[Brother Leon]

Eastenders usually always has the best Christmas storyline.

EE>>Other Soaps even when it's poor

[Redway]

That may be true but at least Corrie's a bit more realistic on Christmas Day and they don't put all their eggs in one basket.

And I actually reckon Corrie's been much more watchable than EE this year and the last (though none of them have been any good really).

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Christmas Neeve

I agree, it was very disappointing. They could atleast have had him murdered and a who dunnit type thing, a bloody heart attack?? Boring.

no way, I'm glad they spared us yet another whodunnit

[Brother Leon]

I don't really care about realism etc in Soaps. I just want entertainment. Hell, I like the extreme storylines which seem far fetched the most. I understand some people prefer it to be realistic though.

[Me. I Am Salman]

^ same

[bbfan1991]

There is never any drama in soaps when everyone is constantly happy. If some people want that every episode then I am afraid they are watching the wrong programme!

Btw one of the guys that chased Derek is apparently returning to the square soon, unfinished business and all that.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by bbfan1991

There is never any drama in soaps when everyone is constantly happy. If some people want that every episode then I am afraid they are watching the wrong programme!

Btw one of the guys that chased Derek is apparently returning to the square soon, unfinished business and all that.

Precisely, which is exactly why I said Corrie was better this Christmas. Not EastEnders. There's a difference.

[bbfan1991]

The thing is some Corrie fans have actually moaned when they do the big dramatic scenes that contain some misery, it has a big fanbase but there is a huge older block watching and I suspect they are the ones who prefer every scene to be happy.

I like happy scenes in soaps, although I still maintain a balance is good. I think EE have included more lighter scenes recently.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by bbfan1991

The thing is some Corrie fans have actually moaned when they do the big dramatic scenes that contain some misery, it has a big fanbase but there is a huge older block watching and I suspect they are the ones who prefer every scene to be happy.

I like happy scenes in soaps, although I still maintain a balance is good. I think EE have included more lighter scenes recently.

I see what you're saying but the thing about older viewers being the main age demographic who want happiness and low-key, light-hearted episodes as opposed to high-profile drama just isn't true. I don't have any statistics or anything to contextualise that as an objective statement (not even much to substantiate it at all) but if personal experience is anything to go by (which it probably isn't), plenty of people I know who aren't "older" (as you put it) would rather watch happy filler stuff than drama.

[Brother Leon]

Depressing scenes are so much better for me

[reece(:]

The spirit of Christmas shouldn't be consistent misery though, I only know of one "happy storyline" this Christmas on 'enders and it's the background relationship of Poppy and Fatboy.

[waterhog]

and they have made them so silly even 5 years olds are embarrassed to watch them.

[Jake.]

I loved the last few EE episodes. I love how we all assumed Derek would be murdered, so it was a good shock to see he go another way. And the wife thing was a good twist as well.

[Redway]

Some 8.2m - a 32.3% share of the available audience - tuned in to watch BBC One's 8.30pm Boxing Day episode of the soap, which focused on the Brannings' shock over Derek's fatal heart attack. BBC Three's late-night repeat appealed to 677,000 (4.5%) at 10.30pm.

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2GFyTRBr3

Fairly rubbish ratings but it's never usually on (on) a Wednesday.

[waterhog]

i think people were like me - tuned it to make sure he is gone for good.

[Redway]

Here's another one of Lorraine Newman's interviews if anyone's interested:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastender...-Albert-Square

Generally good interview but some ridiculous comments. Nobody cares about Joey/Lauren and the pair of them should really go.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Sharon has been wrecked beyond words

I think the state the show is in now is worse than when BK was in charge

[Kazanne]

I really like the Branning family although lauren is getting a bit grating,I also like the fact Alfie and Roxy are now a couple,bit **** Zanab is leaving ,I like the Masoods aswell,not keen on Joey,Alice and Lucy is a bit dire,but still like EE the best.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Salman!

Sharon has been wrecked beyond words

I think the state the show is in now is worse than when BK was in charge

Agree. Nobody gives a shit about Sharon/Jack/Phil and if Lorraine Newman seriously thinks that Lauren/Joey is going to get people talking then my god she's a tad deluded. Some blogger actually has a pretty good analysis of EE right now so I'll just copy and paste when I can find it.

[waterhog]

Originally Posted by Redway

Agree. Nobody gives a shit about Sharon/Jack/Phil and if Lorraine Newman seriously thinks that Lauren/Joey is going to get people talking then my god she's a tad deluded. Some blogger actually has a pretty good analysis of EE right now so I'll just copy and paste when I can find it.

i echoooooooooo this and jusr feel it is more neighbours and home and away then a adult soap drama.

[InOne]

Too much of the Branning show at the moment. Especially with Phil away as well.

Michael Moon is saving the show at the moment.

[Redway]

The inactivity on this thread says it all. I've pretty much stopped watching and I'm only paying attention to it for Zainab's exit and even that looks shit

[Brother Leon]

Whoever's idea it was to basically swap Derek for Kirsty needs a long hard look at themselves.

[bbfan1991]

'EastEnders' works with Comic Relief for Liam Butcher gang storyline

EastEnders bosses have teamed up with Comic Relief to highlight the growing problem of teen involvement in gangs.

A forthcoming storyline on the BBC One soap will see Bianca Butcher (Patsy Palmer) left distraught when her 14-year-old son Liam becomes caught up in a gang, which results in her losing control of the schoolboy.



As the hard-hitting plot progresses, Bianca will face the terrible reality of trying to get Liam (James Forde) to choose between his family and the gang - but which way he turns remains to be seen.

EastEnders chiefs and Comic Relief have worked on Liam's story together, undertaking research into why teenagers become involved in gangs and the devastating effects the culture can have.

The collaboration between EastEnders and Comic Relief comes after they previously teamed up for Whitney Dean's sex exploitation storyline in 2011.

EastEnders' executive producer Lorraine Newman commented: "We are delighted to be working with Comic Relief once again. This subject matter is something which is touching the lives of so many young people in London and other cities around the UK.

"We have taken the opportunity to see the impact from a mother's perspective, and Patsy Palmer gives a powerful performance of a mother doing all she can to protect her son. The telling of this story has also given us the chance to explore the reasons behind the attraction of gangs for teenagers."

Judith McNeill, Grants Director for Comic Relief, added: "Comic Relief is really excited to be working with EastEnders again to highlight an important issue supported by Red Nose Day.

"In 2011, Comic Relief put EastEnders in touch with young people who had been sexually exploited so that the reality of this horrific form of abuse could be accurately portrayed. The groundbreaking storyline was important in lifting the lid on a hidden issue and significantly raised the profile of the issue of young people and sexual exploitation across the UK.

"This year's storyline should play an equally important role in promoting greater understanding of why young people are vulnerable to becoming involved in gangs."

Liam's gang storyline will start on screen next month and include a six-minute episode which will be transmitted as part of BBC One's Comic Relief broadcast on Friday, March 15.

[bbfan1991]

That should be good, like what they did with the Whitney prostitution storyline.

Zainab's exit is this week. I will really miss her in the show and wish Nina Wadia well in what she does next. Nina is a brilliant Actress and although she is known more for comedy, it has been great to see her portraying drama in EastEnders, but she has had the mixture of both playing Zainab anyway.