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Bad Girls - Is Jim Fenner an iconic villain?


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Old 19-04-2015, 14:40
Mario and Luigi
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Did you enjoy the character and Jack Ellis' performance as the evil prison officer?
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Old 19-04-2015, 15:14
Ell_Ren
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I loved Jack Ellis as Jim Fenner and I do think that Fenner is an iconic villian, one of the best of that era - esp remember the scene where he horrifically murdered Yvonne. I was saying on here the other day how I would love Jack Ellis to join EastEnders, would love to see him work with Linda Henry again!

Jim Fenner was of those villians that you hated to hate but he was just so darn watchable that it enabled him to stay regardless of what crimes he committed. Jack Ellis is a brilliant actor, really pulled it off.
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Old 19-04-2015, 15:54
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Fenner was one of those villains that could make you violently hate him. He was an evil bastard personified and Jack Ellis gave everything to that role. He made enemies out of most of the cons before he was killed. Yvonne being his main enemy, but also Shell Dockley among many others. Even other screws hated him like Karen Betts who never got her revenge for him framing her, and Di Barker killed him but got sent down for it.

While I liked the last series (the Pat Kerrigan/Natalie Buxton feud was intense), it felt like most of the show was accomplished when Fenner was killed off.
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Old 19-04-2015, 15:58
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The show could have worked without Fenner, but they just replaced him with a second-rate villain (Dr Dunlop)

Fenner was iconic - never before have I hated a TV character so much. Jack Ellis is a phenomenal actor!
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Old 19-04-2015, 16:00
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For a male villain, he was terrific. I always find female villains the best. But he really excelled. It never felt pathetic,, silly, hammy or borderline panto. Jack Ellis did a fine job. I do think Fenner lasted a little big longer than he should have.

I don't know whether he is what I call an Iconic villain, but perhaps a cult figure villain for British television drama.
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Old 19-04-2015, 16:04
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although he was the biggest slimeball along with that creepy Malcom dude, i couldn't help but miss his presence after he got done in
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Old 19-04-2015, 16:11
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None of the other male characters ever matched up to Jim, imo. I think they tried to 'replace' Jim with 'Kevin Spiers' but failed!

However much I loved Jim, he did become a bit of a caricature in the last series he was in.

He was probably one of the best TV villians.
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Old 19-04-2015, 16:16
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Loved him on that show and would love for the actor to make an appearance on EE. Same goes for Dannielle Brent (Natalie Buxton), surprised she never turned up in EE.
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Old 19-04-2015, 17:39
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Jack Ellis and Linda Henry would be amazing on Eastenders together.

Jack Ellis turned down a role for Eastenders due to the fact he didn't want to play another villain like Jim Fenner. Linda seems very settled in her role as Shirley Carter so I hope it can happen some day!

(Di Barker was sent down for Jim's murder but Julie Johnson killed him by stabbing him in the nice with a sharp piece of ice.) Did you know that Jim was meant to be crucified bu they decided that was too extreme?!

Jim Fenners last scene should have been his walk through the prison where all the male prisoners were starring at him. But the producers begged him to come back for one last series so he could be killed off and then he came back for the Christmas special as a ghost. He has the fourth highest episode count behind the two Julies and Sylvia Hollomby (who went on to do the theatre version of Bad Girls.)
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Old 19-04-2015, 17:42
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That was my issue with Fenner. He got his comeuppance at the end of series 6 but they did a U-turn and had him come back and dominate Series 7. While I did enjoy the murder, the aftermath and the eventual reveal of who did him in, it was a sign of stretching it further then they should. Bad Girls died when Fenner died, because Series 8 was absolutely atrocious.
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Old 19-04-2015, 17:58
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That was my issue with Fenner. He got his comeuppance at the end of series 6 but they did a U-turn and had him come back and dominate Series 7. While I did enjoy the murder, the aftermath and the eventual reveal of who did him in, it was a sign of stretching it further then they should. Bad Girls died when Fenner died, because Series 8 was absolutely atrocious.
I am a die hard fan but have all the box sets BUT the last series!
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Old 19-04-2015, 18:39
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Loved him on that show and would love for the actor to make an appearance on EE. Same goes for Dannielle Brent (Natalie Buxton), surprised she never turned up in EE.
Dannielle Brent was in Hollyoaks some years before starting on Bad Girls. She played an environmentalist type character in the late 90s to early 00s. Definitely agree about the EE comment. She'd be awesome.
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Old 19-04-2015, 18:42
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A testament to Jack's acting is that no matter how ludicrous the stories got, Jim was still played with honesty and conviction, so it always worked.
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Old 19-04-2015, 18:43
NoughtiesMusic
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Jack Ellis and Linda Henry would be amazing on Eastenders together.

Jack Ellis turned down a role for Eastenders due to the fact he didn't want to play another villain like Jim Fenner. Linda seems very settled in her role as Shirley Carter so I hope it can happen some day!

(Di Barker was sent down for Jim's murder but Julie Johnson killed him by stabbing him in the nice with a sharp piece of ice.) Did you know that Jim was meant to be crucified bu they decided that was too extreme?!

Jim Fenners last scene should have been his walk through the prison where all the male prisoners were starring at him. But the producers begged him to come back for one last series so he could be killed off and then he came back for the Christmas special as a ghost. He has the fourth highest episode count behind the two Julies and Sylvia Hollomby (who went on to do the theatre version of Bad Girls.)
Ah right thanks for clarifying that. I forgot that it was Julie J.
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Old 19-04-2015, 18:54
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Ah right thanks for clarifying that. I forgot that it was Julie J.
I'm not shocked. Julie J admitted it but as she was by then insane she was a reliable source despite the fact she was insane for the crime she was admitting!

Di "Mad Dog" Barker deserved it though!
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Old 19-04-2015, 19:12
m-river
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Loved him on that show and would love for the actor to make an appearance on EE. Same goes for Dannielle Brent (Natalie Buxton), surprised she never turned up in EE.
she was fit
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Old 19-04-2015, 20:41
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Yes he is iconic!

He was one bastard you just loved to hate and Jack Ellis played him so well and so EVIL people couldn't wait for him to get his comeuppance but once he did the show was never the same imo!
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Old 19-04-2015, 21:10
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Fenner was brilliant you hated him but liked him at the same time, I would love to see him on EE with Linda Henry, Jack is a brilliant actor.
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Old 20-04-2015, 02:44
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He was bad to the core!
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