Just watching Pointless with Todd Carty and my mind just went for a wander wondering how different EE would have been had David Scarboro not walked out during early production, and subsequently ended his life. This is pure speculation but I could envision the following -

If Mark had stayed Wicksy would not have been introduced (he was created overnight to address the teen balance following Mark's departure)

No Wicksy would likely have meant no Pat either (I cannot see her arriving and staying in the Square initially without Simon being there) - This would also likely have meant no David, and no Butcher Family (Frank was initially introduced as a love interest for Pat) and his family extended later.

We would likely (assuming all other character lines went as they did) have had the Jackson/Branning families as their links to the Butcher's were established after their introduction.

I'd imagine Mark would have come under the influence of Nick initially but could see Nick getting sent down for Reg's murder and Mark taking on the bad boy role. With Mark in that role I could see Nick not returning (especially if Gary Holton had taken the role when initially offered) and Dot having a lesser role and not staying as long as she did.

It would be interesting to see what an EastEnders without Icons such as Pat, Dot and Janine and a Ricky-less Bianca would have been like.

Does anyone else have any ideas of how on simple change in storyline could have (in theory) changed the whole outlook of EE (or CS, ED for that matter)

It was planned from the very beginnings of the show that Pete Beale had an ex-wife and estranged children, but I know Simon's entrance was hurried due to David Scarboro's departure. Simon and Pat would have still been around, I think.

Yes, I'm sure I've read somewhere that Wicksy was always going to be introduced but they brought his arrive forward a year to fill the Mark gap.

Speaking of Mark, I don't think he should been killed off. It left such a big hole in the Fowler family. He'd been HIV-positive for a long time, but there are people who have been around for just as long with the disease who are still living full lives.

I've said before this is up there with killing of Pat and the babyswap as far as awful decisions go in Eastenders history. It was such an important story EE told and to brush it aside and have Mark's death off screen was really a complete insult.

The David Scarboro story is desperately sad. Seeing him oN screen makes me sad.
His family seem genuinely lovely & everyone was incredulous at the reaction of the gutter press & it goes to show that that level of fame can be incredibly stressful & people need some kinda support dealing with it as it can be overwhelming for some.

I caught a bit of that Pointless episode. I wasn't wearing my glasses or contacts (my vision is appalling) but I could've sworn he was alongside Bonnie Langford. Haven't they done stage work together?