I see nothing wrong with replacing an actor with another one playing the same role. They could have brought back Den Watts years ago, and no-one would have remembered the original. Who needs the same Michelle Fowler actress back? Get another one. These guys are ten a penny, and think they've won the lottery when they get a regular gig on a soap, paying much more than their talent is worth.

If any lippy thespian steps out of line, I say sack them toute suite and replace them. It's not difficult, and the previous actor would be forgotten in a couple of weeks. Maybe you would want to hang onto the talented ones, but I say, if in doubt, chuck em out!

If done on a regular basis, it wouldn't be such a news story with all of the associated hoo ha. They did it with Dr Who, Sam Mitchell, Tracy Barlow etc. These actors don't own the characters. If Eastenders want to bring back Grant Mitchell, why don't they just do it without making the appeals to baldy boy?

This way we get the storylines we, and the writers, want and the actors can feel free to move on to "pursue other more demanding ventures".

Rudi

I originally posted this on another thread, but felt it was relevant to start a new thread on the subject.

Come on then, who would you have replaced with another (better) actor?

Rudi

Todd Carty with an actor - but then you expected that.

I agree with Rudi no one is irreplacable. - We could always get John Culshaw and Roni Ancona to do them all. I particularly liked her Peggy Mitchell --- GERRROOUTT OOOFFFF MAH PAB

Charlie the builder for someone who can shave, wash his hair and preferably has an ounce or more of screen presence. Schmicheal the puppy's had a bigger impact on me then that waste of space.

It used to be on radio plays and series, like The Archers, that the same actor would play several characters (they do this in The Simpsons). This is only tricky when the two characters are in the same scene, but I think is one way of keeping costs down on soaps. Kat's sister in Essex could double up as Sharon (with her blonde wig). Jonathon Ross's mum could double up as Pat (actually Pat's too chubby to double up in her own right). And Gus could double up as his brother Julie.

Waddya fink?

Rudi

I'm having a sudden flashback to that old Tommy Copper thing where he used to do a 'play' with one half of him dressed as a woman and the other as a man, turning which ever side was saying the lines to the camera!

Now I would watch that if they did that in a soap

The Jim Brannan and Patrick characters could easily be played like that. Cut Patrick's wages and have Jim blacked up on one side, with the waistcoat and trilby and a Jamaican accent. Also Dot and Patrick's woman the same way. Now that would really bring in the viewers. I can see it now. They should test it out first on Harry Hill's TV Burp.

What are the chances of that happening?

Rudi

What are the chances of you keeping on post ?

Absolutely nil I would say - cue jingle ark

What are you trying to say? It's my thread anyway. [Throws tantrum]

So I think we could easily do without Leslie Grantham and Letitia Dean. Just send the characters off on holiday, and have other actors come back as Den and Sharon. They should have done the same thing with Len Fairclough too.

Rudi

Michelle is coming back with a new face later this year isn't she?
However it didn't exactly work brilliantly when Sam got a new face. It was worse than the old one.

I can't even remember what Sam looked like before. I reckon people are more interested in good continuous storylines than the faces of nonentity actors.

Rudi

She looked like Daniella Westbrook (no septum).

Kim Medcalfe has added nothing of value (IMO) to the programme, partly because storylines involving her have been continuous but they haven't been good (Sam as club owner/gangsters moll, forget it). But if they're going to recast, at least get someone who can act.

Wonder if the new Michelle will be a foxy lipglossed minx... just like Susan Tully.

I wonder if Susan Tully's acne has cleared up yet?

Kim Medcalfe was recruited as a second string character (Sam Mitchell), and suits that level fine. Not bad looking, can string a sentence together, but not Judy Dench calibre acting. She has just been promoted out of her depth by writers who have painted themselves and the plotlines into a corner.

I think they need a Eureka moment to sort out a bunch of character's plots in one move.

Rudi

i noticed yesterday his hair had been cut its a start
Last edited by Cakeymoo : 06-05-2004 at 17:32

I think the above is a crossed post.

Rudi

Sorry, but from where I'm standing only a complete head and body transplant could change my feelings towards Charlie

A good replacement for Sharon when Letita Dean leaves, Donatella Versace!!

She dont need any money for it cos she has millions and no-one would notice the difference at all!

Pauline Fowler could be replaced by an orang utang, Dennis could be replaced by a table, Vicky could be played by Harry Hill, Pat by Bernard Manning and Big Mo by any professional wrestler.

Mmm interesting you should say that. Her screen son Mark went on to The Bill where he is now known to all as apeman

Pauline has the most unfeasably orange tan on British TV since Bob Monkhouse and David Dickinson. I think she has been using Ronseal mahogany woodstain. She really pushes it though, with the platinum blonde/silver hair and 90 year old corpse wrinkles. How many fags has she smoked to look like that. She reminds me of the old lady with the dog in "There's something about Mary".

Replace Pauline with a Zombie, who looks less like the walking dead.

Rudi