I disagree, the show hasn't been built around Shirley, she may have had her family brought in finally but there are many other s/ls going on throughout the square, If anyone is being shoehorned, I think it's Tina. She has been involved in almost every story since she arrived, Ian, Carol, Jake, Aleks, Tosh...

I agree with you S. Shirley has been dragged into the Phil/Sharon drama just to give Sharon more ammunition for her big crime. She should have been left out of it.

Just read Soaplife and it says that Sharon changes her mind about destroying Phil. I think Sharon will find out about Phil and Shirley affair and she decides to go through with her revenge.

DTC is very biased towards Shirley he's given her a big family and if she gets back permanently with Phil she will have the Mitchells too. Whereas Sharon has no one and I am bit concerned what storylines Sharon will have once she isn't with Phil anymore.

I also don't agree with Sharon's association with Phil being cut off altogether I think they should find a way for them to remain friends.

I don't think he is biased towards Shirley. Yes he brought her family in but it was about time she had her own family.

DTC has given big sl's to Ian, Carol, Sharon, Dot, Patrick..Many of the cast have been implicated somehow in the Lucy Beale murder: Jake, Max, Billy, Lee..and others have their own stories to tell: Johnny/Linda, Tosh/Tina, Max/Emma, Jay/Abi/Lola, Aleks, I could go on.

I imagine Sharon will play a big role with Ian, Dot and with her friendship with Linda.

I don't want Shirley to take the bastard back! The way he's treated her is disgusting.

Well let's be honest, it gives Shazza another excuse to go in for the kill.

I don't see Ian,Dot and Linda providing her with very big storylines. She needs a few family members it doesn't have to be a big family but she definitely needs some more people.

I agree with this. Most people have been featured. I just think maybe Tosh and Tina could've been separate to the Carters and feature in their own right as a new couple on the square. Maybe Tina had moved there due to DV and have a fresh start and then Tosh tracked her down etc.

The new characters for me have been well rounded the one that doesn't gel for me is Donna. She just seems to be venomous for no apparent reason so far.