So we finally have our first meeting between Johnny and Ben.

It was an interesting scene with the "blue peter" and "only gay in the village" comments amusing and Ben warning Johnny off Paul. I thought they looked quite good together and there seemed like there was some on screen chemistry between them even in that short scene

The soap cliché was when Linda telling Johnny to stay clear of Ben which of course he won't

Agreed on all counts. Johnny just seems so gentle compared to Ben. I'll be constantly on edge if they do ever get together but it does seem inevitable it will happen. The question is how soon it will be. Before Paul leaves or after?

I can't shake the feeling that Paul is going to be killed off as they're meant to be exploring his diabetes at some point. If that happens I can see a grieving Ben making a move on Johnny to try and get over it. We also have Peggy returning soon to die which will put a lot of stress and grief on the Mitchells. So I can definitely see Ben wanting support from Johnny while all of this is going on.

I am thinking it would be a step to far to load Ben with another death after his grandmother and that Paul does not die. Peggy's death is going to be massive for EE and take over the Mitchells. Another death so soon after it won't have the same impact.

I do think that it is likely that Paul will have a diabetes related illness maybe a near death experience which might lead to his exit maybe caused or a result of troubles he has with Ben. I also have a feeling Johnny might play a part maybe Paul senses something between them (as you say Ben goes to Johnny for comfort over Peggy rather than Paul) and this is linked to his doubts about Ben might lead to Paul not taking his medication.

I don't why I am thinking Johnny's 21st (?) birthday party might be part of the storyline. After a row Ben goes to the party and that's when Paul get's ill and is rushed to hospital. Paul survives but decides to leave Walford or Pam/Les send him away.

Hope you are wrong about Paul being killed off elly. Paul really hasn't been given a chance for us to get to know. I think that maybe the writers got scared off after the backlash of him and Ben getting together in the Funeral Directors Chapel. Whatever the reason, I think that Paul had and has a lot of potential and I am hoping that he may even return in the future.

True, in that context a near-death experience rather than an actual death does make more sense, and it would still be a somewhat 'explosive' exit for the character of Paul who hasn't really done anything this year other than pine for Ben.

Johnny's 21st might be a good backdrop. Perhaps Paul could witness Johnny trying to kiss Ben (after weeks of mixed signals from Ben) and then deliberately overdoses on insulin as a result, before deciding to leave. It would be quite a dark storyline for Johnny who would blame himself, and I think Ben would be happy to let him take responsibility as it absolves himself of it.

Of course this storyline could really go anywhere at the moment. I wonder if Jonny Labey has already filmed his final scenes: they usually say so when a character is leaving, but they didn't in the DS article so it may be a little while longer before we start to see the story take shape. I think we'll have a quiet few weeks with Johnny (and the Carters in general) after this week, with maybe just the fish heist story as a bit of comic relief.

It's just a feeling I have but as popmusicman said, it may not be that serious. The word 'explosive' to me, though, in relation to his exit, makes me think it will be something quite dramatic and I know that they're meant to be exploring his diabetes in more detail so I just put two and two together and probably made five!

I think it's sad what they've done with Paul's character. I think Jonny Labey is a perfectly good actor and that it's fairly offensive that they literally brought him in to act as Ben's 'reward' for accepting his sexuality. But with that said, I won't particularly miss Paul when he's gone and I'm not sure they'll bring him back, unless they want to develop Pam and Les in the future.

On a different note - is there any Sam Strike news? Leatherface hasn't emerged yet, and that Bonded By Blood seems to have been made then shelved. All he does on instagram is post pictures of cats - I hope things are going OK for him. Can't help thinking Sam would do much better in the UK, as he is very British in his mannerisms.

Yeah, I'm a bit sad at the lack of Sam news since we found out about Leatherface. I agree that he'd probably have done better in the UK, but his girlfriend is in the US so I'd imagine that had a lot to do with his decision to settle there. It's a shame, though, as there's so much quality British drama on TV right now. He'd be great in something like Peaky Blinders or Humans. He could even go into theatre to get some experience there. Loads of possibilities, but I suppose we don't know how hard he's trying to get something.

Nothing really notable about tonight's episode apart from Ben and Pauls conversation which had some clear foreshadowing about Johnny and Ben getting together. Paul definitely seemed a bit suspicious when Ben casually mentioned Johnny, and though Ben dismissed him as a mate, and Paul quickly dropped it, I think we'll see some jealousy growing there.

I assume at this point Paul does not know Johnny is gay. Once he does and maybe he finds about their history (possibly from Abi who will I assume be happy to relay Ben interest in Johnny to Paul in the hope of wrecking their relationship) this will start the cracks in the relationship.

Nice scene between Johnny and Tom. I was hoping Johnny might turn up at the awards just as Tom got his award sadly not

It does not look like anything will happen between the two of them but Johnny does have his number so let's hope there is more even it is just one date

Finally Tom looked hot in his suit

Hmm Tom looks loads older than Johnny, how old are they both in real life?

No idea on either of them. It's weird we don't know Ted's age, but I'd hazard a guess he's 19. Maybe 20. He has that baby face which makes it difficult to tell.

I thought Ted did well in that scene with Tristam who plays Tom, he looked suitably distracted (and I'm glad it wasn't Ben he was distracted by!) Tom does look older than Johnny but I think Johnny would be much better with an older guy so I quite liked that.

I hated Johnny's only other scene, where him and Mick told Jay to leave the pub. It felt so out of character for both of them and while I can understand that Mick has his business to think of, Johnny really didn't need to get involved. I imagine they only did it to crank up the tension between him and Ben but I still don't think it was necessary.

I know what you mean. Some of the writing for NuJohnny has been pretty poor. That bit was out of character, the "only gay in the village line" didn't make sense, and the "left a boy, came back a man" thing was really duff!

Some of the writing for him since his return has been great, some of it has been pretty dodgy as you say. The quality of dialogue in EE has been pretty poor recently, IMO, and they've always struggled to find the right 'voice' for Johnny. Apart from Daran and Leo, that is, who always write him brilliantly. It's a shame that Daran has written an episode next week when Johnny isn't in it.

The brief spoilers for w/c 9th May show that that's the fish heist week, so we'll get Johnny back for at least a couple of episodes after a break from him next week.

Forgot to say this earlier but Sam put a nice picture on his instagram with an interesting caption:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEuf0j-w...rike1894&hl=en

"samstrike1894: Gonna miss the hair"

Now, he could just be getting a haircut because he thinks it's got too long, but if he's going to "miss" it, it may suggest he's cutting or shaving it off for a role? I may be reading too much into it but I hope my instincts are right!

Looks like Sam is back in the UK which might lend weight to the theory that he's got a new role in something.

No Johnny in EE this week so it will be even quieter in here. But his GT interview should be out this week I think so that will at least tide us over.

Johnny was on tonight just a small scene in the Vic. He is on the cast list for all EE episodes next week except for Friday.

I suspect we will have a long wait maybe the autumn until Johnny get's a decent storyline and that will probably be the relationship with Ben with Paul gone by then.

I swear he wasn't in the cast list when I looked last week but it was nice to see him, even in a small scene.

I agree that it will probably be a while before he gets a storyline of his own which is a bit of a shame. On the positive side it gives Ted time to settle into the role and not have too much attention focused on him to begin with.

Yes I think that may be a deliberate technique. Quite a few new characters seem to have fairly quiet spells at the start before the big stories. Be good for Ted. I think its awful the way people are slagging him off on twitter, because it is like talking directly to him. They wouldn't say that if it were face to face.

That said, that green shirt has got to go!

That's the problem with the internet, it's made it far too easy for people to say mean things without facing the consequences. Hopefully Ted doesn't take much notice but I do worry about these young actors/singers etc who suddenly have a lot of attention thrown on them, good and bad. It must be a bizarre experience.

I liked the jumper he was wearing last week, the cream one with the stripes. Very cute and very Johnny.

No Johnny pictures in the spoilers for next week but a few mentions as it looks like he will be worried about Belinda and Neville reporting the family for theft which will jeapordise his law career:

http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/east...linda-peacock/

I'm quite looking forward to seeing the Carters being involved with Belinda, she's a brilliant character.

The GT magazine is out with Ted on the front

First of all Ted looks very different in the magazine with his natural hairstyle way better than the Johnny look. The pictures are lovely, tasteful but no shirtless shots!. Ted certainly enjoys his fashion as they look quite trendy but not sure about one of the outfits!

In terms of the interview Ted comes across really well determined to work hard and to succeed. They touch on the criticism he has received but Ted said he is focussing on the positive comments. Things moved quickly from being selected to his first scene a matter of days . This might explain why things were a bit hit and miss to start.

He does not say anything about future storylines and avoided saying if he has had his first kiss. Ted said he would do anything asked within reason so he maybe be more willing to do shirtless scenes than San was

Nothing about Ted's personal life other than he is 24

Ted is 24?! Wow, he does not look it! And he looks completely different on the cover to how he looks as Johnny. Not bad different, actually. Older different. I think I fancy him a bit more seeing that.

Might treat myself to a copy this weekend.

Looks much younger than 24! And the straightish hair makes him so much better looking. How have they made him look so frumpy in EE?! They need to ditch that green shirt I tell ya!

The styling is I guess to make him look younger (20/21) and to be more like Johnny as played by Sam. Because he had only left a year they could not make any significant changes to his look and they wanted viewers to still feel it was Johnny. In that respect they did a good job

Had they left it three years which is what they normally do for recasts Johnny could have returned with maybe Ted looking as he normally does as there is a resemblance to Johnny and the change would be easier to explain as had grown up and changed as you do at that age.

I think Ted looks stunning in the front cover and so much better looking than as
Johnny Carter.