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Mal Young defends Louise Berridge


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Old 26-05-2004, 18:35
KidA
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Interesting article in todays Stage newspaper. Mal Young has publicy defended Louise Berridge and has said that she's not going anywhere.

As I always thought, it looks like Mal Young is part of the problem, not just Louise.

http://nc2-0023.web.dircon.net/news/...y.php?sid=2346

Or......................

""Young defends EastEnders executive producer Berridge
by Joanna Taylor

Mal Young, BBC1's head of continuing drama, has pledged his support to beleagured EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge, who is under increasing pressure following one of the worst periods in the soap's history.

Young, who is Berridge's boss, said that she will remain in the post despite weeks of unfavourable publicity, which culminated in an all-time ratings low of 6.4 million last Tuesday.

The programme has recently faced criticism for weak storylines and under-par acting. It failed to make the short-list for the Bafta television award for best soap for the first time since the prize was introduced six years ago.

This has been compounded by weeks of damaging tabloid stories centred around some of the main members of cast. Leslie Grantham, who recently returned to the soap as Dirty Den Watts, was allegedly caught committing lewd internet sex acts and Elaine Lordan - married Slater sister Lynne Hobbs - has been pictured on drunken binges.

Young said: "I think Louise is great and she is not going anywhere. She is on a two-year deal and I am 100% behind her. I think she coped well with the Leslie Grantham situation and she's doing brilliantly."

But there are at least two internet petitions, signed by hundreds of disgruntled fans, calling for Berridge's dismissal and one TV critic has publicly called for her to be sacked.

Young also denied that the BBC is attempting to poach Coronation Street executive producer Carolyn Reynolds for the role, despite rumours that she has been approached.

Earlier this month EastEnders was awarded the prize for best soap at the British Soap Awards. The category is voted for by the viewer, which Young feels vindicates the show from its current bout of bad publicity""
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Old 26-05-2004, 18:43
BBCblob
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I don't know whether to or the bit about Carolyn Reynolds sounds ok, lol
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Old 26-05-2004, 19:18
alan45
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Oh dear it looks like LB is away then. Think of all the famous people who have said they wont be quitting recently and are gone. Think of the politicians who stood up and said they have the full backing of their party leader. Goodbye Louise rhe writings on the wall,
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Old 26-05-2004, 20:25
Tigerzondaprowl
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I hope Looby Berridge dies in her sleep they have to get rid of her, drop dead you big fat ugly bitch did anyone see the state of her at the B S A 2004?
(British soap awards)
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Old 26-05-2004, 21:10
Safra
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I wouldn't go That far Tiger, i just think she should step down as EP from EastEnders before she ruins it anymore than she already has!
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Old 26-05-2004, 22:51
lala
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Originally Posted by Tigerzondaprowl
I hope Looby Berridge dies in her sleep they have to get rid of her, drop dead you big fat ugly bitch did anyone see the state of her at the B S A 2004?
(British soap awards)
Okay that was going a bit too far there Tiger!

I do not like what Louise is doing to EE, but you wishing death on her just makes you look like a ****, sorry to say!

Last edited by lala : 26-05-2004 at 23:10.
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Old 26-05-2004, 23:08
KidA
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Don't be a ****, I'm sure that LB is an excellent producer, I just happen to think that Eastenders isn't the show for her, simple as.
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Old 26-05-2004, 23:33
BBCblob
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Originally Posted by Tigerzondaprowl
I hope Looby Berridge dies in her sleep they have to get rid of her, drop dead you big fat ugly bitch did anyone see the state of her at the B S A 2004?
(British soap awards)
Lol... that was way too far!! I can't actually believe it
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Old 27-05-2004, 00:04
WalfordWill
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Originally Posted by Tigerzondaprowl
I hope Looby Berridge dies in her sleep they have to get rid of her, drop dead you big fat ugly bitch did anyone see the state of her at the B S A 2004?
(British soap awards)
Wow thats a bit harsh isn't it! Anyway, it is a team effort to produce a soap. They should all be sacked! lol
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Old 27-05-2004, 00:21
ArtyAttack
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Good for Mal Young. Im beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with some of the things I have been reading on this and other forums. I am gulity of some criticisms of Louise and the general state of the programme but I have no intention of hounding someone out of a job. I do not know what goes on behind the scenes and just how much control Louise Berridge actually has. I know things need to improve particularly with the writing and I hope to see things start to improve soon. The programme still attracts a huge audience and a loyal fanbase despite the problems in scripts and behind the scenes problems. I will continue to criticise the show when I feel it needs it but more importantly will give it praise when I think they are getting it right which is far too infrequently at the moment. Lets hope Louise starts getting the show I love back to the high standards that I know it can achieve.
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Old 27-05-2004, 02:18
Tigerzondaprowl
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Sorry everybody i just don't want to see EE finished because of her.
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Old 27-05-2004, 11:59
TOMMY C
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Running a soap is a hard job and Louise has not done that bad she reads these boards so try to be nice about what you say I know i have not been a big fan of her but she really is a nice woman and does not deserve all the things people are saying.
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Old 27-05-2004, 12:05
Plancky
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I will always watch Eastenders but lately i am finding my mind wonder off when i am watching it. I think i only watch now out of habit and hoping to see any signs of it returning to what it once was.
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Old 27-05-2004, 13:22
Tigerzondaprowl
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I'm giving her a chance i want to see what she does to turn the show around.
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Old 27-05-2004, 15:14
KidA
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She's had over 18 months to turn the show around though and look what we have ended up with:

Dire plots
Unforgivable continuinty
Poor scripts
Dull characters

Again, I wish Louise Berridge no harm, she's obviously a talented drama producer to have done this well in her career but the fact remains that maybe Eastenders isn't for her.

I also think we need to look at the rest of the Eastenders ship as there's a whole load of storyliners, script editors and producers to blame as well as LB
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Old 27-05-2004, 15:42
Lippincote
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Originally Posted by TOMMY C
Running a soap is a hard job and Louise has not done that bad she reads these boards so try to be nice about what you say I know i have not been a big fan of her but she really is a nice woman and does not deserve all the things people are saying.
She may well be a nice woman, kind to animals etc, but she is doing a really terrible job on Eastenders. Even if she isn't sacked she ought to resign and put all of us out of our misery.

Two main things I just can't forgive her for are bringing in the Ferreiras, and sacking Paul. You also have to remember that if she continues it may encourage good actors not to renew their contracts, or to refuse to join EE -- creating a vicous circle of direness.
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Old 27-05-2004, 15:50
VelvetKnightSky
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Who put them in charge?
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Old 27-05-2004, 15:54
ArtyAttack
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The Ferreiras need to go and as soon as possible. I believe that as soon as Louise Berridge does this then at least her critics willl see that she is at last doing something to address their complaints. It is difficult to know what is going to happen as plots are filmed six weeks in advance. She also needs to stop the concentration of plots around Kat and Alfie. Either one of the two are always in an episode. I read an article in one of the tabloids the other day claiming that Gary Beadle has not been axed so I dont know what to believe.
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Old 27-05-2004, 15:57
Lippincote
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Agreed Arty, losing the Ferreiras would be a good start, but she ALSO needs to get rid of the Vickis and Mickis and Andys and get some decent actors in. And more importantly, decent storyliners and writers. Just chucking out the Ferreiras won't do it, EE needs a total overhaul.

I hope you're right about Paul.
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Old 27-05-2004, 16:17
Tigerzondaprowl
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Bring back Frank and Terry and Irene and some of the older characters.
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Old 27-05-2004, 16:35
ArtyAttack
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Getting rid of the Ferreiras would decrease some of the flak and enable Louise to concentrate on other problems. Louis Berridge needs to finally show that she made a mistake with this particulsr family. The audience is never going to warm to them no matter how much valuable screentime she gives them. Once they are gone then some of the other dead wood can follow but its no use simply getting rid of people. Storylines needs to improve dramatically and not simply for sensation sake. We need to see more plots that are character driven and new characters to come into the programme slowly.
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Old 27-05-2004, 16:50
Lippincote
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Originally Posted by ArtyAttack
Getting rid of the Ferreiras would decrease some of the flak and enable Louise to concentrate on other problems. Louis Berridge needs to finally show that she made a mistake with this particulsr family. The audience is never going to warm to them no matter how much valuable screentime she gives them. Once they are gone then some of the other dead wood can follow but its no use simply getting rid of people. Storylines needs to improve dramatically and not simply for sensation sake. We need to see more plots that are character driven and new characters to come into the programme slowly.
Exactly!
But she obviously doesn't know how to achieve that, all we get is arson, blackmail sh*gging, kidney transplants, gangsters and rapes.

Take your point about Ferreiras being a good first step, but she DOES need to slay a lot of the cast because however good future storylines were, I don't believe Mickey, Vicki et al could do them justice, and I don't care about their characters enough to find them watchable. That's why I said it needs a thorough overhaul, the Ferreiras are the tip of an iceberg.
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Old 27-05-2004, 17:10
ArtyAttack
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Well Lippincote I am afraid you are going to be disapointed for a while longer. Most of the storylines coming up are going to concentrate on Alfie and Kat and their marriage problems and we will also see more of Andy as well as Mickey involved in comical plots with Mo. The Ferreiras are set to be evicted but will all move into a flat unfortunately. So there is nothing really major happening with regards to improving the show in the next few weeks and once more there is too much reliance on the same few characters.
I do get your point about the Ferreiras being the tip of the iceberg but at least with them gone we can concentrate our vitriol on the others that need to go.
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Old 27-05-2004, 17:20
Lippincote
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Originally Posted by ArtyAttack
Well Lippincote I am afraid you are going to be disapointed for a while longer. Most of the storylines coming up are going to concentrate on Alfie and Kat and their marriage problems and we will also see more of Andy as well as Mickey involved in comical plots with Mo. The Ferreiras are set to be evicted but will all move into a flat unfortunately. So there is nothing really major happening with regards to improving the show in the next few weeks and once more there is too much reliance on the same few characters.
I do get your point about the Ferreiras being the tip of the iceberg but at least with them gone we can concentrate our vitriol on the others that need to go.
More of the same sh*t coming up then. I think I might take an easties break.
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Old 27-05-2004, 23:18
Plancky
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We will be seeing a lot more of Mickey because there have been rumours that they are bringing in a family for him. So sorry folks, no bye bye Mickey in the forseeable future.
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