Axe axe axe axe axe.

You can axe characters, but do you have to announce every single one? Can't any be kept secret? Can't any wait a few months?

I feel in situations like this its a narcissistic producer who simply wants to make a name for himself rather than not interrupt the natural flow of a story.

Because there is little in the way of storylines being announced, I feel we are about to get another Derek Branning and Moon Brothers who will be shoehorned into literally EVERYTHING.

Anyone else worried?

Apparently Matthew Robinson was his mentor so no I'm not worried. I think SOC might be the best EP that EastEnders have had for over a decade. He has started out by clearing out characters he feels unable to produce for. I'm sure soon we will start hearing about new additions. My feeling is that SOC has his own family in mind.

Agree. His axings have been well-judged so far. He is writing out characters that have either long passed their sell-by date (Ronnie, Roxy, Masood) or have been undeveloped and left on the scrap heap by DTC.

I'm reserving judgement on Sean O'Connor until we see his first castings and some of his storylines on screen. But so far I have a good feeling about him.

This, its far better he gets rid of the characters he doesn't want otherwise we will just have them sitting around being wasted on filler shite.

I think he knows exactly what he is doing. Time is patience.

As contracts come to an end they are not renewed and I imagine secrecy is impossible. The only ones that leaked too early were Ronnie and Roxy which was a shame.

I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic. We know Max is on his way back and that should cause some excitement. I'll judge him on the quality of Max's revenge.

I doubt Max's revenge will be anything ott. SOC has said in the past he doesn't believe in sensationalism. So if DTC was going to have Mad Max coming back in a blaze of glory its possible SOC has had the whole thing changed.

I will Judge once he has Storylines airing.

I'm all for intelligent revenge. The days of overt thuggish violence should be left in the past IMO.

I would like max to come back and ensure everyone on the square knows who set him up enabling the departure of Jane and ensuring that ian gets shunned for a while although I know that can't be forever.

I would also like to see max get his life/job back

Who's next for the chop?

Phil, Sharon, Ian, Dot, Stacey, Shirley, Linda or Mick? Hopefully he is brave enough to get rid of walking dead woman Kathy.

Kirkwood introduced only two decent characters in my opinion- Cora and Michael.

O'Connor has recently joined EastEnders as executive-producer and I emphasise with some of the fans' anger that he has swung the axe of several characters. I disagree with his decision to get rid of Pam and Les but I get why he decided not to renew the actors' contract because I'm not sure what else can be done with them post Paul's funeral/Pam's acceptance of Christine.

I have seen some raving reviews of The Archers recently and many were pleased about the outcome of Helen's trial. I don't listen to The Archers but I heard many were invested in the Helen/Rob storyline and there was a lot of backlash when Rob always got the upper hand. It was trending on twitter and it was all over the newspapers. O'Connor received a lot of praise for his work in The Archers so I'm feeling very optimistic about the future of EastEnders.

I read an article from Shona McGarty and she feels confident about O'Connor's era in EastEnders. In her own words, she proclaims "we've got a new producer and he's lovely. I think he's going to be really brilliant. Sometimes you have to get rid of good characters to make great storylines. Jobs come and go and I'm just really happy I've been there so long".

Source: https://www.list.co.uk/article/84484...ve-eastenders/

This.

Something a la Matthew Rose's revenge on Steve Owen would be great.

I'd like to think he's spent the last few months plotting his revenge. Maybe he's been staying with Susie...she was a scheming minx and could give him some ideas.

Max's 'revenge' may not go ahead. I think the Beales and Mitchells will get away with it 😠

Yes, Whitney is staying for now

I'm disappointed with the characters who have been axed, but not going to judge the producer just yet. I have enjoyed the show more recently than I did back in January though

I'm not worried at all.

just see n on twitter that a writer has been axed as it is her last episode tonight so he is clearing out backstage and front.

that is good on with the job there is no room for sentiment.

some of these actors have just not had their contracts renewed. that has happened because they haven't performed well enough for him to be sure he wants to take them forward for a whole year. sensible decision

I won't be happy till I see the carters culled and the return of Kim Medcalf

He's very like Kirkwood.

Good luck.