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If EastEnders never brought back any characters...

Broken_ArrowBroken_Arrow Posts: 10,637
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in Soaps #1
...the longest serving characters would be Ian Beale, Billy Mitchell and Patrick Trueman (perhaps Mo Harris although she's basically been axed and brought back as a guest),

The next longest seving characters would be those introduced in 2006 (Denise, Max, Abi, Lauren, Shirley, Jay),

It can't really be denied that returning characters are a huge part of EastEnders formula. Imagine EasEnders without Dot, Phil, Janine, Bianca, Carol, Sharon, Peggy, Kat and so on post their original exits.

Comments

  • tenchgirltenchgirl Posts: 11,100
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    #2
    No it can't be denied but there is a difference with bringing back old characters to propel a storyline and bringing them back with no plan just to boost flagging ratings and in recent years the latter has been a massive problem that just caused more problems, annoyed viewers and made more people turn off.
  • Broken_ArrowBroken_Arrow Posts: 10,637
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    #3
    tenchgirl wrote: »
    No it can't be denied but there is a difference with bringing back old characters to propel a storyline and bringing them back with no plan just to boost flagging ratings and in recent years the latter has been a massive problem that just caused more problems, annoyed viewers and made more people turn off.

    That is true but they're equally incapable of creating new characters to propel storylines. With few exceptions, both new and old characters are in the same boat. It is not just the returnees who make viewers switch off. In fact I'd say it's the new unfamiliar, badly planned out and annoying characters who cause people to reach for the off button.
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