Forget The Royal Wedding...

...this is surely the most iconic TV wedding of all time.




And it was so happy. No drama! I think the biggest dramatic moment was Mrs Mangel's leg being groped by Madge's dad when he went to grab Lucy's stray mouse.

And as a special treat, surely the funniest Neighbours moment ever. Bouncer is very persistent!

EastEnders 1993 Theme Tune

How many of you out there remeber this old version of the E.E theme tune from 1993?

At that time Arthur Fowler was doing more than planting potatoes with Mrs Hewitt, Gita was pushing Shamilla around the square a great deal of the time, and Cindy had just returned to the square after several years absence.

Although slower in developing their big plots, the show was a great deal more realistic then.



And appreantly there was a song version of it too. It just gets worse and worse!

E.T 2 Trailer - My Childhood Has Just Been Destroyed!!

I know it's not soap news but I've just stumbled across this hopefully hoax trailer for an E.T 2. Please tell me it isn't true... sob!


ET Sequel- ET-X (Extended Trailer) by Kato_Tuttle

Joanna Lumley 'Confirms More Ab Fab!'

Not soap news but I just had to share this amazing news with you all! Hoorah!!

Joanna Lumley has reportedly confirmed that she will film new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous later this year.

In November, Lumley revealed that she was keen to return to the sitcom.

The actress has now been quoted as telling Hello magazine that she will begin work on new instalments this summer.

"In late August I start filming on three episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, which we are all ecstatic about," she said.

However, Lumley said that she has no idea what will happen when the show returns, saying: "Miss [Jennifer] Saunders has been so busy writing Uptown Downstairs Abbey for Comic Relief and also Spice Girls: The Musical, I don't think she's started [the script]!"

Lumley has previously said that she "adored" working on Absolutely Fabulous.

Fro www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a315615/joanna-lumley-confirms-more-ab-fab.html

'EastEnders' Baby Confession Scene Re-Shot

The conclusion to the EastEnders baby swap storyline was apparently re-shot to be more emotional.

The original scenes, filmed last month, saw Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) storm into the Queen Vic and confess her secret to Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) in front of everyone.

However, according to the Daily Star Sunday, producers decided that the climax would be more effective if it focused on the four central characters - including Alfie, played by Shane Richie, and Jack (Scott Maslen).

"The original ending showed Ronnie telling Kat what she'd done right in the middle of Greg and Tanya's wedding reception," a source revealed. "We saw the reaction from people who were not involved in the storyline and Kat reacted a lot more angrily.

"She told Alfie that she was going to kill Ronnie for what she'd done and, as you can imagine, there were a lot of gasps of shock from people watching the events unfold inside the Queen Vic.

"But once the producers watched it back they realised it didn't have to be done in front of everyone. In fact, it was better for Ronnie to confess to Kat alone. The scene was re-written and the actors were called in a couple of weeks ago to re-shoot."

The scenes were eventually watched by 10.21m people on Friday, with a further 1.15m watching the 10pm repeat on BBC Three.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a314987/eastenders-baby-confession-scene-re-shot.html

Hmmm, interesting to read the top EE brass have finally realised how emotive this story has been and insisted on adding more sensitivity to it. About time they considered the emotional impact of the show on its viewers before deciding to drown us all in relentless nihilism and misery.

Best of Web...Kids Watch Too Much Adult Stuff On TV

Watching explicit ad campaigns and raunchy television shows, children are under pressure to act older, say most parents who took part in a poll.

A study for the Department for Education found almost half the parents who were covered in the survey believe the 9pm watershed – in place to protect youngsters – no longer has any force, reports 'Mail Online'.

41 per cent of parents agreed they had seen TV shows or advertisements before the watershed that they considered wrong for their children to view. And 40 per cent said they had seen window displays or advertising boards that children should not be exposed to.

Reg Bailey, who is leading an independent review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood, said: "Parents are struggling against the slow creep of an increasingly commercial and sexualised culture and behaviour, which they say prevents them from parenting the way they want."

The research comes a week after British fashion brand Jack Wills was accused of pushing the boundaries of decency too far.

The latest catalogue by the popular brand was banned from being distributed due to explicit images.

In September, more than 3,000 people complained that dance moves in the X Factor final by pop stars Christina Aguilera and Rihanna were too explicit.

http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/this-is-life/best-of-web-kids-watch-too-much-adult-stuff-2011-04-11-1.379624

Big Brother Confirmed For Channel 5 Return

Channel 5 has signed a deal to air Endemol reality show Big Brother later this year, it has been revealed.

The hit show, which launched the careers of Jade Goody, Kate Lawler and 'Nasty' Nick Bateman, was dropped by Channel 4 last year after a decade on air and 11 series. The programme also spawned a number of hit spinoffs and sister shows such as Big Brother's Little Brother and Celebrity Big Brother.

A full confirmation of the programme's return details is expected to be announced tomorrow. However, according to The Guardian, the deal will apparently last five years and a Celebrity edition is expected to begin in August. A traditional non-celebrity edition will follow in September.

Richard Desmond's Channel 5 has been linked to Big Brother since last summer when it concluded on Channel 4. Negotiations between the broadcaster and producers Endemol have broken down on several occasions, but they have now finally reached an agreement.

A report in the Desmond-owned Daily Star earlier this month suggested that stars such as Charlie Sheen, Mohammed al-Fayed and Amy Childs would be approached to take part in the first Celebrity series on the channel.

Davina McCall, who hosted every series on Channel 4, previously ruled herself out of presenting the show again. Vanessa Feltz, Brian Dowling, Jeff Brazier and Emma Willis are the early bookmakers' favourites to land the job.

Steve says:
Why a Big Brother story here? Because in my opinion Big Brother is the ultimate modern soap opera and I predicted a year ago it wouldn't be long before it returned to our screens, being too much of a 'hot potato' for any sane TV exec to leave dormant for too long.

And the magic of Big Brother? Real, complex characters that over time you begin to care about and empathize with, both heroes and villains. Bucketfuls of humour, and an accessible setting with every day trivial dramas that everyone can relate to. Forget convoluted salacious baby swap plots to grab your attention; in this soap someone peeing on a toilet seat can create a drama that escalates and escalates.

(The death of Brookside was due to the emergence of Big Brother in my opinion. Compared to the reality of the drama in the BB house, the ridiculous and dull plots of Brookside Close in later years made it a no brainer to finally give the Liverpool soap its long overdue axe in 2003.)

Sam Womack Explains EastEnders Baby Swap Climax

EastEnders star Samantha Womack has explained what goes through her character Ronnie Branning's mind as the soap's baby swap storyline reaches its long-awaited conclusion.

At the end of next week, Ronnie finally comes to her senses as she realises the enormity of her decision to switch Kat Moon's newborn son Tommy with her dead child James at New Year. Deciding to put things right, she bids Tommy a final farewell before heading into The Vic with the intention of ending Kat and Alfie's turmoil.

Ronnie's life-changing decision comes after her brother-in-law Max Branning and his daughter Abi are involved in a car crash on Tanya's wedding day, which brings the troubled character to the same hospital where she gave birth to James in December.

Speaking of the baby swap climax, Womack told Inside Soap: "The pressure of what Ronnie has done has been building and building for months and it's becoming enormous.

"There have been several moments where she's realised what she has to do, and being in the church for Tanya's wedding and around Kat and Alfie is particularly difficult for Ronnie. But it's the car accident involving Max and Abi that makes everything just too much to bear."

The actress noted that returning to the place of James's birth reminds Ronnie that his arrival was "the happiest day of her life" and prompts her to do the right thing at last.

Discussing how Ronnie tells husband Jack the truth, Womack said: "She blurts out that James isn't his son, but Jack doesn't believe her and thinks that her depression is making her say it. He's really worried and insists on returning to Albert Square with her, but Ronnie drives off without him.

"All she wants to do now is the right thing. And after telling Tommy that she loves him as her own, Ronnie walks into The Vic to bring an end to the torment and confusion she's caused."

Womack will leave EastEnders later this year. Although reports have suggested that Ronnie will spend time in jail after handing herself into the police, her final fate currently remains unknown.

From: www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a312974/sam-womack-explains-baby-swap-climax.html

Steve says:
What do you think of this plot? I personally think if it started in mid July it would have avoided much of the uproar, but starting on 31/12/2010 when people were wanting to be in an optimistic mindset to welcome in the New Year, the obvious misery, pain and upset of this plot was obvious for all to see.

As it unfolded, the lack of planning and consideration from the production team became all the more apparent. As viewers protested in their thousands as having to endure such a miserable plot involving characters they have come to care about and love, both cast and crew condemned viewers for their emotional attachment saying ridiculous statements such as "It's not real life" and "It's only a TV show."

Any producer with any credibility will know TV production teams work hard at creating a realism and resonance within their shows to stimulate an emotional response from viewers which will keep them coming back. You want people to care about your show. But when they do and start complaining in their thousands, you don't just then ridicule them and condemn their reaction as ridiculous. Unless you really don't give a toss about them and the show you are producing. Hmm....

When viewers protested in their thousands at the unnecessary death of Beth Jordache in Brookside in 1995, it hailed the rapid decline of that once great show as the plots got more and more irrelevant and unrealistic, the characters got more and more uninteresting, and the production team started to rely on regular explosions to try and capture the viewing public's attention. Maybe EastEnders is on that same path. Bring back Arthur Fowler, Lofty and Punk Mary I say. Let's see some sensitivity being brought back into the show.

'Neighbours' star reveals new Andrew plot

Neighbours actor Jordan Smith has revealed that his character Andrew Robinson will face a crisis of conscience when he finds himself caught up in illegal activity in a forthcoming storyline.

After discovering that girlfriend Natasha has lied to him about being pregnant, Andrew will throw himself into the world of business by planning a dance party. However, things start to go wrong when he realises that his fellow organiser Tomas is involved in some dodgy dealings at the club.

Although Andrew turns a blind eye to Tomas's illicit actions, he struggles to keep the matter under wraps when a suspicious Natasha finds out the truth.

In an interview with TV Week, Smith explained: "Tash takes it upon herself to do something because she's hoping to get Andrew out of this drama."

When Natasha tells her father Michael that all is not right and he informs Detective Brennan, the police soon arrive at the party and Andrew finds himself under pressure to come clean.

Smith added: "The whole party just goes down the gurgler. Andrew has realised how serious it's become. He's tried to brush it off, but he knows he needs to do the right thing."

The storyline airs in Australia next week and on UK screens later this year.

From http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a312894/neighbours-star-reveals-new-andrew-plot.html

Home & Away Classic Opening Credits

The Australian soaps are constantly ruining updating their opening theme tunes and credits. View below the original opening of Home & Away. And compare it to these recent ones from mid 2010.

A Tribute To Brookside: The Best Soap Ever

 

Brookside was without a doubt the best soap on British TV - realistic, intelligent, boundary pushing - but only when it was good. I sincerely believe it was at it's very best between 1991 and late 1995, the period which featured plots such as:

• Patricia Farnham's breast cancer
• Peter Harrison's date rape accusation
• And of course the best TV soap plot ever, the Jordache body under the patio saga 

Below are some video reminders of this glorious soap which died a tragic tragic death long past its sell by date in 2003, the rot setting in at the end of 1995 when Beth died and went to Hollywood, and Mandy Jordache departed (a very wise woman!)




Parts 2 & 3 are here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwvY789YusI
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJTV63-xbHA&feature=fvwrel

View below the dramatic murder of Trevor J.



View part 2 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Sicu1qsXU&feature=fvwrel

Let me know what you think!

Hi and Welcome

Hi and welcome to Steve's Soapbox. My name's Steve Surridge and here you'll find comments, videos and articles about all the UK's top TV soap opera's, past and present.

Enjoy. And do join in the debate and let me know what you think!