James Forde to leave

[AngelicPrincess]

Pretty sure he was axed.

www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a644323/eastenders-james-forde-to-leave-liam-butcher-role.html

I also think Shona might go as well she changed her twitter from BBC actress on EE to just actress with her agent details.  I am also worried about Danielle Harold. Her contract is up in the summer. I think she might leave a few weeks after Kathy returns.

I love Lola will be annoyed if we lose her to keep our celebrity castings. Apparently Gillian is going to get a huge salary which is a joke as she was never a top earner or viewing figure puller before.

[mellowenchanted]

I can't say I'm too devastated. But I'm becoming increasingly concerned with the direction the show is heading in if there is any truth in the comments the EE boss made about celebrity castings.

[maurice45]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: DTC is trolling us. I genuinely don't understand his obsession with wanting to draw big names in at the expense of decent characters. Denise Van Outen has been rubbish, IMO.

His unhealthy obsessions with celebrity signings (and the Carters) is akin to BK's obsession with sensationalism and the Brannings. If your character's surname isn't a Carter, you should worry. If you're not a stunt signing, start packing your bags. DTC doesn't care about you.

After such a brilliant year last year and a phenomenal Live Week, the DTC powerhouse is effectively running out of steam.

[ScrabblyWabbly]

If Shona and James are leaving, I hope this doesn't mean Lyndsey is going too. She has been woefully underused since her return five years ago.

It's a revolving door situation at present with all these comings and goings. I wouldn't mind if these characters stories were actually told but in the case of Aleks and Tosh they were sidelined for the dreaded c word. And DTC is not solely to blame, the balancing of cast and characters not being developed or having their potential fulfilled has been happening for years.

[morallymagicqueen]

I'm almost certain now that Lindsay Coulson has decided to leave sadly.

I think Liam was always likely to be recast but what puzzles me is of what merit was his staying on post Bianca?

Some of EastEnders best castings have been unknowns like Charlie Brooks, Lacey Turner, Jessie Wallace and to a lesser extent Rita Simons. I am concerned that celebrity castings may become too prevalent and stunt us finding new undiscovered gems for the future.

[AngelicPrincess]

The thought of losing Lindsay is very depressing. She is by far the best actress on the show.

[maurice45]

Apr 27, 2015 16:30:23 GMT ScrabblyWabbly said:

If Shona and James are leaving, I hope this doesn't mean Lyndsey is going too. She has been woefully underused since her return five years ago.

It's a revolving door situation at present with all these comings and goings. I wouldn't mind if these characters stories were actually told but in the case of Aleks and Tosh they were sidelined for the dreaded c word. And DTC is not solely to blame, the balancing of cast and characters not being developed or having their potential fulfilled has been happening for years.

Don't get me wrong, DTC isn't the only one (the writing has been dreadful), but I did feel  that at the start of his tenure there was a balance - not the best of balances, but the show wasn't overwhelmingly "Carter". The balancing has been off since the introduction of The Branning Show.

And I agree re. characters like Aleks and Tosh. I didn't like Tosh at all, but then we never did see her do much besides physically or verbally abuse Tina. Perhaps they could have explored her history with her unaccepting family?

I get the feeling Lee is heading dangerously close to "useless territory" now, too. I like him, but we only ever see him in the background of his family's storylines.

Apr 27, 2015 17:14:15 GMT morallymagicqueen said:

I'm almost certain now that Lindsay Coulson has decided to leave sadly.

I think Liam was always likely to be recast but what puzzles me is of what merit was his staying on post Bianca?

Some of EastEnders best castings have been unknowns like Charlie Brooks, Lacey Turner, Jessie Wallace and to a lesser extent Rita Simons. I am concerned that celebrity castings may become too prevalent and stunt us finding new undiscovered gems for the future.

I agree. I'd honestly rather see unknowns take on a role (providing they can act) and do the characters justice than have big names traipsing in and out just for the sake of having big names in the show. It's an utterly stupid move and I genuinely can't see why anyone at the BBC thought this would be a good idea.

A few big names here and there shouldn't be a problem. Trying to cram loads of them into the show is.

[Lotty27]

I reckon Liam will come back with a new head eventually.

If DTC gets rid of Lola I'll never forgive him. She's being criminally underused and she proved her mettle when she pretended to give birth live! She was one of the few great things of Lorraine Newman's era but DTC just doesn't seem to rate her.

I also can't be doing with all these 'stunt' castings. Danny Dyer has worked (for me anyway as I hadn't really seen him in much) as did Timothy West because he's so good in encapsulates the role and you forget you're watching Tim West, he becomes Stan. Whereas Denise Van Outen was bloody lame, she was just playing herself! *roll eyes* I didn't see the point in having Andrew Sachs sitting there going on about food for about 5 minutes when they could have paid much less for someone else and I just know when I see June Whitfield I'm going to go "oh, there's June playing a nun!". All very nice for the producers et al that they can now attract 'big' names but I'd rather see the work going to an unknown who might have slogged away for years and getting that small role could be the highlight of their career!

[Teeks]

I got an epic idea for Liam's exit storyline. The Sesame Street Gang come back to torment Liam and his family, so the police put him in witness protection INDEFINITELY.

Or if you wanna add a tragic twist to it, Liam is fatally stabbed by Kane on his way to witness protection and dies in Carol's arms . The Sesame Street Gang are promptly arrested (again) and sent to prison (again).

[maurice45]

Apr 28, 2015 17:48:07 GMT Teeks said:

I got an epic idea for Liam's exit storyline. The Sesame Street Gang come back to torment Liam and his family, so the police put him in witness protection INDEFINITELY.

Or if you wanna add a tragic twist to it, Liam is fatally stabbed by Kane on his way to witness protection and dies in Carol's arms . The Sesame Street Gang are promptly arrested (again) and sent to prison (again).

LOL Sesame Street Gang

Liam did have potential beyond the stupid gang storyline. I understand the issue they were trying to tackle, but IMO the "gang" were a total failure, as with the "gang" before them run by Connor. I'm sorry but having a little shite like Kane saying I have eyes everywhere would just make me laugh.

James Forde to his credit played his part well, as he did when Beth's paternity was called into question. I don't really think he's a great actor, but he wasn't exactly the worst either (and far less annoying than that annoying T.J. and I'm sure T.K. wasn't happy with - one letter difference! ). He was a victim of neglect long before CarterEnders, so that's one thing we can't blame on Shirl's lot.

[Teeks]

Apr 28, 2015 18:28:20 GMT maurice45 said:

Apr 28, 2015 17:48:07 GMT Teeks said:

I got an epic idea for Liam's exit storyline. The Sesame Street Gang come back to torment Liam and his family, so the police put him in witness protection INDEFINITELY.

Or if you wanna add a tragic twist to it, Liam is fatally stabbed by Kane on his way to witness protection and dies in Carol's arms . The Sesame Street Gang are promptly arrested (again) and sent to prison (again).

LOL Sesame Street Gang

Liam did have potential beyond the stupid gang storyline. I understand the issue they were trying to tackle, but IMO the "gang" were a total failure, as with the "gang" before them run by Connor. I'm sorry but having a little shite like Kane saying I have eyes everywhere would just make me laugh.

James Forde to his credit played his part well, as he did when Beth's paternity was called into question. I don't really think he's a great actor, but he wasn't exactly the worst either (and far less annoying than that annoying T.J. and I'm sure T.K. wasn't happy with - one letter difference! ). He was a victim of neglect long before CarterEnders, so that's one thing we can't blame on Shirl's lot.

Yes, I agree. He did have potential. As you said, the gang storyline was just so badly executed. Kane was just so laughable .

Lol @ BIB .


I just don't think the writers know how to write teenage/young adult characters. What's the last young character they've written well and given them genuine character development? Lauren and her alcoholic storyline was just tedious for example. It did nothing to develop the character, just made her obnoxious. 

[roverman]

Lindsey did the cancer storyline beautifully as well as the death of her boy Billy. I am deeply concerned that DTC is trying to run out of town long established characters and their families to make room for the Carter clan (I reckon there's more of them out there)and his dubious celebrity castings.

Carol Jackson has been around for over 21 years (albeit in 2 stints) and has links to heritage characters like Pat Butcher as well as existing historic families like the Fowlers.

I hope Shona doesn't go, I think she's very beautiful, curvy and not stick thin like some girls out there.

[maurice45]

Apr 28, 2015 18:54:43 GMT roverman said:

Lindsey did the cancer storyline beautifully as well as the death of her boy Billy. I am deeply concerned that DTC is trying to run out of town long established characters and their families to make room for the Carter clan (I reckon there's more of them out there)and his dubious celebrity castings.

Carol Jackson has been around for over 21 years (albeit in 2 stints) and has links to heritage characters like Pat Butcher as well as existing historic families like the Fowlers.

I hope Shona doesn't go, I think she's very beautiful, curvy and not stick thin like some girls out there.

Oh lord, I HOPE there aren't any new Carters on the way. The celeb signings are bad enough, that coupled with more Carters...I'll probably switch off.

[roverman]

Well there is Zsa-Zsa for starters. She should turn up and cause issues between Sonia and Tina. Carly could come back to meet her new brother Mick, be reviled by Dean's behaviour and join #TeamMick I can see her and Nancy getting on like a house on fire!

[amber jade]

I said something similar on another thread; it's annoying how they can't find any more storylines for certain people that end up leaving or being axed, but people that have been in EE for yonks like Phil, Ian, Roxy, Billy always seem to have storylines created for them! Why don't they get axed?!