Bye Bye Babs

The 10th of September 2010 marked the end for two popular TV institutions of recent years. Here's the first goodbye.

Following on from the previous evening's explosive inferno at her beloved Queen Vic, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) departed tearfully from Walford after 16 years. I must admit I'm sad to see her go as well and was disappointed by the Thursday episode which felt rushed in the usual 30 minute slot. No-one died and the only injured characters (Phil, Stacey, Ryan and Syed) were either back to normal or unseen on Friday. Only baby Lily appears to have been hospitalised and only overnight at that. Phil is looking like a pudgy red troll, but he was before the fire.

One thing I did like though was that this forms a triumvirate of event episodes with Archie's murder last Christmas Day, the live anniversary episode in February and then this week we have Stacey confessing the murder to Peggy and revealing to Ryan that he's Lily's father (it was in February we viewers learnt this but both were assumed to be down to Bradley, whose demise was also that night).

Meanwhile, next week the Peggy-shaped hole is being filled by these two. Personally I have my misgivings about bringing Kat and Alfie back, especially as they hail from an era when I wasn't really watching, and this very silly promo doesn't help.

Burning down the Vic ... and other September TV treats

Just as we finally wave bye bye to "Big Brother" (from Channel 4 anyway) and feel the onset of autumn, at least September is fairly quick to bring us TV treats, starting this coming week.

First up is the Queen Vic fire in "Eastenders" (lit Thursday by cracked-up Phil) which does a triple job of causing Peggy's departure, causing Kat and Alfie to return and potentially despatching some of the other characters Bryan Kirkwood has axed. I reality it also makes way for a HD quality Queen Vic set (as they did when they trashed the Eccleston/Tennant TARDIS in "Doctor Who"). For maximum impact it all breaks out at Janine & Ryan's wedding do with a packed pub and there is an explosion as well as a bog-standard fire. Luckily for the male stripper in this week's cast he's at Janine's earlier hen do in R&R.

The night before the fire we'll find out who this year's "Strictly Come Dancing" celebrities are when they film a 'red carpet special' which goes out on Saturday the 11th as a one-off. This series has already been controversial as it sees much bigger changes afoot and there have been resignations aplenty from the professional dancers pool.



Three new male dancers (above) have been hired to fill the gaps, though there are fewer couples this year. I thought some of last year's changes, notably replacing Arlene with Alesha, were for the worse so I'm very anxious about how more tampering will affect the show. One that is understandable is that there's a new set here too - after 7 series I'm sure it might not be in fantastic shape anymore, though it was iconic and copied in other versions.



Bromance-fuelled swashbuckle & supernatural in the pleasing form of "Merlin" also return to BBC One on the 11th for a third series. Deliberately haven't found too much out though I know the opener is set a year after the previous episode and features the lovely Tom Ellis as guest villain.



On the following Thursday there's the centrepiece of BBC Four's "Great Northern" season with "The Road to Coronation Street" telling the behind the scenes drama of how the soap made it to screen 50 years ago. Bamboozling regular 2010 soap viewers will be the sight of Jessie Wallace as Pat Phoenix, just as she returns to Albert Square as Kat AND James Roach will be playing his dad William Roach just as he has joined current "Coronation Street" for real as Ken Barlow's long-lost gay grandson. Confused, you will be ...



Returning for a ninth series the following week (day as yet TBC) is "Spooks" where surviving characters are joined by Sophia Myles, Leila Rouass and Max Brown who should provide eye-candy all round.

Village Totty covers Attitude's September issue

The rather sexy straight actor who plays (nearly) the only gay in the village of "Emmerdale" - Danny Miller - is the cover star of the September 2010 which is out today.

Attitude have also just announced that the magazine is now available for download to iPad or iPhone from anywhere in the world.

While I'm on the subject of young Mr Miller, I also found this little thing for Cosmo:

'Downstairs' Totty - Nico Mirallegro

Making the TV move from Chester 2010 to Belgravia 1936 is teen totty Nico Mirallegro, who is to appear alongside Dame Eileen Atkins, Jean Marsh, Art Malik, Anne Reid and Keeley Hawes in the new BBC continuation of "Upstairs, Downstairs". Nico plays northern footman Johnny Proude (sounds like a male stripper name).

19 year old Nico is best known as the recently departed Newt in "Hollyoaks" for which he had to wear a wig and fake lip piercing. Even so, he is quite used to getting his kit off as these pictures show

The new "Upstairs, Downstairs" has begun filming in Wales this week.

Attitude's 'Older' Issue - April 2010 main cover

As has now become a habit, here's the next 'Attitude' cover, starring 'Ender Bender' and soon to be talent show judge, John Partridge.

The alternative 'Active' cover star is apparently a mega-buffed Ronan Keating.

Who Killed Archie? Eastenders Live & Aftermath

There may be some of you who haven't got around to the reveal so don't scroll any further than these shots of Bradley falling to his death from the roof of the Queen Vic (well you must have known he was going) ...

And so in the very last scene, after the whole square, including all the other prime suspects, has witnessed Bradley's end we find out it was ... Stacey.

In hindsight it all makes so much sense, even though Stacey wasn't pushed as a suspect very much to the audience, despite having plenty motive. In the end too, she has only told Max, which makes for a fascinating prospect of both of them attempting to let dead Bradley take the rap, now that he is beyond needing protection.

(Much kudos to Lacey Turner who had been losing her voice from a throat infection yesterday, but had it for when it was needed. Ironic for the actress that so really needed to be able to voice the confesssion).

It was an ambitious episode that also had the completely shocking extra reveal that Ronnie too had been raped by Archie, her own father. And Charlie Clements on his last day at work had live physical stunt work to do (albeit with the help of a stuntman).

It's going to be fascinating watching the six weeks of episodes shot between yesterday's and today's when all the actors playing the other suspects are still unawares and working on scripts that don't make them any wiser, though it has been admitted that there will be new scenes (presumably with Stacey and Max) slotted into them. Apparently it is revealed to the characters at the end of March, but presumably not the police? Maybe the ramifications of this plot have some link to Kat and Alfie coming back?

There were some fluffs in the episode - who would have thought Scott Maslen was one of the few actors who'd done a live episode before, as he mangled his early lines a fair bit, though it added realism to a fictional panic. Samantha Womack also confessed later she'd made Ronnie into an inadvertent shoplifter.

My main gripe, if any, with it was the apparent absence of lots of characters, despite the actors actually being there. Perhaps I should have another look at it, but I'm sure it wasn't just because they didn't have speaking parts. Some were perhaps only there for the wrap party which we witnessed on the follow-up BBC Three show.

The BBC Three 'aftermath' show was completely surreal, from being hosted by Archie's real-life son (the non-saviour of 6Music, George Lamb), to watching the rest of the actors gripped and gobsmacked themselves by the live reveal, cast and crew mixing in the R&R set with real alcohol and an super-swift interview with hapless Charlie Clements as he wobbled to his feet still dripping fake blood everywhere.

It's really unique TV itself - catch it here until 9.29pm on Friday 26th:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qym8y/EastEnders_Live_The_Aftermath/

Lastly, here's some photos from the preparations this week for the live episode. A couple of them deserve subtitle competitions!

The latest explosion/set redesign excuse for "Eastenders"

It's another showcase week for the pyrotechnics crew on "Eastenders" next week, as Nasty Nick's latest comeback storyline comes to a climax which allows for a long-overdue revamp of the cafe set, apparently destined to become a retro diner when repaired. The explosive incident appears to be instigated by yet another out-of-control vehicle in Albert Square, mere weeks after Danielle copped in a classic tearjerker of an RTA. This set-piece is also rumoured to be fatal for one of the characters trapped inside the 'caff- it's not Bradley, but he's certainly injured. Judging by who seem to be in there and don't subsequently appear as a gasping spectator, I'd say Jane or Heather may be in line for some hospital food, but I can't guess at any headstone names. Who's the one behind Bradley in the denim jacket?

Pics via unrealitytv primetime blog

Eastenders trailer

Oooooooooooh. Looks like the long drawn out Danielle storyline is coming to an abrupt end on Friday.

Daytime totty

Ironically, while I was ill I managed to catch an episode of BBC One's daytime soap, "Doctors".

I was particularly taken with this actor, Matt Kennard, who plays practice nurse Archie Hallam.

Oh how I wished to sample his bedside manner!

Walford Gingers

Forgive me for this as I know the promotional video I'm about to post has divided opinion as much as Catherine Tate on "Doctor Who", but I thought it was fun.



Yes, Bianca (Patsy Palmer) and brood have landed back in Albert Square this week following tangential appearances last week. In doing so the Ginger contingent has found its homecoming Queen. She joins Bradley, Max and this bit of stuff (who also pops up in the promo) ...



Yup, watch out for Rob Kazinsky's strip as Sean Slater beds Roxy in the very near future.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders

Eastenders meets Doctor Who ...

No, mercifully not the sequel to "Dimensions in Time" - in fact this really has very little to do with "Doctor Who" and is actually just a forthcoming storyline for "Eastenders" featuring a faked-up "Doctor Who" exhibition filmed by St Paul's Cathedral in London. Rumoured to be intended for Valentine's Day broadcast it features Bradley Branning and new wife Stacey, played by Charlie Clements and Lacey Turner. Bradley has previously been established as a keen sci-fi fan, which goes a little way to explain the situation.

Though no such exhibition exists, the St Pauls area featured in a memorable scene of rampaging Cybermen in the 1968 story "The Invasion".

Pictures via Outpost Gallifrey and The Sun.

More "Children in Need" japes!

On top of the "Doctor Who" mini-drama, I'm also rather looking forward to the Eastenders' cast '40th anniversary tribute' to "Sergeant Pepper". It's a while since the Albert Square alumni have done a musical turn in the show and it seems that many of the newer and younger cast are getting their chance on Friday. As these pictures specifically show it is worth it alone for sour faced characters like Sean and Shirley showing a lighter side. It looks like a mountain of curtain material was used to wrap the cast.

Here's the Children in Need website with full details.

More like "Happy Birthday BAFTA" please ITV!

Hopefully this is the Grade effect, but I watched this show at 9pm last night and, had it not been for the ads (a very festive and expensive bunch incedentally), I'd have sworn this was a BBC production.

From Stanley Baxter to Victoria Wood and the choices of Parky and Lumley as co-hosts this just reeked the sort of considered class that ITV has lacked for years.

About the only ropey bits were the "Coronation St" fake retro pieces where Kim Ryder and Anthony Cotton were digitally imposed on old footage and the apparently obligatory Sharon Osborne appearance.

Great to see the "Upstairs, Downstairs" cast re-united (sort of) with the revelation that the first proposed spin-off was actually to feature Hudson, Mrs Bridges and Ruby running a seaside guest house - unfortunately Angela Baddeley died mere weeks after the final episode was broadcast.

Oh and special mention for the set - again a cut above what we normally see.

Soap Totty - 2 new pics

Thanks to Digital Spy for these:

First is Kyal Marsh, who has left "Neighbours" and ran away to the circus (namely the second series of "Cirque de Celebrité" on Sky One from 7 October).

"We reckon the sight of Kyal's lycra-clad body - "My, hasn't he grown!" etc etc - makes up for the fact that the first series subjected us to ten weeks of that godawful Grace from Big Brother.

However, as loin-teasing as this publicity shot is, we can't help wishing that the bulge in Kyal's trousers was as pronounced as those in his arms, shoulders and chest. Hopefully Sky One's costume department will have rectified this alarming situation ..."

Then there's Matthew Wolfenden from "Emmerdale" who's done this shot for "Cosmopolitan".

DS reports:

"He’s decided to whip his kit off for Cosmopolitan Centrefolds for three thoroughly laudable reasons:
To raise awareness for the Everyman Campaign, the UK's leading male cancer campaign.
To celebrate Emmerdale's 35th birthday.
To strengthen the radiocarpal joints of teenage boys across the nation."

I was in the British gymnastics team from the ages of six to 16," Matthew reveals. "All those years of training have paid off!" Hmm. Can anybody think of a way to test his flexibility?"

Philip Olivier - "Brookside" strip duo

Phil Strip
Uploaded by justin8131

Been trying to get my hands on this for years!

Eastenders' Jase in his pants

For those of you who may have missed his little launderette strip on Friday. Walford's latest bit of rough is played by actor stephen Lord.