Michelle's back, but each time I see her I think who is that?

I appreciate that Susan Tully no longer acts, spending her days directing. However, surely the EE casting director(s) could have at least made some effort to find an actress in her late forties who looks just a little bit like Susan Tully? The current incarnation looks absolutely nothing like the character would have turned out after all this time. I just can't buy into her.

I think Sally Rogers would have been a good fit on looks, she's early fifties but looks like an older version of Sue's Michelle. I will give Jenna a good go though as she is a class actress

I stopped reading at 'not coping'.

As I had never seen Michelle before I thought at first it was an older Vicki - I think I have seen pictures of the old Michelle though round the time she had the affair with Den so I agree about preferring the old Michelle.

Susan Tully and Jenna Russell are exactly the same age (to the month) and same height..they even have the same big eyes and blonde bob. Jenna has stronger bone structure and seems to be less Cockney but they've tried their best.


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To be fair, I have never known a recast to go on looks before (anyone familiar with H&A's Hayley can sympathise with this) At the end of the day, they need to go on the replacements acting ability and not looks

When I look at her all I see is Rodney from Only Fools And Horses.

Do you need therapy?

I don't mind her so far.

Now you mention it, I can see a resemblance!

[quote=Zarla;85019797]Susan Tully and Jenna Russell are exactly the same age (to the month) and same height..they even have the same big eyes and blonde bob. Jenna has stronger bone structure and seems to be less Cockney but they've tried their best.

She was born in Paddington but grew up in Dundee

So what the hell are you doing here?


Ha - ha! Yeah, a little bit!


The OP or the last poster? To avoid confusion in future, you need to click the 'Quote' button before replying!

I think its going to take time for her to settle in

She's fine. She has captured the body language and mannerisms very well that Susan's Michelle had.

If Lyndsey Coulsen wasn't already in it she would have been a good choice I think

How can you prefer the old Michelle when you'd never seen her in the show? She was horrible - self centred, frumpy, miserable and disaster prone. Sue Tully made her into a memorable character but she was far from nice. This new one just needs time - she has a similar frumpy style although she seems more posh than old Chelle. It's been over 20 years though and folk change. Accents definitely do.

Give the new Michelle a chance. She hasn't had her chance to shine yet.

I don't get what the point of her is. She seems to have so little reason to be there. I know there's a reveal to happen but at the moment it seems as if what went first was the desire to bring the character back and the reason came as the afterthought.

A bit like Kathy, really.

Same here. I don't think she's that far off in looks from Susan Tully, and it's also been 20 years since we last saw Michelle. I think a lot of thought went into casting a good replacement and in that vein, it's been a good thing so far.

I will say that whatever secret Michelle is keeping had better be good. Why? Well, because so many other, bigger events have kept her away from the Square until now, so her return *should* mean something huge. Let's just hope that's the case, or her long absence will be incredibly difficult to explain away. Unless of course the show goes the route of saying that Michelle was around in the Square every now and then and we just didn't see her.

My fiancee keeps saying he can't relate to her as Michelle, because her voice is too high lol

Sue Tully had a lower voice with a bit of a cutting edge to it.

I reckon Jenna just needs a bit more time.
When see more of her, I reckon she will do what James Bye did with Martin. She will just be Michelle.

I think she is fine, she looks like what I imagine 20 plus years would have done to Michelle.
Give her a chance.

I only started watching EE in 1996 so I missed Michelle's original run. Not emotionally invested in the character as it is. For me, I suppose Jenna Russell is fine as long as the writing is good.

Read the interview posted on the DS main page. She seems to know a few of the cast members from her past. Letitia Dean, Adam Woodyatt, Diane Parish and Samantha Womack (though she's now gone).

They should bring back Vicky as well,Scarlet Johnson is gorgeous

I've just looked her up on Google Images and yes, she is lovely and I do remember the face ... but I can't remember who 'Vicky' was. Enlighten me please!

Michelles daughter