Soap Posts: What a week in Walford!

Finally the time had come in Albert Square for Danielle to reveal the truth to her birth mother Ronnie. The seven month wait had been excruciating, watching Danielle so close but never uttering the truth to Ronnie. So as you can expect I was delighted when it came to Thursday evening and on the whole I wasn't disappointed.

I will start with the positives because Eastenders delivered a classic episode, filled with the emotion, drama and revelations that accompany any good soap event. The action packed hour had me screaming at the television, begging Peggy not to marry the evil Archie, laughing at the drunken rambles of Stacey (who delivered my favourite line of the whole episode when she politely excused herself as she went to be sick, leaving a distraught Danielle crying alone) and shocked and upset at the sudden death of Danielle. And even though I admit that I knew what was going to happen, the episode was defiantly worth watching.

I also have to praise the acting of all those involved. Peggy and Phil Mitchell (Babara Windsor and Steve McFadden) played they're parts well, adding to the usual Mitchell fighting spirit to the episode. But special praise has to be paid to Archie (Larry Lamb), Ronnie (Samantha Janus) and Danielle (Lauren Crace).

Larry Lamb gave a outstanding performance as the evil and creepy Archie, whilst Lauren Crace portrayed the tormented and heartbroken Danielle amazingly. Samantha Janus' acting left me speechless. She delivered a perfect performance, giving a believable and powerful portrayal as both the angry and confused Ronnie when Danielle finally revealed the truth and a heart-breakingly emotional Ronnie as she cradled her dying daughter.

The hour long episode was extremely entertaining though I found the first half an hour tedious at points. The sub story of Tanya and Max felt unnecessary and an annoying distraction for the main event, the wedding. The wedding itself was well written, with Peggy challenging Archie at the alter but in the end still going on to marry the controlling Mr Mitchell.

But the second half of the episode is what I had been waiting for, the reveal. Although it didn't have the classic feel of "You ain't my mother, Yes I am!" from the Kat/Zoe storyline, the moment was entertaining, although heart-breaking at the same time as a confused and angry Ronnie threw Danielle out of the pub, refusing to believe her claim that she was Danielle's mother.

When Ronnie finally found the locket and learnt the truth it provided classic drama and tension, I found myself on the edge of my seat as Ronnie ran after her daughter. But unfortunately, in true Eastenders fashion there was not happy ending. It seemed to take an eternity for Janine's car to plough into Danielle as a helpless Ronnie watched on but the emotional goodbye between mother and daughter was a powerful and memorable scene that will go done as one of the saddest soap moments I have ever witnessed.

But although it was terrifically emotional and dramatic scene I was extremely disappointed with the ending. It was a hugely upsetting and unnecessarily violent end to a storyline that had been frustrating viewers for months. Killing off the character of Danielle is a waste of an appealing and well portrayed character and many other interesting future story lines. Though I understand that the final scenes provided great drama and huge ratings for the BBC, I as a viewer would have liked to have seen a relationship build between Ronnie and Danielle.

My other main criticism of the whole storyline is the length of time Eastenders managed to drag it on for. The seven month wait for the reveal was unnecessarily long (especially as Danielle died only two minutes after Ronnie found out the truth) and at times extremely annoying. I understand it was a slow burning storyline that was best suited to explode at the wedding but Eastenders producers left the secret hidden too long, making Danielle's death even more frustrating as viewers waited so long for the reveal.

The reaction to the episode has been mixed. Whilst I have read a lot of praise on Internet forums for the episode many viewers seem upset about the ending in which Danielle tragically dies. The Sun ran a poll in which 90% thought that Eastenders made a mistake when killing Danielle and I agree with them.

Picture (Ronnie and Danielle) from The Mirror

Picture (Archie) from BBC

UPDATE: TV Posts

I posted last week that I planned to write about soaps every week. I have now decided to expand this to television as well as I am a self-confessed TV addict, spending hours sitting in front of the box watching the latest exploits of the housewives on Wisteria Lane or the sometimes over the top antics at Waterloo Road.

Soap posts: Dead wood gets the chop

It was announced this week that Dawn Swann (played by Kara Tointon) and Garry Hobbs (played by Ricky Groves) are to leave Eastenders.

When I read the news I was shocked that the pair, especially Ricky, were being written out of the show. Garry is practically part of the furniture at Eastenders after being on our screens for ten years and Dawn has often been one of the main characters is some of Eastenders biggest storylines.

But recent lacklustre storylines for the characters may indicate that they have simply run out of steam or the writers have just run out of ideas for the pair. The recent storyline of Garry and Dawn starting a relationship together seemed an obvious and rather uinteresting route to take. The only moment of enjoyment I took from the scenes was the comical reference to Garry's disapperance on the BBC News.
Though both characters may have just been background contributors in the show, offering the odd laugh or tear I have enjoyed watching their characters in the past. Garry came in as one of the founder memebers of the Slater family (and with his departure it is sad to see that the original slaters are now low on numbers with only Charlie and Mo left) and over the ten years Garry (with his loyal sidekick and best buddy Minty) has offered some light relief.

The character of Dawn Swann has often been portrayed as a very unlikeable character, interested in only her looks and popularity. But Kara's portrayal of Dawn in the long running Mad May saga was a enjoyable change. The gritty and explosive plot was exciting to watch and I was impressed by Kara's portrayal of the emotional fraught Dawn.

But I think the right decision was made to write out the pair as they slipped more and more into the background of Eastenders.

When I am sitting at University and the lecturer has a pile of marked essays ready to give back, but they insist on talking to us for about an hour. No one really cares about what the teacher is saying, everyone just wants their essays back.

Unfortunately characters like Garry and Dawn, with their rather predictable storylines and uninteresting exploits, are what Eastenders fans have had to put up with while we wait for something better to happen.



Picture from The Mirror

Soap Posts: JUST TELL HER!

WARNING: MAY INCLUDE HINTS/SPOILERS OF FUTURE STORYLINES!

I thought it was only right that my first post was on my favourite current storyline, the Ronnie and Danielle reveal. Since this storyline was first mentioned back in the summer last year I have been interested in the characters and storyline direction that EastEnders would take.

The character of Ronnie, played by Samantha Janus, had always been cold, a character that I found hard to like. But since it was revealed to the audience that she had a daughter when she was 14 that she gave up for adoption it had opened up new avenues for this character and her relationship with others, mainly her father Archie (played by Larry Lamb).

Despite the claim by Archie that her daughter had died, the possibility of introducing the character of Ronnie's long lost daughter would be too good of a opportunity to miss. Thats why I was not surprised when a young mysterious blonde called Danielle (played by Lauren Crace)turned up in the July last year.

Though the fact she was Ronnie's daughter was kept a secret the first rumours were circulating about her identity. I found myself trying to drop hints for my family, suggeting that a certain new mysterious character who looks like another character and is about the same age as that women's supposedly dead daughter..... (you can see how confusing this storyline got!)

I was convinced that it was the type of secret that would explode over the turkey and crackers but to my disappointment the secret continued into the new year. I appreciate that it was planned to be a slow burner, so we could see Danielle's character develop and try and build a relationship with Ronnie.


By the time we reached February two dates stood out for the possible reveal; mothers day and Archie and Peggy's wedding (it wouldnt be a good EastEnders reveal if it didnt come out on a significant day or event!)

This may be a good point to admit I don't just watch soaps; I read the magazines, read the spoilers and comment on the fan forums. So I had been aware of the facebook rumours of Danielle's character leaving or being killed off.

Over recent weeks rumours and theories have been constantly circling on the forums, from the plausable to the slightly crazy. But from a mixture of spoilers and rumours it seems that the theory of the reveal happening on the day of the Mitchell nuptials, followed by Danielle's sudden demise are true.


I, as a fan of the show, am very disappointed if this is how the storyline ends. I understand that as a viewer I have no control over the storyline but fans have waited patiently for months as the script twists and turns, dipping in and out of the Ronnie and Danielle storyline. I have continued to watch even when both characters disappear off screen for a number of weeks and we watch unentertaining filler storylines (one example being the double act of Heather and Shirley search for George Michael!)

I have watched the storyline and characters develop, waiting patiently as I scream at the television "JUST TELL HER!" To kill of the character of Danielle, maybe even before Ronnie finds out the truth, is a waste of the storyline.

The possible avenues that this storyline and the characters could have gone seem to have been discounted in favour of a ratings high for one or two episodes. I understand that the drama and emotion will be sensational but as a fan and viewer I wanted to see a reunion between mother and daughter.



One thing that appeals to me about soaps are relationship between characters; whether that be mother and daughter, husband and wife etc... The relationship between Danielle and Ronnie has taken so many twists and turns but I was always hoping that in the end it would turn out to be a good one.

Whatever direction the storyline takes over the next few weeks in the build up to Archie and Peggy's wedding and the reveal I must praise EastEnders for the storyline and complement the terrific acting from all involved. I for one will be watching intently and even though it seems unlikely I am still hoping for a happy ending!

Ronnie Mitchell picture from Whats on TV

Danielle Jones picture from BBC

Danielle and Ronnie picture from The Mirror

My Soap Posts

They may only be fiction but I, like many, am a huge fan of soap operas, you could call me a soap super fan. This is why I decided to do weekly posts on the soaps on British TV. My first plan was to write about all the soaps but in recent months I have found myself gradually losing interest in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.


I have never been huge fans of Emmerdale and Coronation Street but I now do not watch them on a regular basis, I dip in and out when a character or storyline interests me. Over recent years I have been a huge fan of Hollyoaks. I found the show is more light hearted than other soaps, but it covers topical anbd serious issues (one of my favourite storylines being Hannah's battle with an eating disorder). But recently I have found the show unappealing, the characters and storylines failing to catch my attention.


This is why, for the moment, by blog posts will be based mostly around EastEnders. I have watched EE since I was a child, I have grown up around the show. Even though it has gone through some tough spells in recent years it is the one soap that I watch religiously. I must admit that watching EE is the main part of my evenings on the days it is shown (along with sleeping and eating obviously!).

(Picture from BBC)

I am planning to post after every week, offering my views as a fan of soaps and more specifically EastEnders (and I plan to try really hard to keep posting every week!).

TV talent shows have taken over my saturday nights!

In previous years I have to admit I have watched the X Factor. I watched partially interested when Steve and then Shayne won the first two series. I watched series three as Leona was better than everyone (there was no-point having a favourite, no-one else had a chance!) and then last year when Leon won, but to be honest I didnt warm to any of the contenstants last year.

This year I swore to myself I would just watch the funny auditions, convinced that no-one would interest me enough to make me watch the live shows. But I was wrong because as the constentants for the live shows were wittled down to 12 there was actual talent that I liked left to perform on a saturday evening! Despite the usual average performers, constentants like Laura, Austin and Rachel had impressed me. Up to week 2 I had no favourites but when I sat on my sofa watching a performance of Purple Rain in the sing-off I had found my favourite, Ruth Lorenzo.

Even though I have not loved all her performances she has a surperb voice, amazing stage presence and from what we have seen on TV a lovely personality. She has delivered some of the best performances of the series from Purple Rain, Knocking On Heaven's Door and Love Ain't Here Anymore.

She also caught my attention because she sings a genre of music I like, she was not like the manufactured pop acts that these reality shows can produce. Ruth performed classic rock songs and power ballads. In Week five, when she was in the sing-off against Laura White (who has a extremely good voice herself) I was sure she was going home but again, just like Purple Rain she blew everyone away with Knocking on Heaven's Door and I agreed with the judge's choice, Ruth deserved to stay.

In week 8 she gave two blistering performances of rock classics I love Rock and Roll and Always. She was arguably put in the worst slot, first in both rounds of songs. A slot where, even if you give amazing performances like Ruth did, you have a clear disadvantage.

During the results I had a horrible feeling that Ruth was gone, as soon as JLS were called out first. It may have been between Ruth, the popular Diana and the vocally weak Eoghan but I wasn't surprised when Ruth went out. She may have had arguably the best voice in the competition but she didnt have the fanbase and popularity of other weaker constetants.

And as I write this I am waiting for X Factor to start (without Ruth!) I just hope that common sense and talent prevail, she may not be my favourite but to me, Alexandra Burke must win X Factor this year. And for a final word on Ruth, she may not have won but she did very well to reach the top five. And for the first time I will be supporting a contestant beyond the competition, I am a fan of the very talented Ruth Lorenzo.

(Picture from mirror.co.uk)

Welcome: my personal blog

Welcome to my personal blog on television and soaps.