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Major soap character disappearance - a new storyline idea?


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Old 07-09-2015, 12:16
KornerKabin
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This has been a storyline idea that has rattled around my head for some time.

The basis of the story is:

- Long-term character goes missing for a period of time - just vanishes one day.

- We then see the character's loved ones trying to track them down.

- Character is found and eventually returns home.

Given that so many actors now want to take a break from their roles, could this be an original way to write someone out for a period of time while knowing that they will return at some point?

In the distant days of Coronation Street this story was lightly touched on. Hilda Ogden had a (brief) nervous breakdown in 1967 and was found days later wandering around Liverpool in her slippers. Elsie Tanner also 'went missing' in the early 70s, but this was because she had lied about going to Sheffield when in fact she went to London to visit Dennis in prison. She was knocked down by a taxi and was taken to hospital with no form of identification. Rita also 'disappeared' to Blackpool during the Alan Bradley storyline.

Some soaps, namely Hollyoaks, have used this kind of story in more recent times but, to my knowledge, it has always been based around new characters having a 'missing' family member who we have never met. I remember this was one of the ongoing stories when the Hunter family first arrived with the sister Ellie having been missing for quite some time. I think they might have done something similar more recently but I'm not well enough in the 'Oaks loop to know. I know that Neighbours did something slightly along these lines with Harold's 'death' and return in the 1990s. Oh, and there was also Ian Beale's 'tramp days'

Anyway, I digress. I originally remember thinking that this could have been a good storyline to cover Anne Kirkbride's break from the show. Deirdre could have just vanished one day, with us seeing Ken and Tracy trying to track her down. Obviously, with the tragic loss of Annie, this would have been a very challenging story to handle as it would have led to a similarly tragic loss of Deirdre under very negative circumstances.

I can now see this being a storyline that could easily cover Alison King's break from the show. Carla is the most unlikeable she has ever been, seeming to loathe everyone around her. Having her just leave one day would be very believable and quite in line with the character. There are enough people to care about her to give the story about her disappearance some weight. The intrigue would be about knowing what had happened to her or where she was.

This does happen in real life. People disappear one day and don't return for years ...or even at all.

Could this work as a new story idea?
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:19
KornerKabin
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Just to add, I'm suggesting this story as being very different from 'back from the dead' stories such as Den Watts, Kim Tate and Kathy Beale.

The character is missing and their loved ones are aware of this. They may be dead but this is not confirmed.
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:19
Lady Voldemort
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Eastenders have done this before, with Diane Butcher and, more recently, Ian Beale.

I found the Diane story more compelling though.
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:23
J-B
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Please, please let Sean Tully disappear.
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:24
KornerKabin
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Eastenders have done this before, with Diane Butcher and, more recently, Ian Beale.

I found the Diane story more compelling though.
Thanks Lady V.

Perhaps it's not as original as I'm trying to make out
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:25
Lady Voldemort
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Thanks Lady V.

Perhaps it's not as original as I'm trying to make out
It's infinitely more interesting than endless affairs and who's the daddy storylines.
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:29
little-monster
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They should do a Gone Girl type storyline but with an altered ending.
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:32
idgwiat
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Please, please let Sean Tully disappear.
That won't work, no one will go looking for him. He will then come back to see where they've got to.
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:49
LHolmes
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There was some indication that Diane Butcher was feeling low and about to drastic action, so her running away didn't come as a total surprise, which I think is what the OP is pitching.

However, this did happen with Gita Kapoor. She just disappeared one day to cover the actress's maternity leave.
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Old 07-09-2015, 14:09
Good_boys
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This was done in Sons and Daughters, with Amanda Morrell. She was abducted after hearing some incriminating talk that certain parties didn't want to get out. It was eventually discovered that she had became a heroin addict and died.
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Old 07-09-2015, 14:12
callumfreeman
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Maybe alien abduction?
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Old 07-09-2015, 14:21
Evilredzebra
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Please, please let Sean Tully disappear.
I was all over this idea for Sean until I read the last bit about the character coming back.
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Old 07-09-2015, 14:24
wallo mr slug
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This happened - to an extent - with Linda Baldwin too. Although there was more build up than her simply vanishing what with her being seen bundled into a car or the likes.

I'm sure it was to cover maternity leave although, if I recall, she never made a full time return. Memory is a bit hazy but she may have done a couple of episodes to explain the outcome.
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Old 07-09-2015, 15:15
The_Axeman
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I think this is what they should have done with Paula Lanes maternity leave. She should have just disappeared and the platts assume that Callum had killed her
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Old 07-09-2015, 15:26
richhoops
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Eastenders did this not so long ago with Shirley, she confronted Carl White over something or other and then she was gone, the inference was he'd killed her.

Everyone thought she was leaving the square so didn't miss her for ages but it turned out she was alive and well, living with her sister and Carl had just threatened her to stay away.
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Old 07-09-2015, 15:51
Lady Voldemort
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Maybe alien abduction?
Already done in the Colbys. Apparently alien spacecrafts smell like cinnamon.
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Old 07-09-2015, 16:01
ScottishWoody
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If they knew she was going to be gone this long, Hollyoaks could have done this with Myra McQueen. Though I suppose it's only a year or so since she came back from the dead anyway, and Mercedes was also missing, presumed dead, at the time.
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Old 07-09-2015, 16:03
babelogue
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However, this did happen with Gita Kapoor. She just disappeared one day to cover the actress's maternity leave.
That was a good storyline. I loved Sanjay and Gita.
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Old 07-09-2015, 16:10
Lisa_Charlene
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This has been a storyline idea that has rattled around my head for some time.

The basis of the story is:

- Long-term character goes missing for a period of time - just vanishes one day.

- We then see the character's loved ones trying to track them down.

- Character is found and eventually returns home.

Given that so many actors now want to take a break from their roles, could this be an original way to write someone out for a period of time while knowing that they will return at some point?

In the distant days of Coronation Street this story was lightly touched on. Hilda Ogden had a (brief) nervous breakdown in 1967 and was found days later wandering around Liverpool in her slippers. Elsie Tanner also 'went missing' in the early 70s, but this was because she had lied about going to Sheffield when in fact she went to London to visit Dennis in prison. She was knocked down by a taxi and was taken to hospital with no form of identification. Rita also 'disappeared' to Blackpool during the Alan Bradley storyline.

Some soaps, namely Hollyoaks, have used this kind of story in more recent times but, to my knowledge, it has always been based around new characters having a 'missing' family member who we have never met. I remember this was one of the ongoing stories when the Hunter family first arrived with the sister Ellie having been missing for quite some time. I think they might have done something similar more recently but I'm not well enough in the 'Oaks loop to know. I know that Neighbours did something slightly along these lines with Harold's 'death' and return in the 1990s. Oh, and there was also Ian Beale's 'tramp days'

Anyway, I digress. I originally remember thinking that this could have been a good storyline to cover Anne Kirkbride's break from the show. Deirdre could have just vanished one day, with us seeing Ken and Tracy trying to track her down. Obviously, with the tragic loss of Annie, this would have been a very challenging story to handle as it would have led to a similarly tragic loss of Deirdre under very negative circumstances.

I can now see this being a storyline that could easily cover Alison King's break from the show. Carla is the most unlikeable she has ever been, seeming to loathe everyone around her. Having her just leave one day would be very believable and quite in line with the character. There are enough people to care about her to give the story about her disappearance some weight. The intrigue would be about knowing what had happened to her or where she was.

This does happen in real life. People disappear one day and don't return for years ...or even at all.

Could this work as a new story idea?

I quite like this idea rather than stupid exit storylines
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Old 07-09-2015, 16:44
EE.Live
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This type of storyline could go on for months or even years which can be interesting. When Ian walked into the streets barefoot in his pyjamas we knew that he was leaving Walford (atleast for a while).

However when Shirley mysteriously left after a dodgy conversation with Carl, it was left open to whether he killed her or not. Shirley's phone was dumped among some bin bags at the market, along with her jacket and a picture of her and Heather. I did like how Jean noticed something was wrong when Shirley left without her favourite sunglasses. Looking back I thought she was missing for like 6 months but I just realised that she was only gone for 2 months.

I would've loved if Lucy's last scene was walking away from Walford and then weeks later they find her body somewhere dark (not obvious like the Common) to leave more mystery.
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Old 07-09-2015, 16:54
KornerKabin
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Originally Posted by richhoops
Eastenders did this not so long ago with Shirley, she confronted Carl White over something or other and then she was gone, the inference was he'd killed her.

Everyone thought she was leaving the square so didn't miss her for ages but it turned out she was alive and well, living with her sister and Carl had just threatened her to stay away.
This type of storyline could go on for months or even years which can be interesting. When Ian walked into the streets barefoot in his pyjamas we knew that he was leaving Walford (atleast for a while).

However when Shirley mysteriously left after a dodgy conversation with Carl, it was left open to whether he killed her or not. Shirley's phone was dumped among some bin bags at the market, along with her jacket and a picture of her and Heather. I did like how Jean noticed something was wrong when Shirley left without her favourite sunglasses. Looking back I thought she was missing for like 6 months but I just realised that she was only gone for 2 months.

I would've loved if Lucy's last scene was walking away from Walford and then weeks later they find her body somewhere dark (not obvious like the Common) to leave more mystery.
I hadn't realised that EastEnders had done this storyline with Shirley. Thanks guys.

As you say EE.Live, this could potentially be quite a long-running storyline so long as writers and producers manage to keep it fresh. It's also a different twist on the constant cycle of 'whodunnits'. Murder doesn't have to be the outcome.

Thinking about it now, they could have done this kind of story for Tina's exit from Corrie.
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Old 07-09-2015, 17:12
Corstemmee
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I think it's a great idea. In fact, I think I suggested something along these lines a while back.

BUT

It would have to be a MAJOR player - someone who's absence would affect many. Somebody we'd care about. And not someone who's 'gone missing' before.

AND I'd want it to be a long term thing, not all solved in a couple of months, or a few months. It should be something that goes on for at least a couple of years. A COMPLETE mystery. It happens in real life. People do just 'disappear'.

Also, I'd want it to be completely out of the blue from a completely unexpected character.

Lots of potential ramifications and off-shoot storylines.

Even the press could get involved (like with 'Free the Weatherfield One'!)

WHO should disappear, though? Hmmm. Let me ponder...
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Old 07-09-2015, 17:17
KornerKabin
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I think it's a great idea. In fact, I think I suggested something along these lines a while back.

BUT

It would have to be a MAJOR player - someone who's absence would affect many. Somebody we'd care about. And not someone who's 'gone missing' before.

AND I'd want it to be a long term thing, not all solved in a couple of months, or a few months. It should be something that goes on for at least a couple of years. A COMPLETE mystery. It happens in real life. People do just 'disappear'.

Also, I'd want it to be completely out of the blue from a completely unexpected character.

Lots of potential ramifications and off-shoot storylines.

Even the press could get involved (like with 'Free the Weatherfield One'!)

WHO should disappear, though? Hmmm. Let me ponder...
Yes, yes, yes!
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Old 07-09-2015, 17:20
Lady Voldemort
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I think it's a great idea. In fact, I think I suggested something along these lines a while back.

BUT

It would have to be a MAJOR player - someone who's absence would affect many. Somebody we'd care about. And not someone who's 'gone missing' before.

AND I'd want it to be a long term thing, not all solved in a couple of months, or a few months. It should be something that goes on for at least a couple of years. A COMPLETE mystery. It happens in real life. People do just 'disappear'.

Also, I'd want it to be completely out of the blue from a completely unexpected character.

Lots of potential ramifications and off-shoot storylines.

Even the press could get involved (like with 'Free the Weatherfield One'!)

WHO should disappear, though? Hmmm. Let me ponder...
See, this scenario would have been just perfect for Pam St Clements intended extended break from EE
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Old 07-09-2015, 17:22
KornerKabin
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See, this scenario would have been just perfect for Pam St Clements intended extended break from EE
There seem to be so many characters who could have 'benefitted' (if that's the right term) from a story like this.

As I said earlier, I can easily have seen Deirdre disappearing one day without a word to Ken, Tracy or Liz.
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