Walford star appears at own screen funeral

EastEnders actor Larry Lamb turned up at his own character's funeral yesterday afternoon.

The 62-year-old recently filmed his final scenes for the BBC soap, in which his character Archie Mitchell is dramatically murdered in a whodunnit on Christmas Day.

Yesterday, however, Lamb unexpectedly walked into the graveyard where Archie's service was being held to pay his final respects to the character he will have played for nearly a year and a half. While there, he also took time to catch up with friend and soon-to-depart co-star Barbara Windsor, who plays his screen wife Peggy Mitchell.

An EastEnders source this afternoon told DS: "Larry took the opportunity to pop along to Archie's funeral to make sure that he was definitely dead and buried."

They added: "Maybe he was trying to work out who it was who killed Archie as there are lots of people who want to see the back of him."

The resolve to the murder plot is expected to play out during the show's live 25th anniversary episode on February 19.

Source - Digital Spy

Spoiler: EastEnders cast film a funeral

A good serving of EastEnders actors were filming on location yesterday for a certain character's funeral.

As you can see from my pictures below, the Mitchells turn out to pay their final respects to Archie played by Larry Lamb who's brutally murdered in a Christmas Day whodunnit.

Rumour has it that the mystery is resolved during the live episode on February 19 which marks the BBC soap's 25th anniversary.

The final picture of this set is extremely interesting. It looks like Archie's wife Peggy is confronting her son Phil. Or is it the other way around? It looks like one knows something about the other...

Source - Digital Spy - Soap Scoop

Walford star becomes Bond for new game

EastEnders actor Adam Croasdell has taken on the role of James Bond for the latest 007 video game.

The soap star, who plays Walford's Dr Al Jenkins, revealed that he was thrilled to be offered the part because he is keen to keep his career varied.

In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Crosdell confirmed: "Oddly enough I have just played James Bond in the new James Bond video game - how weird is that? I don't know what the future holds, but I'm always into varying up what comes my way, trying new things."

He continued: "I think video games and the making of that type of technology, being in a funny one-piece suit and being shot with 60 cameras, I think that's sort of the future.

"Andy Serkis did it in The Hobbit, and there's a new film Avatar which is James Cameron - it's all that sort of motion capture. I think it's the future, so I was fascinated to see how that would happen.

"I think in our lifetime it is going to swing very much into the realms of computerised environments and who knows, maybe there will be more of that."

Activision announced plans for the new Bond game in August. It is expected to be released next year.

Source - Digital Spy

Kinky Janine

EastEnders Janine Butcher reveals her kinky side in a fortnight's time when she strips down to her saucy underwear for her flatmate and on-off love interest Ryan Malloy.

Frustrated and somewhat jealous by Janine's game of 'pull a pensioner' in her quest to screw Archie out of The Vic, Ryan questions why she's pursuing him more than she need. Janine, however, assures Ryan that she's in it for the long haul - she's after more than a quick fumble.

Later that day in The Vic's barrel store, Janine lets Ryan know that she wants to be more than just friends with him, before undoing her coat and revealing her skimpy negligee. With that, Ryan grabs her and the pair passionately kiss.

These scenes air on Tuesday 17 November on BBC One

Source - Digital Spy - Soap Scoop

Jekyll-and-Hyde Lucas Johnson

Actor Don Gilet admitted he enjoys the "Jekyll-and-Hyde aspect" of his 'EastEnders' character Lucas Johnson.

Having already let his drug-addict wife Trina die after pushing her onto a garden rake, Lucas is now set to get rid of his love rival Owen, his new partner Denise's ex-husband.

Talking about Lucas, Don said: "Every actor enjoys playing a character who's flawed - but how long can Lucas continue to hide the dark side of himself before the cracks start to show? I think a lot of people reckon the clock might be ticking."

"This story has shocked some people! I was getting fan mail where people were saying what a nice guy he was - and, of course, now they know he's not."

Speaking about the current interaction between Lucas and Owen, he added: "They're locking horns. These are guys with chequered pasts and an intense mutual distrust of each other."

Lucas first appeared on Albert Square in early 2008.

Source - Virgin Media

McFadden's baby "very sick" in hospital

Steve McFadden's 4-month-old daughter Amelie has been taken to hospital suffering with breathing problems.

The EastEnders actor has been at her bedside since she was diagnosed with bronchilitis at London's Whittington Hospital on Tuesday, reports The Sun. The baby is said to be "very sick" and is being fed through a tube.

Amelie's mother Rachel Sidwell stated: "It's extremely worrying. Amelie is very ill and I'm devastated. I just want her to get better."

McFadden and married doctor Sidwell, 42, reportedly met on a school-run and welcomed their first child together in June. However, they split just two months later and Sidwell is understood to have since moved back in with her surgeon husband.

Source - Digital Spy

'Neighbours' legend wants Walford role

Neighbours actor Alan Fletcher has named EastEnders as the UK soap he would most like to star in.

The 52-year-old, who plays Ramsay Street legend Karl Kennedy, confirmed that he would consider following in the footsteps of Anne Charleston by making the move from Erinsborough to British serial drama if his current role ever ends.

Fletcher told Holy Soap: "I wouldn't mind at all. There are some terrific shows. Anne Charleston did Emmerdale for a while and she loved that experience."

Asked which soap he would pick, the Australian star replied: "Probably EastEnders. I'd like to be in EastEnders if I could play a cockney. I'd have to try and pull off a genuine East London accent."

Fletcher also revealed that he feels "an enormous connection with the English TV and theatre world" and would like to spend more time in the UK if he ever leaves Neighbours.

Charleston, who played Madge Bishop on Neighbours, appeared as Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale on and off from November 2006 to August this year.

Source - Digital Spy

Spoilers for 30 November - 4 December 2009

Monday 30 November 2009

Phil advises Max that it's in his best interests to pay back the £13k he owes, in tonight's first visit of the week to Walford. He says he'll be waiting in the Vic.

Ronnie, meanwhile, bursts into Roxy's bedroom to announce her return home, but discovers her in bed with Dr Al.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Phil feels confident about his financial situation and tells Ben to write up a Christmas list, in tonight's visit to Albert Square.

Amira, meanwhile, asks Masood if he can still afford to pay her rent. He says it's all under control, then makes a call to Janine asking for more taxi shifts.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Archie goes to the Vic and pressures Roxy and Ronnie to tell him what happened to Phil, in tonight's visit to Albert Square. He feigns concern, offering his financial assistance but fearing they, too, will get hurt, Roxy and Ronnie tell him he is not welcome.

Meanwhile, Zainab overhears Masood on the phone to Janine, chasing work. She can see how tired he is and worries that his health will suffer just for the sake of a little extra money.

Friday 4 December 2009

Janine tells Archie she's heard that Phil suddenly has money and is going to pay the loan sharks off, in the final visit of the week to Albert Square. Janine thinks they are scuppered and Archie suspects Ian, asserting that they have to get him to sell them Phil's debt.

Whitney, meanwhile, makes a phone call to the prison to arrange a visit with Tony, but ends up crying in the Square, as nobody will let her see him. Ryan finds her and tries to reason with her but she tells him he is just like everyone else and storms off.

Source - Press Office

Video - Warning

Source - YouTube - BBC

Lucas Johnson to kill again

EastEnders holier-than-thou priest Lucas Johnson is to commit murder at the end of the month when he kills his fiancée's ex-husband Owen Turner.

In a one-hour episode, Lucas played by Babyfather actor Don Gilet reaches boiling point with Owen on his wedding day to Denise as Owen continues to push for the truth about Trina's death.

On the eve of Lucas's nuptials, Owen realises the true extent of Lucas's involvement in his ex-wife's demise and confronts Walford's man of the cloth with his beliefs. However, concerned that his web of lies is about to untangle, Lucas tries to force Owen out of Walford.

Despite his attempts to remain calm, Lucas snaps and ends Owen's life to ensure his sins remain a secret.

In an ironic twist to the tale, Lucas then decides to bury Owen's body under Trina's memorial tree in the Square.

A show source told DS: "Lucas realises that his game's nearly up and panic-stricken, he lunges at Owen and takes his life so he can't tell anyone else that he covered what actually happened when Trina died."

Source - Digital Spy