EastEnders quite often has a leading family, the Brannings, Mitchells and Carters have been quite prominent some years.

I'm wondering if 2017 is going to be a year for the Beales. The last week has seen Kathy return to a Beale and put back in charge of the Cafe. Martin and Stacey haven't had a big story in awhile but there was a scene a few weeks back about them enjoying the quiet stint they had been having. Max's return should at least give them a storyline for the first few months of 2017. Plus we also have the mystery woman in the Beales house.

I really hope we do see more of them as a family unit, especially the likes of Steven and Martin.

I do hope so, but I suspect with scummy Max returning we are about to get 3 months of Max Branning gurning all over the place

He'll probably swindle one of their businesses from them, that happens quite a bit in AS.

I hope not. I don't really want to see one big family dominate. I'd prefer them to share the stories out among different family units.

Wasn't 2014/15 quite Beale dominant?

I wouldn't be against this. I think the new Fowler family is a great unit but I think the Beales have had a very busy time of it since 2014 so I imagine they'll continue to be supporting players next year.

I imagine we'll be seeing a lot of the Carters and Brannings early on in 2017 with a dose of Mitchell's thrown in for good measure. The Fowlers could come to the forefront over the Summer?

With Michelle & Mark returning along with Peter it's going to be quite a year.

Well, SUC is bringing the show back to the 80s.

Aren't their returns just speculation at present?

Well someone saw Susan Tully at Elstree with a folder under her arm so she's obviously returning

Sally Sagoe was also seen there.

I'm getting bored of the folder under the arm comments, it's no longer funny.

I'm all for the Fowlers being more dominant but I'm hoping that they feature Denise & co quite a bit.

Looking forward to it as opppsed to creeping increased exposure of the distastefully dysfunctional and criminal Beales.

Well Denise is involved in a big sl at the mo so hopefully that will continue.

Why would someone who was part of the insignificant Carpenters return to the show unless Kelvin came back?

Me too. The least they could do is compensate him.

I am happy to see this. I also had an inkling about this with Kathy's recent name change. Also, it looks as if Ben will try to de-Mitchell himself for a while now. However, as others say, we'll no doubt get a whole lot of Branning/Mitchell drama upon Max's return and R&R's deaths.

Max doesn't gurn

Really hope so would be great

I suppose at least you will be chirpy now the sex pest has returned

I think SOC got the pacing for most of the families/characters right, I don't think anyone will be overly dominate this time.

It's one of the things I do actually like about SOC. I think he's trying to get EastEnders back to feeling liking an ensemble without obvious favouritism and with storylines spread out. I'd hate to lose that no matter which family it would be dominating.

10 years ago we lost the Fowlers for a long time so I would be very happy to see them as a leading family again.

Also if Michelle does come back I hope it means a permanent Mark return.

Sally Sagoe is definitely not returning!