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Why didn't EE just give Pam St.Clements a break!?


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Old 19-09-2013, 20:14
Kestrel1992
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They gave one to June Brown and, oh wait...Lindsey Coulson, Patsy Palmer, Charlie Brooks and co, so why not just write her out saying she had gone to New Zealand for six months to see Simon. She had three months off at the start of 2011, so surely they could have managed with her off screen for six. It's understandable that she would want a break at her age. If it's true that she was axed, why was this allowed to happen? I am sure I remember reading that Louise Berridge wanted to axe Pat but was stopped?
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:26
dale0693
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I think they could've given her 6-12 months off to do other things if she wanted
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:37
bass55
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Because Bryan Kirkwood (and Kate Harwood) didn't give a rat's arse about the show's history or long term fans, and were utterly determined to reboot EastEnders for a teen audience, making sure anything that happened pre-2006 no longer mattered. It was part of their mission to make EastEnders focused around the Branning family; even Pat's exit was about the Brannings.

Pat carried decades of continuity with her, so killing her off must've been a huge relief to them. Now they can retcon to their hearts' content.
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:41
priscilla
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I don't get why they didn't give her a break, also they didn't kill characters like Tanya, Jean etc off because they asked not to be killed off but when the legend that is Pat Butcher ask for a break they decide not to give her one and kill her off.
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:46
Otis Hill
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There was no guarantee she'd ever come back and they may have just ended up having to kill her off screen. At least she got an on-screen death unlike Kathy and Angie etc. And her death led to David's 2 week stint which has paved the way for a permanent return so its not like there wasnt any payoff from killing Pat.
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:47
doormouse1
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She didn't fit in with the vision of EE promoted by BK and beefed-up by LN.

A Walford where everyone is attractive, perfectly made-up even first thing at the morning, or even still in bed, permatanned, botox-ed and collagened to hell, so that they will be perceived as 'hot' to the demographic BK and LN pandered to.

History goes out of the window in favour of retconning to force 'love and warmth' storylines down our throats at all times - and they MUST involve teens, and always, always MUST include bloody Brannings.

All the best storylines have to go to self-obsessed unlikeable teeens - oh, and they have to be Brannings or associated with them.

My guess is that Pam St Clement was sick and tired with the material she was getting, and being forced to play second fiddle to teens and Brannings. She wanted a break, but as TPTB were feeling spiteful, they killed her off.

They did exactly the same when Wendy Richard complained about the direction Pauline was being taken in.
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:48
dullagj2
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She had only just returned from a 4 month break. She left after the Janine/Stacey drama and returned April 2011, then her exit was announced a few months later.

Maybe they didn't think Pam would return. Hindsight is a great think but at least she got an decent onscreen exit. I don't understand why out of all the major characters that have left over the past few years, they chose to kill her off. The show misses her and I bet certain people are kicking themselves for killing her off. Ashdown came up with the story.....
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:58
Chrissy 2005
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Because she didn't ask for one.

I don't understand why people don't understand. Pam quit, she chose to go, but she hoped they would have her move away instead of killing her off. But they chose to kill her off to give her a decent ending and closure in case she never returned.
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Old 19-09-2013, 22:58
doormouse1
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She had only just returned from a 4 month break. She left after the Janine/Stacey drama and returned April 2011, then her exit was announced a few months later.

Maybe they didn't think Pam would return. Hindsight is a great think but at least she got an decent onscreen exit. I don't understand why out of all the major characters that have left over the past few years, they chose to kill her off. The show misses her and I bet certain people are kicking themselves for killing her off. Ashdown came up with the story.....
It's still upsetting to hear that Pam cried when she heard that, instead of being allowed six months off to visit Simon in New Zealand, the character of Pat was being killed off.

Really unkind, unfeeling and cruel of all concerned.

Disgusting behaviour towards an iconic characer and a loyal, hardworking actress.
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Old 19-09-2013, 23:07
CoreenBaconskin
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Because EE producers and writers dont give a toss about their own show's history.
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Old 19-09-2013, 23:14
sarahcadhill
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She had only just returned from a 4 month break. She left after the Janine/Stacey drama and returned April 2011, then her exit was announced a few months later.

Maybe they didn't think Pam would return. Hindsight is a great think but at least she got an decent onscreen exit. I don't understand why out of all the major characters that have left over the past few years, they chose to kill her off. The show misses her and I bet certain people are kicking themselves for killing her off. Ashdown came up with the story.....
BIB - Pam St Clement didn't have a break, she was ill so that's why she was absent for a while.

Yes Simon Ashdown did decide to kill off Pat
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Old 19-09-2013, 23:22
dullagj2
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It's still upsetting to hear that Pam cried when she heard that, instead of being allowed six months off to visit Simon in New Zealand, the character of Pat was being killed off.

Really unkind, unfeeling and cruel of all concerned.

Disgusting behaviour towards an iconic characer and a loyal, hardworking actress.
I agree, I'm just trying to see it from the producers point of view. They didn't know if she'd return.

Pam's younger than Babs, maybe it's for the best for her that she can't go back. She dedicated 25/26 years of her life to the show, she should enjoy herself and she has had work since she left. She's having the last laugh because I bet the show would have her back in a heartbeat.

Personally I'd love her to come back as a ghost for Janine's next exit.
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Old 19-09-2013, 23:50
Stupid_Head
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I think it would have been a very big noticeable absense though because of Janine having Scarlett. It wouldn't feel right Pat going overseas and not being there for Janine.
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:07
thejoyof_pat
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because BK is a son of a bi*ch. Sorry Mrs Kirkwood but you done a terrible job!
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:10
Green Thing
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Maybe she can come back as a zombie in a Halloween special
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:12
thejoyof_pat
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Maybe she can back as a zombie in a Halloween special
I'd work with that. Get that long lost twin that was never mentioned before now but casually have ever character talk about it before she enters the square BOOM hello Nat!!
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:13
BadRomance
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I'd work with that. Get that long lost twin that was never mentioned before now but casually have ever character talk about it before she enters the square BOOM hello Nat!!
Stranger things have happened!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05JYrfbGYAk
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:16
AndyB2007
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Because Bryan Kirkwood (and Kate Harwood) didn't give a rat's arse about the show's history or long term fans, and were utterly determined to reboot EastEnders for a teen audience, making sure anything that happened pre-2006 no longer mattered. It was part of their mission to make EastEnders focused around the Branning family; even Pat's exit was about the Brannings.

Pat carried decades of continuity with her, so killing her off must've been a huge relief to them. Now they can retcon to their hearts' content.
As much I'm no Kirkwood/Harwood fan, neither have the Home and Away producers, wasting endless time on the Braxtons.

As well as Susan Bower destroying Neighbours, and Jason Daniel/Steven Zanoski turning Shortland Street into a EE misery fest and letting Rachel McKenna get away with it every time.
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:17
thejoyof_pat
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OMG I loved Ailsa!! OMG! That was quite disturbing.
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:19
BadRomance
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OMG I loved Ailsa!! OMG! That was quite disturbing.
We were kids at the time and my brother cried for ages after it!! It's quite good visually considering it was nearly 20 years ago!
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:23
los.kav
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Because they were slowly eradicating every older person from EE at the time, in order to appeal to a younger audience that doesn't watch the show.

Congrats, EE! *starts the slow clap*
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:36
Menime123
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The thing is, once an actress decides to leave then there's only two options as far as the character is concerned.

I think it was right to kill off Pat. I still think there was plenty of storylines available for her - especially considering the amount of family she has on the square - but the producers have to do what's right for the show, not the actress.

My personal belief is that a character like Pat should always leave when their story is unfinished - always leave them wanting more. As iconic as Dot is, Dot's story is over and unfortunately, it won't be a big loss to the show when June leaves (Dot is my favourite character). But Pat was different - there was always scope for more and that's why we are even discussing this.

But just because there was more Pat had to offer, doesn't mean it's right to keep her alive off screen. There was no guarantee Pam would return, and it can be disrespectful when viewers don't ultimately have a chance to say goodbye.

It had also been a long time since Eastenders killed off an iconic character. Unlike had they killed Peggy, Pat's death had a bigger long term impact on a larger group of existing characters.
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Old 20-09-2013, 00:58
DODS11
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It was the right decision. Without Peggy and frequent breaks and no certainty of a return... why waste an opportunity? A big moment in EE history, a pivotal character dying on the square. It's rare - a lot of elderly cast sadly die off screen or become too ill to return for any final scenes. Here was an opportunity for closure. It wasn't to rejuvenate the show for a teenage demographic - hence there still being Cora, Patrick, Dot etc. - It was the chance to bring full closure to a character with a lot of baggage and legacy.

If anything, it was for ratings and to secure Pat's legacy within the show. Sad and a shame for Pam St. Clements but better in the long term.
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Old 20-09-2013, 11:11
Markjuk
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EE have had a history of killing off characters out of spite.

Pete Beale (played by Peter Dean) was axed from EE in 1993, his axing caused the departure of June Brown who was disgusted at his axing. When Peter Dean went to the papers and criticised his axing the character was killed off at Christmas 1993.

Anita Dobson had insisted she had no desire to return to EE, although that has later been discovered to be no to a FULL TIME return. Anita has stated she may of been interested in a comeback as a guest, part time or on recurring basis. Instead the character was cruelly killed off in 2002 off screen because Anita would not return full time.

Gillian Taylorth was approached to return to EE in 2005, a time when she was committed to Footballers Wives. It seems because she couldn't return at the exact point in time that EE producers wanted her the character of Kathy Beale was killed off out of spite. EE could have easily delayed the return of pointless Ben Mitchell or found a away to reintroduce Kathy later on but NO they went down the death route instead. :yawn:

Leslie Grantham - The character of Den Watts was killed off (for good) when the scandal over the webcam affair broke.
Although this was wrong on Leslie's part, the killing off of iconic Den Watts was OTT. Kathleen Hutchison could of easily gotten rid of Leslie for a while with Den going off but once again the decision to kill off yet another popular character occurred.
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Old 20-09-2013, 11:23
Hit Em Up Style
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Because she didn't ask for one.

I don't understand why people don't understand. Pam quit, she chose to go, but she hoped they would have her move away instead of killing her off. But they chose to kill her off to give her a decent ending and closure in case she never returned.
Bab's said Pam asked for a break.

I think she knows more about this subject than you do and I would take her word over yours. I know you have a history of trying to make out you know all the inside goss at EE but you don't.
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