[Doogle]

I miss it, was so hooked back then.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by bbfan1991

She rightly deserved that criticism but people forget that she created characters like Stacey, Dennis and Jake etc, so there were some positives about Louise Berridge and her period in charge...

Agreed! And although Den coming back was unrealistic, don't see why ratings dropped, its still exciting.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Callum

Yeah she was criticised for bringing Den back, a lot of people complained it was too unrealistic and the ratings when she was in charge fell to the lowest they've ever been, 3.9 million.

No, Louise Berridge brought back then. It was Kate Harwood (in 2006) who had the ratings fall to 3.9m.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Salman!

Agreed! And although Den coming back was unrealistic, don't see why ratings dropped, its still exciting.

It was 2006 the ratings dropped, but EastEnders did get a lot of bad press in 2004, and it's a shame, really. 2004 may not have exactly been the show's best ever year, but the team at the time had a lot to deal with, especially Louise Berridge. It was a dodgy year but all of those problems were beyond her control. It was much better than this era for sure.

Den's return episode in late 2003 had about 16.8 million I think.

[Patrick]

EastEnders 2003 - 2006 was the best era in the history of the show.

The Gang Drama > Watching the show revolve around a Muslim family who are dull.
That is a fact.
So I'm sorry, but anyone that doesn't like Derek Branning, who is a saviour to the show and reminds me of the '06 days, can simply ****** off and watch Corrie.

Get Johnny Week - my greatest EE memory.

[Patrick]

God, I wish they'd release all of EastEnders 2006 on a boxset - this thread is making me nostalgic.. and making me hate the show as it is now.

[Callum]

Originally Posted by Patrick

So I'm sorry, but anyone that doesn't like Derek Branning, who is a saviour to the show and reminds me of the '06 days, can simply ****** off and watch Corrie.

Get Johnny Week - my greatest EE memory.

Derek is not a patch on Evil Johnny or even Andy Hunter

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Callum

Derek is not a patch on Evil Johnny or even Andy Hunter

Did I say that?

I just mean compared to Denise, Zainab, Ben, Heather, Tyler and all the other dicks we put up with - he's the most similar to the good old characters like Johnny/Jack Dalton/Andy etc

[Callum]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Did I say that?

I just mean compared to Denise, Zainab, Ben, Heather, Tyler and all the other dicks we put up with - he's the most similar to the good old characters like Johnny/Jack Dalton/Andy etc

No I know you didn't but I was merely saying that I believe Johnny and Andy were much better villians. Everyone harps on about Derek as if he's the best villian the show's ever had and he's really not.