email - he literally just turned up on the doorstep after walking out on her two decades ago!

"If I were Ava's friend, I'd say she was crazy to forgive him like that. There's bound to be some kind of upset - something else is going to happen, isn't it? So I really don't think she should be with him."

Perkins added that she would like to see Ava get along better with her mother Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell), who gave her up when she was a baby.

The pair clash again next week when Cora urges Ava to tell son Dexter the truth about her romance with Sam.

Perkins said: "The ongoing relationship between Ava and Cora is nice. They're both living in Albert Square now, so it's kind of ridiculous that they're still playing this cat-and-mouse game, with one of them being nice, and the other refusing the invitation and pretending that they're not bothered.

"It's quite unhealthy for both of them to not be exploring their many issues, so I think it would be a good thing to see their relationship blossoming."

[parkerman]

"I think it would be a good thing to see their relationship blossoming."

I think it would be a good thing if she actually attended the school where she is supposed to be the headteacher once in a while.

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Clare Perkins has admitted that she can understand her character Ava Hartman's reluctance in the soap's upcoming transplant storyline.

Ava has huge reservations next week as her son Dexter (Khali Best) vows to donate a kidney to his father Sam James (Cornell S John), who needs a transplant urgently.

However, Perkins told Inside Soap that she finds it easy to relate to Ava's fears.

She explained: "For me there would be no contest - I'd be like Ava and say, 'No way are you having his kidney!' Transplants aren't easy things, even if everyone thinks they are. If you have an organ transplant from someone, you then have to take medicine for the rest of your life. It's not like you can go on and live a normal life."

Condemning Sam's past mistakes, Perkins added: "He walked out on Ava when their baby was three months old - and then had the cheek to knock on the door 20 years later. If I were Ava, I'd never let a man like Sam in!"

The actress also said that she never feels complacent about her role on the BBC show.

She commented: "As an actor, you never know how long a job like this will last. I feel like I've settled in, but I can't sit back and think, 'That's it'. I want to do a really good job. I've just been making the most out of all the wonderful stuff we've been given to play."

[lizann]

ava and sam are leaving

http://www.digitalspy.ie/soaps/s2/ea...a-hartman.html

[lizann]

ava and sam are leaving

http://www.digitalspy.ie/soaps/s2/ea...a-hartman.html

[tammyy2j]

ava and sam are leaving

http://www.digitalspy.ie/soaps/s2/ea...a-hartman.html

EastEnders characters Sam James and Ava Hartman will both be leaving the soap later this year, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The Walford couple, played by Cornell S John and Clare Perkins, will bow out on screen as the Hartman family's ongoing transplant storyline reaches its natural conclusion.

Recent episodes of the BBC One show have seen Sam tell his loved ones that he is seriously ill and urgently needs a kidney transplant.

Viewers will soon see his son Dexter make the life-changing decision to help out by donating a kidney.

Digital Spy understands that the story always had a definitive ending planned which would lead to the departures of Sam and Ava.

An EastEnders insider revealed: "The conclusion of the Sam storyline was planned many months ago. Since taking over last month, new executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins is continuing the story as it was originally mapped out."

Dexter, played by Khali Best, will be staying in the programme despite the departures of his on-screen parents.

Perkins joined EastEnders in September last year and appeared on screen from November, when her character was introduced as Cora Cross's long-lost daughter.

The casting of Cornell S John as Sam was confirmed in April and his first scenes aired a month later.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that the characters of AJ Ahmed, Carl White, Kirsty Branning and Poppy Meadow will also be leaving EastEnders.

[tammyy2j]

.

[Brucie]

Good news that the Sam, Ava, Kirsty and Carl characters have been binned off! Shame they couldn't have come up with proper storylines for AJ and Poppy, though, - at least they have a bit of life in them and are generally optimistic characters.