[Scrabbler]

Originally Posted by CherryRose

Ooooooo

You're naughty tonight my love

I've needed it, been a bit stressed recently so need a bit of a laugh.

[dantay24uk]

I said no because I don't want her to be gone for good but that doesn't mean I don't think she returned far too quickly. Should have spent at least six months away from the Square.

[vald]

Originally Posted by CherryRose

I do agree, I don't like the current state of Shirley. I do believe though Shirley as a character is a long way off been a right off, the writers do have different areas to explore with her if they could just start being creative with their scripts and stop trodding over the same shite over and over again.

Areas which could be developed:-

Denise friendship
New love interest - a mysterious new man
Family - Sister/Zsa Zas/Deano even a one off special with Deano. Does she only have a sister is there anymore siblings or parents?
Career - Shirley is quite resourceful i'd like to see her with a decentish job.
New friends - I want to see friendships which are more like the friendships of Sue/Kathy/Pauline/Angie days friends dont have to be pairs!

BIB Carol, Shirley, Denise and Jean are ripe for such a friendship. I'd rather that than the present system of having some of our best characters disappear until there is a man on the horizon. Pauline is a good example of someone who should have stayed single after Arthur died...they ended up ruining her.

[QueenAmy]

No way! I'm not a fan of her, but no

Originally Posted by Orangemaid

i voted yea..shes more in the background now

as is Jean

[lotty27]

Originally Posted by vald

BIB Carol, Shirley, Denise and Jean are ripe for such a friendship. I'd rather that than the present system of having some of our best characters disappear until there is a man on the horizon. Pauline is a good example of someone who should have stayed single after Arthur died...they ended up ruining her.

Couldn't agree more vald.

[kitkat1971]

I haven't voted as it totally depends on what storylines they give her. She still has a lot of potential and is played by a good actress so if they get her completely away from Phil and strengthen her as an independent character then I'd like her to stay. If they have her hanging around the Mitchells like a bad smell, redundantly harping on about justice for Heather and beatching to Sharon then I'd rather she was written out for good.

[monalisa62003]

glad i didnt see what happened in here. i went out. i dont understand why we cant have proper debates about shirley and shirley/phil

Originally Posted by ilovenicnacs

I doubt he would be released early after only getting 4 years in the first place, why do you want her to stay until he gets home? If she or Ben have anything to say to each other then she could visit or write.

Also, regarding the redeeming/redemption of Ben and Phil, you cannot redeem yourself just by saying sorry and/or feeling bad, you do wrong then it stays done.

i think it would be good for the drama if when linda decides to leave that they bring ben back. ben and shirley never got a good "closure" scene. she was there when he turned himself in but there was never any real explanation from ben to shirley on why he did it. he was too busy trying to save himself and then phil took over when shirl tried to drown ben

if they had shirley and phil starting to get closer again and then ben comes back and ruines it all. im not saying ben would cause harm to shirl but he wouldnt like them being friends at all

Originally Posted by KieranDS

Just to be clear...

I only think she should go in her current form.

I loved Shirley when she was first introduced.

Originally Posted by B*witched

I like your ideas, CherryRose. If they could bring Shirley back to the way she was when she first came to EE I may start liking her again. Not so much a fan anymore, she irritates me more than anything else.

ive seen some people say shes returned to the character she was when she first joined and that is ironic as thats when phil genuinely started to like her / be friends with her. its only when things got serious between them that she started to change

[broadshoulder]

This was the funniest thread in a long while.

[Scrabbler]

Originally Posted by broadshoulder

This was the funniest thread in a long while.

There is nothing funny about having to endure that two bit lush Shirley.

[mo mouse]

Originally Posted by Scrabbler

There is nothing funny about having to endure that two bit lush Shirley.

You took the words right out of my mouth

[Scrabbler]

Originally Posted by mo mouse

You took the words right out of my mouth

Well you put her description so elequently I had to use it for my own devices.

[mo mouse]

Originally Posted by Scrabbler

Well you put her description so elequently I had to use it for my own devices.

You are most welcome.

[los.kav]

66 to 65 - shirley sure does split opinion! I voted no: like every non Branning shes shit because the writing is shit. Many writers need to go before any of the cast.

[actual_soap]

There's life in all characters, it's the writers / storyliners that need to go.
If there's 52 years of Ken Barlow there's 52 years for everyone

[gboy]

No - there's still life in the old dog yet (as they say...).

[lotty27]

Originally Posted by actual_soap

There's life in all characters, it's the writers / storyliners that need to go.
If there's 52 years of Ken Barlow there's 52 years for everyone

Excellent point.

[monalisa62003]

Not only am i happy that shes in next weeks eps now im happy no is winning

[maurice45]

Originally Posted by Scrabbler

There is nothing funny about having to endure that two bit lush Shirley.

I see mo mouse has been influencing your thinking Scrabbler

[The_abbott]

yes, in fact they should have axed her after the Heather's death reveal. Perfect ending for her. Now she'll float about doing nothing for a few years acting like she was Phil's love of his life.

[monalisa62003]

Originally Posted by The_abbott

yes, in fact they should have axed her after the Heather's death reveal. Perfect ending for her. Now she'll float about doing nothing for a few years acting like she was Phil's love of his life.

Why should they axe one of their best actress's

Well she knows him better than anyone

[SULLA]

Yes. Get rid

[maurice45]

Originally Posted by SULLA

Yes. Get rid

Short and simple

[trevor tiger]

Shirley has had her day. It's sad to see her hanging on in there with no real base or family or proper story lines. It's time she went as meddling in Phil's life is all she has left and that is boring and demeaning for such a top actress. Surely she can get other work her being such a great actress.

[ryanr554]

My answer is king of a yes and a no. Yes if they are going to keep her hanging around the mitchells trying to bring their empire down. No if they bring a new lease of life into her. Bring back Carly, Deano or anyone new that can make her not a waste of space.

[LaneKent]

Originally Posted by Scrabbler

Didn't Roxy get her money back when Phil planted it on Glenda?

She got something back, but it was vague on whether she got it all back. Whether she got it back or not is irrelevent anyway. Shirley was so callous in that whole affair, far worse than Phil. Several scenes during that whole period left the viewer with little doubt that Shirley had absolutely no remorse over that whole sorry affair. The problems it caused Roxy in the months, even years to follow, have yet to be properly etoned for. Roxy had done a lot for Phil and Shirley at that time and nothing they have done since has come close to making up for it.

Shirley could go a long way to redeeming herself by telling Roxy the truth. Shirley was one of the show's biggest villains throughout 2011 upto Heather's death in Spring 2012 as she treated everyone with contempt and did some ghastly things.

I wouldn't want to see Shirley friends with Carol as Carol was Glenda's best friend and Shirley treated Carol like dirt at times. I don't really see her long-term as true friends with Jean either if I am honest. The only person I can see Shirley being friends with is Denise.

Linda Henry is too good an actress for the rubbish she has left for her on EastEnders. Although I'm sure the pay cheque is what keeps her there.

Unless there is more to come with Phil or they do have something unforseen for Shirley, then it is time for to go. If EE is to move forward, then it needs to stop relying on past glories - unless there is something new they bring to the table. Kat and Jean should be first out the door with Shirley and possibly Tanya a little while after. These characters may be popular and may have a rich past, but sadly each are stuck on one fixed agenda that has been done to death. For example the whole point for Shirley was her love for Phil and her mothering of Heather and Ben. Not only have these things been taken from her, but the bridges have been totally burnt. In Tanya's case her orbit centre's around Max? Can she exist without him. I was already bored of them as a couple when I stopped watching in 2012. If these forums are to be believed, they are going around in ever increasing repetitve circles in 2013.

Originally Posted by Scrabbler

I can see them waiting a long while though, what with the recent issues with Joshua they would no doubt recast anyway and I think another recast this soon just wouldn't work. Besides where could they take the character?

I think Louise will return before Ben does.

I have to agree totally with this. Given the BBC's troubles over Jimmy Saville, they are not going risk employing anyone on a high profile programme like EastEnders, who has well docunented trouble surrounding them anytime soon.

I suspect it is a 90% certainty Ben Mitchell would be recast as the previous actor (who I won't name) was first arrested in March 2011 by Scotland Yard and then for an unrelated crime in May 2012. Innocent maybe, but sadly they have been well documented. It is illegal to mention any supposed subsequent events involving him. But the dates I refer to are well documented at those respective times and can easily be googled.

There is a massive cruisade against celebrities by the police at the moment. Time will tell if all are justified.