Simon Ashdown created Kirsty just for Kireston though. That's why its such a shame she was wasted because by rights she should have been one of their biggest assets right now. I still don't really understand DTCs logic in axing her. I mean she was a BAFTA nominated actress. To get one of those on your books is rare. It was all such a huge waste of talent.

I would have sooner had Kirsty on the show than Tina or Tosh.

Someone like Helen Fraser?

What about Benedict Cumberbatch's Mum?

Vanda Wentham or Wanda Ventham?? <---This apparently

Kate O'Mara's dead

Retired, she has Alzheimer's

Sue Johnston would be great.

Sylvia "Bodybag" Hollamby?

When the OP originally suggested her she was still alive. Their post was written in January and Kate died in March.

Haha! That would be gold, or just have her join as Sylvia hollamby in a character transfer, she was so good! ... I miss Bad Girls.

Presuming this woman needs to be at least in their late 60s so they would be old enough to be Shirley's mum: -

Who I would like but would never do it:

Judy Dench

Who I would like but can't do it:

Sheila Hancock (she has already played another character on EE)

Who I would like and plausibly could do it:

Stephanie Beacham (she has done soaps before but not sure she would do another one). But she may too glamorous and also she is JUST old enough to be Shirley's mum.

Sylvia Hollamby to Muslim inmate Emira Al Jahani:

Hollamby – “If you don’t like living in a democracy, why don’t you go and live in Afghanistan? Now get your dishcloth off, come on.”


Imagine her talking to Shabnam or finding out about Johnny and Tina being gay.

Bella Emberg

More suggestions: Phyllida Law and Jacquline Clarke. I did think about Anne Charleston but she's done three soaps already.

Eileen Atkins would be good but I don't know whether she'd do it. Jane Asher with a massive makeover would be good too.

What about Anne Reid? I understand she was a major character in Coronation Street; playing Valerie Barlow, but that was years ago. I think she would be quite good in Eastenders. Tremendous actress, loved her in Smith & Jones episode of Doctor Who - very scary aha...

Or June Whitfield, although she's 88. So probably too old to be cast as Sylvie?

Rosalind Knight would be perfect. She looks like Linda Henry and would spark off against her and Timothy West perfectly. If you don't know who she is, she appeared in Carry On Films among other things and played Horrible Grandma in Friday Night Dinner.

Abso-bloody-lutely. She has such a striking profile and hasn't had the recognition I think she deserves. She was in some of the early Carry Ons (Teacher and Nurse) and played landlady Beryl in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.