Seriously, I fail to understand why Aunt Babe was even introduced...she could've just been Sylvie, they didn't need to add an Aunt into the fold, the Carter clan is already overcrowded as it is.

Elaine showed so much more potential in one episode than Babe has shown in nine months.

I disagree as I love Babe but Elaine is fabulous too.

Agreed, i wish they didn't even introduce Babe at all.
I would say that they couldve introduced Elaine originally instead of Babe but having both the parents of the new landlord and Landlady would be a bit excessive.

I really hope Elaine is recurring.

Recurring? She should be a regular.

I think Elaine would be better suited to a recurring role because she runs her own pub and has her own life. She needs to pay more visits though like birthdays,Christmas etc. Would love her to have some scenes with Shirley so we can learn some more about this fire she supposedly caused.

I disagree. Although I like Elaine and would definitely like to see in a recurring role, I absolutely adore Babe. She has this wickedness but kindness as well and you never know whose side she is on. Is she the enemy? Or is she an alli? (Why can't I spell that word? Oops) Can't wait to find out.

Elaine would be good to take on the "Aunt Sal" role for the. craters, as in always turns up for weddings, birthdays etc.

Nope. Babe is oddly disturbing for an old lady and very watchable.. She feels a lot more matriarchal than Peggy was. Imagine her telling people to get out of her pub without backup it wouldnt be only empty screeching.

So far, Babe is a more interesting character. Nullifying her character purely based on ten minutes or so of screen time from a bubblier character of a similar age is just stupid. She'll have a purpose, once she's more defined and she acts as a way of adding to Shirley's history.

I like Elaine a lot so far but I loved Babe and Cora's argument last month, I want to see them have a proper argument or fight!

I think Babe is a fascinating character. Hopefully they have some good material lined up for her.

Sorry but that's just not true. Aunt Babe is essential to the Carter storyline as we will see in the weeks and months ahead. Sylvie couldn't have been introduced because of Stan and Shirley. And the idea that the Carter clan is overcrowded isn't true. Also, Annette Badland is a great actress and the reason why she has only appeared frequently in the last couple of months is because she was working on another project.

Cora should have more scenes with Lauren & Abi

I like Babe but Elaine was AMAZING! The sooner she's brought in the better, the whole musical bingo night was cringe, and Nancy, Lee, Dexter, Fatboy, Les, Pam, and Tamwar just don't interest me in the slightest! If we'd of had none of that last night, it could of been decent, the whole karaoke stuff was extremely forced and Elaine and Linda and Dean were the only ones that managed to bring some entertainment to it!

I can't help but think that there is more to this fire than what has been said on screen. It has been mentioned several times and the we had Mick giving Alfie advice about fires the other week. I could be reading too much into it but the amout of mentions signals the 'we don't know the full story, there is a secret in there' klaxon to me.

Elaine and Babe aren't really comparable they're completely different characters. Elaine is the bubbly fun loving grandma of the Carter kids who's providing some light relief. Babe is a much darker character with a sinister edge and a hidden agenda. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing and the key to all the Carter family secrets surrounding Shirley and Sylvie. The wicked manipulator Babe cannot really be compared to the karaoke loving glamorous granny Elaine.

I think there is more to Elaine too.

This.

I think we have enough sinister characters at the moment (which I'm happy with). With Elaine and Pam it's good to have some genuinely nice people in it (although Elaine has only been in the show for only ten minutes).

I'd question why Nancy, Lee, Tosh and Tina were introduced before babe, Tosh and Tina are the most unwatchable couple EVER! No chemistry, just awful! Lee is just, there... Nancy is just utter cringe! I only like Johnny out of the kids, because he's interesting! And I love they've made the character gay but not really camp! Not every gay person is camp.

Lee is bland but Nancy & Johnny have real potential.

Brilliant post. Couldn't have put it better myself.

I quite like that Elaine is a straightforward character. Sometimes it's nice to have a few of them knocking about. Babe is definitely the key to the Carter past, I imagine she has several skeletons in her closet!

I couldn't bear Nancy to start with, but she's really grown on me. It's nice to see a young female character who isn't all eyeliner and boyfriend traumas.

She's a good actress, and really gives the character some depth.

DTC seriously can't match her up with Dexter, Dexter needs to go and never return.

This. Unfortunately TPTB seem to have forgotten about this family link & need to work to start to re-establish it. Cora & Lauren & Abi and their family connection definitely needs to be explored more, agreed