Reading between the lines Maria seems to confirm she will become a full time character from next summer and will be semi regular from now until then due to theatre commitments.

Judging from various DTC tweets I think Elaine will be made landlady sooner rather than later. Even Bab's Windsor has told him to 'get her into my pub' in a text message. So I'd say it was on the cards.

Good. Hopefully this means the arsonist is kicked to the curb!

Fab news.

I would prefer her to be recurring as I think the character is more suited to that sort of role. She has good chemistry with the family though and want to see some scenes with her and Shirley. Still don't think we actually know how the fire started yet although Stan and linda visited the put back in June.

I agree I think the carters as they are work well in the vic. I think Linda and Mick will regress as characters with Elaine ruling over them and dare I say it stifling them if she moves into the vic as landlady. plus shirley and elaine, I dont see them getting on like a house on fire

The only way I see Elaine being landlady is if Linda or Mick leave and I dont see that happening anytime soon

I don't think she'll become landlady if Mick and Linda are still there. How many rooms are in that pub? There's Lee, Stan, Johnny, Nancy, Shirley, Linda and Mick and now Elaine will be there.

I can see her being a Queen Mum type figure in the Vic, but not in overall charge...Mick and Linda should stay the landlord/landlady and owners.

I'm hoping we get a chance to see her with Shirley, they couldn't be more different. Two such good actors head to head would make great viewing.

Stan's leaving, Shirley will probably move, and we don't know if Johnny, Nancy and Lee have any plans. Perhaps Johnny might move out.

I like Elaine but I think she would be better suited as a recurring role rather than a full time role. I don't think she will become landlady unless Mick or Linda leave but I look forward to her return.

I would also like to see some scenes between Elaine and Shirley, I think there was more to the fire than meets the eye tbh. But what...And I imagine that Maria F and Linda Henry will work brilliantly together onscreen.

Lee would make more scenes. Johnny IS staying put!:P

That was exactly what I thought when I saw the cast picture of her. She is pictured behind the bar, looking quite comfortable! I thought this was a not so subtle message about her future. They could have pictured her upstairs with Linda or something. She's likeable enough but three of them running the pub plus the various hangers-on? Too many cooks spoil the broth and all that.

If she comes in it should mark the spark of a Shirley exit I think. Phil chose Sharon and she shot him and I don't see how they are all going to get over it. Elaine and linda can't stand her so she'll have to leave the vic and she hates tosh. So unreleased tosh leaves before Elaine's arrival I can see a Shirley exit. (Only if Elaine does move Into the vic)

Johnny should only work in the Albert if she does aswell as their is Tracey, linda,mick,Elaine, Nancy and lee (if Shirley leaves and johnny focus' on the Albert. Tracey is also in danger with the vic overload :/

I think it's pretty obvious the plan is to make Shirley sole landlady eventually. A huge mistake, in my opinion.

I'm hoping Shirley doesn't leave. I don't see Elaine moving into the Vic permanently and to be honest I don't see why that should spell the end for Shirley. The shooting can easily be worked around, think of all the actual killers roaming around Albert Square. The fire has been mentioned several times so it is still ringing the 'there is more to this fire' klaxon. The possibility of an Andy casting, Carly return and Mick reveal will give Shirley some really good material.

Bass, wherever did you get the idea of them making Shirley sole landlady? Mick and Linda own the majority of the pub. I think Shirley wanted a part as security, not to take over.

Edit: I think possibly something to do with the fire is why Mick went out of his way to allow Shirley some security in the Vic. She was ostracised from the family by Linda after it happened but we don't know what their relationship was like prior to that. Or with Elaine. Shirley and Linda have had some nice moments which makes me think that it was the fire that caused all this upset between them. Though we don't fully know what happened with the fire. Just that that it occurred.

Shirley won't be leaving as she is DTC's favourite character...

Sorry, I meant Shirley would become landlady after Mick and Linda leave the show, which I think will happen within the next two years. I can't see Dyer sticking around for the long haul.

By the time Elaine returns next year the Carters will have moved on with their lives. Stan will have gone, Lee could have moved in with Whitney and be working as a plumber, who knows what Johnny and Nancy will be up to. Even Shirley could have moved on or moved out and be in a relationship.

I could see Mick, Linda, Elaine and Nancy (and maybe Shirley) working there full time with Johnny putting in the odd shift....he needs to work harder at his studies.

I think he is supposed to be signing a 3 year contract isn't he? I wonder if he left, would Kellie leave too?

I can't see Mick, Linda or Shirley leaving within two years. They are all popular characters.

We know DD has just signed a new 3 year contract.

Oh, I hope she is! Get Lee and Nancy out first though!

Lee will be axed I hope.

Good post. A will have happened by that point. And the dynamics will have changed within the family


Due to constant tweeting about Sharon/Letitia and Linda/Kellie, I would be inclined to say that they are his current favourites. But I think he realised that Shirley had been sorely underused last year and Linda Henry's talents were being wasted and therefore he is utilising her better.


I hope you are right. They are popular characters so I would like to see them stay. Mainly Mick and Shirley.

Why ? he's a nice lad, down to earth and friendly and he could be just what Whitney needs. I don't think he's a worse character or actor than Johnny, and he's got more life about him than Peter or Liam.

The actors who play Peter and Liam are very wooden, they lack emotion in scenes imo, I thought I was the only one who thought that!. Danny-Boy isn't too bad in comparison.