I see what you're saying, and I completely agree. I love Shirley, I hate Shirley being a doormat, but I love Phil and Shirley together. On the other hand, I want Phil to pay for all the crappy things he's done over the last few years, and Sharon is realistically the only character in it at the moment who TPTB would allow to get one over on him. So I'm going to sit back and see what happens in the lead up to it, and to be honest whatever way it turns out - Phil/Shirley "winning" or Sharon ripping him off and waltzing off into the sunset with his cash - I'm going to be happy.

No, the way their relationship played out over the last 7 years is what put me off Phil and Shirley. I actually liked them together but they continued to make it a joke of a relationship, the last straw for me really being the affair with Glenda, with her quickly forgiving despite their heart to heart making it clear that they were more a relationship of convenience than anything. Personally I find them now being portrayed as true love a retcon. Yes the actors have good chemistry but so did Max and Tanya, another couple I once liked who became beyond a joke. A toxic relationship built out of neediness and mutual convenience.

For me the only positive outcome would be for Sharon to wreak her revenge and then Shirley spurning him leaving him in the gutter. It's the ending I've wanted for a long time, despite what I think of Shirl.

I think this is the best news ever for anyone who likes Sharon. Being the angry tomato's lapdog wasn't suiting her.

It would be so funny if this Andy bloke came back and Sharon bagged him. That would really rile Shirley up.

Now a better 'twist' would be that Sharon and Shirley are in it together.

Who and what is a 'mona'? is it a fan nickname for Lorraine Newman?

A Phil and Shirley fan who used to be a member on here.

Hmmm ok, so why does her opinion mean so much to people?

God knows but from comnents made on here she slags people off on her twitter account for having different views to herself. Some people on here have mentioned it before but I think the comments were deleted. That's all I managed to find out. All seems childish to me.

It was more that she was always sure that they would re-visit Shirley and Phil's relationship and that Linda Henry had a future on the show and deserved higher billing. She was repeatedly shouted down for her opinion, but it seems she was right.

Ugh. Shirley's character continues to go round and round and round in circles.

Only because DTC has come in to save her. She was on the verge of quitting when LN was around. Could quite as easily have gone very differently.

I think a lot of the actors would have left by now had LN still been in charge. She didn't seem to understand EastEnders. She just relied on a select few to carry the show and left some of the best ones as no more than bit parts.

I wonder if Shirley will keep her boots on again

I don't think that a fair observation, plenty of people took her opinion into consideration but the problem was she could never see past her own and debate reasonably that is when it use to get out of hand.

I don't think anyone is right with soaps imo as they change like the sun, no want is set in stone.

I think it was less her opinion and more her refusal to accept any other opinion than Phil and Shirley. Yes, she may have been right (and I think many knew she was) but her arrogance and deluded logic made her a very difficult person to agree with.

As for this storyline, somebody needs to tell the writers that the whole "will they/won't they" relationship crap is BORING now. Whitney/Lee, Alfie/Kat, Phil/Shirley have all been through it in recent months. Either get them together or keep them apart, but make your mind up and then keep it that way! *insert old DS yawn smilie here*

Hopefully this will put an end to all this 'Sharon is the love of Phil's life' nonsense.
She isn't - Phil does not love Sharon she is just a trophy to him. The appeal being that he got her from Grant.

Having watched EE from Day One, she was the love of his life in SharonGate but they have moved on in 2001. But Shirley seems to be one for him.

I think that went both ways. In fact there were many who refused to give consideration to any of her opinions or her vision for Shirley. I didn't agree with everything she believed but never felt the need to attack her on a personal level. Anyway she's long gone and we shouldn't be discussing ex-posters.

That's not true! when Sharongate came out, Phil blamed it all on Sharon and pledged his love and future to Kathy. Infact all the Mitchell's treated Sharon like dirt in the aftermath of Sharongate. Beats me why Sharon always went running back to them. People are saying Shirley is a doormat but how many times have we been here with Sharon? she can't keep away from them.

He fell in love with her though during 1992-1995. Yes he treated Sharon like dirt but Sharon chose Grant over Phil at the end. And Phil genuinely loved Kathy and wanted to try again with her. Anyway Phil's heart is with Shirley now.

Have to say I agree. If anyone was the 'love of Phil's life' it was Kathy. He was more upset about losing her than any other woman he has been with. Sharon is an attractive trophy blonde and fits with the image of how Phil sees himself. Shirley doesn't fit the image but he has a better connection with her.

Lets hope Sharon takes Shirley down as well.

Would love her to reveal Shirley's secrets right in the middle of the Queen Vic.

Yes, the Kevin who she shagged so many different blokes without protection whilst they were that she had 2 kids, that weren't his!

Love doesn't make a fool of people, people who enjoy get treated like shit and come back (in Skanky Shirl's case, literally begging for more), make a fool of themselves.

I do hope you don't apply these excuses and embarrassing justifications in your own personal life.

This.
Shirley might also think that giving Phil sex is a way to keep her secret safe. She used to have to get him drunk to sleep with her after all.

Phil fancies a bit on the side (to punish Sharon for becoming a strong-minded and independent, not the hang-dog slave that Shirley was ?), and will be using Shirley for sex and not much else.

It is interesting that Phil's infatuation with Sharon is waning now she has a mind of her own. He probably thinks he is better off with downtrodden lacky Shirley who will sort out his mess, cover his crimes and hang lovingly on every word as if the sun shines out of his backside.

She is such a pathetic creature to go scrambling for the stray crumbs from his table.

Once a doormat, always a doormat. I wish she wold grow a spine.

I think the reality of living with Sharon has opened his eyes...the posh bar, endlessly being dragged off to the shops and being landed as chief child minder is not what he envisioned. Then there is the truth that she has never and will never love him. It's not much of a life for him, I get the feeling that he is lonelier now than he was before she moved in.