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Which EastEnder do you think was given the better exit?


View Poll Results: Who was given the better exit?
Pauline Fowler 8 10.00%
Pat Butcher 39 48.75%
Peggy Mitchell 33 41.25%
None 11 13.75%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 80. You can't vote on this poll right now - are you signed in?

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Old 22-05-2016, 16:28
lou_123
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This time 10 years ago, Pauline, Pat, Peggy and Dot were all on the show together. Now, Dot is the shows only 'Golden Oldie', as the other 3 have all died.

Out of Pat, Peggy and Pauline, who do you think was given the better exit and why?

Pauline

Wendy Richard quit EastEnders, to the shock of many, back in the summer of 2006, as she was unhappy with how the writers decided to turn the character into a manipulator and remarry. The day after this news was released, EastEnders received its lowest ever viewing figure to date, as less than 4 million viewers tuned in to the programe. Pauline's last few months on The Square saw her turn against many friends and family, and after a run in with husband Joe and daughter in law Sonia Fowler, Pauline died in the middle of The Square on Christmas Day, as she collapsed after being hit over the head, with a solid object. Pauline's death didn't have a major impact on The Square, but the character has been sorely missed by many viewers ever since.

Pat

Pam St. Clement had supposedly asked bosses at EastEnders for a break, and was disheartened when the writers returned, suggesting that the character was to be killed off. Pam went along with the story idea, and after having not done much in her final year on The Square, Pat was diagnosed with cancer at Christmas 2011, dying a few days later on New Year's Day. Her death saw her family gather round her giving their support, a touching moment between her and step daughter Janine Butcher and the return of her son David Wicks, in a 70 minute special episode. Pat's funeral wasn't a quiet one either, with lots of drama involving Carol, David, the Branning's, Ricky and Bianca and a return from son Simon. It's safe to say Pat's departure left a massive hole in the show.

Peggy

Barbara Windsor originally left EastEnders back in 2009, as the character of Peggy departed, after her beloved Queen Vic was burned down by son Phil. Windsor made many brief returns to the show however, as boss DTC tempted her back for special events/family visits. In January 2016, it was revealed Peggy would return one last time, as Babs had decided she wanted to kill the character off. Peggy returned to screens last week and was given a pretty rushed exit, but certainly an explosive one as her son Grant returned to The Square and she had many scenes with characters of the Square, old and new, including Stacey Slater, Kathy and Ian Beale, Mick and Linda Carter, Sharon Watts and even the ghost of Pat Butcher. With her funeral still to air, daughter Sam due to return and her family not on the best of terms, it's safe to say her exit has been impactful.

Who do you think was given the best exit storyline?

For me, it would have to be Peggy, as her exit was very sentimental and a big TV event. It truly felt like the end of an era and it's gave EastEnders a Classic touch over the past few weeks. Pat's for me would have to be a close second, especially due to the involvement of Janine, David and if you like, Simon.
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Old 22-05-2016, 16:39
Bertypop
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Pat's was the most true to the character.

Peggy's was the most true to the actress.

Pauline's was disappointing for everyone involved.

In my opinion, it was Pat's that worked the best, although there were moments of Peggy's (largely the ones involving Pat) which were very touching.

Peggy's exit was rather self indulgent, both for the show and Windsor.

Pat's exit has left the biggest hole in the show.
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Old 22-05-2016, 16:47
BadLadAsh
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Who would have thought it would be Dot who has outlived the rest.
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Old 22-05-2016, 16:48
Adrian_Ward1
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Pats for me. Great she died with her family there. Thought Pauline was awful. Enjoyed Peggy's but prefers the episode on Thursday .
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Old 22-05-2016, 16:49
BadLadAsh
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Don't mean to be picky Lou but Peggy first left in 2010 not 2009
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Old 22-05-2016, 16:51
attitude99
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I think Pat's was the best all round. Even though her exit story seemed a tad rushed too, I seem to recall her finding out she had cancer, becoming weaker and then dying on New Year's Day. I did cry when she died, and I think it's left the biggest hole in the show over Pauline and Peggy's demises. Pat's and Peggy's deaths both had some really nice scenes (such as Pat/Janine and David holding Pat as she died, and also Peggy/Phil on the boat and at their old house). I will always remember the duff duff Pat had, where she went into the Vic, got a drink and did a silent cheer to the Vic as she knew she didn't have long left, that was very nicely done imo and her actual death episode was brilliant. Pat's theme was a lovely touch at the end as well.

With Peggy's, it was very well acted all around, but it all felt a bit confusing as all of the actors involved kept filming at different times and Peggy wasn't back for long. But like I said above, there was some lovely scenes, and I really liked the scene with Pat and her opening the window 'to let the soul fly out'. The clock stopping was also a really clever move too. However, I did expect it to be a bit more emotional, but it was a good ending for Peggy, who wanted to die as she was, instead of becoming a little frail old lady.
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Old 22-05-2016, 17:37
lou_123
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Don't mean to be picky Lou but Peggy first left in 2010 not 2009
Sorry, was meant to say she announced she was leaving late 2009.
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Old 22-05-2016, 17:39
lou_123
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Who would have thought it would be Dot who has outlived the rest.
This!

June's service to the show has been absolutely outstanding!
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Old 22-05-2016, 17:43
momentarything
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Peggy's. It wasn't perfect, but it was good.

Pat's exit felt very rushed and, unlike Peggy's (which was constrained by Ross Kemp and Barbara Windsor's ability to film), there was no reason for it to be. Also, the dreadful Derek dominating her funeral episode coloured everything.

And Pauline's was the worst of the lot. Wendy Richard deserved better
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Old 22-05-2016, 18:02
little-monster
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They all flawed but if i had to pick, it was Pat's
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Old 22-05-2016, 18:07
emzangel28
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I picked Pat because i think hers has left the biggest hole, although since Peggy has only just died, in a few years time i may change my mind about that. I also picked her because i always felt sad about the way she was treated.
Plus i liked that her death had her family around her whereas although technically Peggy wasn't alone as she had Pat's ghost/hallucination with her, i would have liked to see her pass away surrounded by at least her children, but i appreciate that wouldn't have happened due to the circumstances in which she chose to go.
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Old 22-05-2016, 18:11
BadLadAsh
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This!

June's service to the show has been absolutely outstanding!
It really is, long live Dot!
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Old 22-05-2016, 18:13
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It is sad that we lost all three of them regularly within five years of one another.
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Old 22-05-2016, 18:13
Aaron_2015
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Pat's, because it was so emotional. One room filled with family for 70 minutes.

Peggy's had so much rushing about and scene changing, all compacted into 35 minutes.
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Old 22-05-2016, 18:19
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None of there exit's were really anything to write home about. Bradley Branning got a more memorable exit than all three.
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Old 22-05-2016, 19:59
MissMonkeyMoo
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None of there exit's were really anything to write home about. Bradley Branning got a more memorable exit than all three.
I still miss Bradley

Out of the three, I would go for Pat. Although they should never have killed her off, the (short) build up was tense and dramatic, the scenes with janine and David incredible and the brief return of Simon at the very end touching. showing pat's fear and the family grieving really connected with the audience. I understand that there have been filming constraints around Peggy's exit but it has felt far too rushed and although it was good something was missing overall.
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Old 22-05-2016, 23:17
GillT07
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And Pauline's was the worst of the lot. Wendy Richard deserved better
Agree that Wendy deserved better, but it's supposed to be all about the character. And for Pauline to die alone, by Arthur's bench - a family woman without her family - was rather sad.
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Old 22-05-2016, 23:35
GillT07
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I probably should have voted "none".

Pat's was moving, but felt rushed - diagnosed, self discharged and died a day or so later.
Ditto Peggy - only not having family around her was unrealistic. And they could have had a hospice/end of life care storyline. Peggy could have fought for a little longer and still gone out with a bang - maybe slipped away while her family were having an east end knees up round her bedside. Or, more likely, been in the middle of an argument. That would not have been out of character.
Pauline - as I said, sad, not totally unfitting. But not great.

Then again, can anyone have a perfect death? Death is rarely convenient, pretty or as the person deserves.
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Old 23-05-2016, 01:56
TheGraduate2012
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I agree with the majority, none were great, but Pat's was probably the best. Even still hers and Peggy's felt last-minute. I can barely remember Pauline's so that probably says it all.
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Old 23-05-2016, 02:37
kitkat1971
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Pauline's was the worst. Totally disrespectful to the character and actress. Dying in the Square after being hit by the Husband Richards resented her marryiing in the first place? Even more unforgivable, the hatchet job they did on her in the months leading up to her death.

I've really not liked Peggy's. The episode in Jan when she told Phil was great. The first episode of her coming back where she was with Sal, Roxy, the Doctor was great. The Thurs one was quite good. But I'm afraid i found most of the rest of it, including the London travelogue very self referential, indulgent and more about Barbara Windsor bowing out of the show (and possibly acting full stop) than the character of Peggy. Which removed the fourth wall in a way I really didn't like. Plus, i'?e never rated Peggy that highly anyway.

We can all agree that Pat shouldn't have been killed off. But, if we accept that decision, I actually think they did it well. She'd had bad health so i could buy her putting pain down to pre existing conditions and not getting the Cancer diagnosis until it was too late to do anything and her die within days. That happened to an Aunt of mine around the same time. We had everybody (still alive) important to Pat's life there either at her death bed or funeral, they did,'t eulogise her as has happened with Peggy or demonise her as with Pauline. They talked about her failings as a wife, mother, human being but also showed how she came back from it.

And I still think the sequence of her in the Vic in her penultimate episode 'bidding her good life goodbye' is one of most beautiful things I've seen in a soap.

So, Pats was the best.
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Old 23-05-2016, 10:31
bass55
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Though I strongly disagreed with the decision to kill her off (and still do) Pat's exit was the best of the three. Her final episode was fantastic.

Peggy was arguably given a bigger send-off than the character deserved. After all, Peggy's exit was in 2010 and bar the odd guest appearance she hasn't been a character in the show since then. This storyline was about Barbara Windsor and Dominic Treadwell Collins' departure from the show. And the fawning we've seen in recent weeks (DTC saying "Barbara Windsor IS London" and "Peggy is THE best character in the history of television") is enough to make me vomit.

Pauline's exit was a disgrace. Poor Wendy
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Old 23-05-2016, 10:34
davejc64
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None really since they will all be forgotten again until the next 'big' exit happens for them to be compared with again.
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Old 23-05-2016, 11:15
Zeus89
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None really since they will all be forgotten again until the next 'big' exit happens for them to be compared with again.
Pats exit will never be forgotten
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Old 23-05-2016, 11:21
Keyser_Soze1
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Though I strongly disagreed with the decision to kill her off (and still do) Pat's exit was the best of the three. Her final episode was fantastic.

Peggy was arguably given a bigger send-off than the character deserved. After all, Peggy's exit was in 2010 and bar the odd guest appearance she hasn't been a character in the show since then. This storyline was about Barbara Windsor and Dominic Treadwell Collins' departure from the show. And the fawning we've seen in recent weeks (DTC saying "Barbara Windsor IS London" and "Peggy is THE best character in the history of television") is enough to make me vomit.

Pauline's exit was a disgrace. Poor Wendy
Very well said.

I don't suppose you can even count the final exit for the true Queen of the Vic.

Because Angie was booted off this mortal coil without us even seeing it - there was no need to kill off the character - Anita could always have changed her mind.
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Old 23-05-2016, 11:24
Zeus89
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Very well said.

I don't suppose you can even count the final exit for the true Queen of the Vic.

Because Angie was booted off this mortal coil without us even seeing it - there was no need to kill off the character - Anita could always have changed her mind.
Agreed i would have Angie back anyday, over Peggy.
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