Ian Beale - once a force to be reckoned with. Now a snivelling snake

Rita Tanner - same as above. Once upon a time she would've laid into That ex foster daughter of hers ( can't remember the characters name)

I agree with a lot of characters mentioned but I do think a lot can be turned around with the right writing.

When Dean first returned a lot of people felt he was a much improved character. I personally think he could have made a good anti-hero. Now he is a rapist he is pretty much irreparable. So imo he is the most ruined.

That said Alfie the arsonist and Jane the accessory to murder are sailing close to it.

Seems to be a theme with DTC.

Can't believe nobody has said Laurel off ED yet!!

Blooming heck yes! The ultimate ruined (by association) character.

That has improved the dreadful skank, no end.

Sam Mitchell when Ms. Coke (Danniella Westbrook) returned in 2009.

Sarah Platt

Madge

Ross Barton.

It's the one that's bugging me most right now, because I used to absolutely love him! But this Debbie/Pete stuff that's going on and on and on and on and on and on is a total boreathon. His "revenge" against Pete is stupid - he already hurt him enough. All the old mannerisms are still there, oh he's so "funny" and "witty" and a ladies man, but he just seems hateful now.

I expect they can bring him round, somehow, sometime, but it shows how bad writing/storylining can kill a character off. Get off me screen, mate, I'd rather watch Pearl eat a sticky bun.

Ian Beale.

NEIGHBOURS: Susan Kennedy - They have turned her into a real busy-body, know-it-all.

EASTENDERS: Charlie Cotton - Where is he? What happened to him? Started out being really different and interesting. Then it all changed when he had the affair with Roxy.

Ronnie and Stacey

Kat Moon: a wonderful character in her initial 2000-05 stint; then returned in 2010 as a dreadful loudmouth bitch who went around slapping or sleeping with anything that had a pulse. The Shaggerman story is one of the worst EastEnders has ever done.

Sam Mitchell: really came into her own when Kim Medcalf was casted in the role. Sam was actually one of my favourite characters in 2004/05. Then they producers took the bizarre decision to re-recast Sam back to Daniella Westbrook, and the character returned as a blinged-up, orange-faced chav. Years of character development thrown out the window. Dreadful.

Ronnie Mitchell: Started off as an intriguing character who obviously had a dark past. Then the writers decided Ronnie should be defined purely by the endless tragedies that befall her, so she now just goes around stealing babies and murdering people. A total mess of a character.

Bianca Butcher: Actually a rather mature and sympathetic character by the time Patsy Palmer left in the late 90s. Then Bianca returned in 2008 and she had regressed by about 20 years. In fact, Bianca actually got stupider every year.

Sharon Watts The writers performed a hatchet-job on Sharon's character when she returned in 2012. It was like none of them had done any research, and clearly the writers that Kirkwood brought over from Hollyoaks had never actually watched EastEnders before 2006. Sharon went from a strong, confident, successful businesswoman, to a jealous, snobby, man-dependent mess overnight. They tried to turn her into Tanya. Thankfully a lot of this has been undone since DTC took the reins.

Lindsey and Kim Butterfield

Hollyoaks
John Paul
Ste
Nancy

Ian Beale

I have to go with Ross Barton, when Ross first came in he was decent and really took off during his pairing with Donna, showing there was more to him than just fighting and stealing cars. However this pairing with Debbie has really dragged his character down, I even find myself rooting for Pete more these days. Also making him Chairty's baby daddy #3 was another character killing move. I think Ross might be the first soap character to be destroyed by the person who created the character.

Dean Wicks - I preferred him in his original stint when he was 'Deano'.

Sam Mitchell - Danniella Westbrook was a poor casting choice in the first place and I was disappointed when they brought her back after Kim Medcalf left. I think it ruined Kim's portrayal of Sam.

Spot on bass. Sharon and Kat was the most annoying for me as they were soap goddesses previously.

I'd add Charlie Cotton to the list.

I also have to go with Ross Barton. He came in with such promise, but is now just a caricature of a baddie - steal a car, bash someone's head in, have sex, steal a car, bash someones head in.......... there is nothing else to his character. I hope Michael Parr's career will not be ruined by being cast in this ridiculous role. It would have been better if he had survived, but stayed low for a year, then brought back with a proper storyline.

I think the character can be saved, but he needs to get away from Debbie, and this is not an anti-Debbie rant, those two have no chemistry and the relationship has brought out the worst in both of them, but has really dragged Ross down. IDK what Kate Oates is thinking with this pairing, its the biggest mistake she's made at Emmerdale.

I suspect that the pairing was thought up once Charley Webb needed an exit story, whilst I also don't particularly like their pairing, it's made Pete slightly more interesting and given him some purpose other than being a lackey for Debs.

I'm hopeful that the old Ross will return once Debbie flees the village and we can all forget this ever happened.

The Debbie pairing was thought up long ago - they had Ross sniffing round her quite early, and it was as chemistry-free and soul-destroying then as it is now. They dumped it for Donna last summer. Then, HOORAYYY! , they brought it back, for some reason known only to themselves - ie, they didn't have anything else.

I suspect Charley's need for maternity leave came long after this whole thing was planned out. But it can't come soon enough. Ross is just so horrible and dull with her, and now he's horrible and dull with Pete as well. Bleurgh.

I hope you're right about this pairing being over because I can't take much more of this. I also agree with you on Pete, he's much more interesting and I really do feel sorry for him, everyone is treating him like crap. I was glad to see Andy being nice to him the other day though.

Ste Hay in Hollyoaks without a doubt. What on earth have they done to him?? Especially in the last year his character has been absolutely shocking.