He's blown out Dexter and Timothy West is leaving, so what is actually keeping Cora around? Is DTC sparing her for a Tanya return or a reunion with Patrick? I'm sure if he gave her a storyline, she'd pull it out the bag easily.

I found it a bit weird how they were merged with the Brannings in Tuesday's episode too.

Agreed, she's a waste of space

Axing an Actress of Ann Mitchell's pedigree would be futile.

DTC obviously believes Cora has a place still.

Because Anna is a brilliant actress.

Anna is a fantastic actress, but Cora is a bit of an out of place character and just a constant reminder of the Kirkwood/Newman era, along with Dexter and Lola...

Tbf though, when Tanya returns, it will be nice for her to have her mother around aswell!

Because she has potential I guess but I don't know how now Stan and Dexter have gone

I would love for Ann to leave or be axed because she is a tremendous actress who has been wasted on EE since Tanya left. EE have no idea how to treat veteran actors like herself. Soaps in general spend less time on long established actors, and waste their time on actors who are 2 minutes out of drama school and quite clearly do not know how to act in a front of a camera.

Raine is coming back isn't she? Tanya Franks said she was contracted until February.

Daily Mail.

I don't think characters should be kept based on the acting skills of their portrayer. If the writers have no idea what to do with a character then they should write them out. I don't see how this applies to Cora though. She's been used well throughout the year. Dexter (who she hardly interacted with) and Stan may be leaving but isn't Rainie supposed to be coming back at some point? Cora still has her granddaughters, Patrick, Lola and Dot to mingle with if the writers ever remember her relationships with these characters.

She's a fantastic actress and Cora is, at times, a brilliant character. She just isn't used consistently. Perhaps she will be drawn more into the Carters as Stan deteriorates and dies. I hope there are some big plans for her in 2015. If a Branning is responsible for Lucy's murder she could become important to the rest of the family as support.

An evil, spiteful old woman that is kept around only because she would crumble into fag ash dust if they tried to wheel her out of Elstree.

Questions?

Horrid vicious character played be an actress who should have packed it in years ago.

She has

A) No friends once Stan goes
B) No family that bother with her
C) No storylines
D) No purpose

Why wouldnt DTC get rid of this deadwood character? Ann Mitchell is a good actress but the character is pointless.

That could have been applied to Shirley in 2013 but look what he did for her.

Personally I'd sooner keep Cora. There are hardly any pensioners in the cast and I think Cora's bitter personality has been explained far better than Shirley's with a lot less screentime.

Quality analysis by both.

Shes the new Pat

Shirley was a deadwood character a few years ago. If a producer wants to he/she can build up any character.

Exactly, people on here seem to forget this.

I've got used to seeing Cora around and prefer her and her acid tongue to the sugary sweet Pam. I expect some great scenes from Stan and Cora in the weeks before his death. Then, with everything changing on the 30th anniversary, let's see what's in store for her....IMO it's too soon to write her character off.

You do not let people forget but what you forget is that Shirley had storylines before they brought in her family. She had relationships and proper storylines unlike Cora.

Cora is a character that is only being kept as she is a pensioner rather than her actual contribution to the show. If Cora left with Dexter she would be instantly forgotten about as she has has no memorable scenes.

It's worth remembering that Queen Shirley is Walford's First Lady and the head of Eastenders' First Family. Cora can make no such claim of titles.

Shirley was only ruined because of the EP at the time. Cora was one of the few decent things Lorraine Newman managed to keep track of when Kirkwood left. But she abandoned her once Tanya left, and DTC has done little to improve her.

BIB I don't agree with that. I think her relationship with Stan is fabulous, not quite up there with Dot and Jim, but lovely (and fun) to watch.

That's true but it often feels like device for us to reminded Cora is there. and in typical DTC style, her only relevance has been Carter related. No one else.