So, from what I'm aware and remember about Lisa, she was very protective about Louise and about keeping her away from Phil, to the extent that she even pretended for a while that Mark was the father. Are we really meant to believe that the Lisa Fowler from 2000s era no longer cares about her daughter and even stayed away when said daughter was hospitalized by drunk Phil??

Sometimes characters personalities change to suit the storyline.

In all fairness, we know nothing about Lisa's relationship with Louise in recent times. More to the point, we don't know how much Lisa has changed in recent times.

It has been fourteen years almost since we properly saw Lisa (discounting her one-episode return in 2010, which suggested she was having a pretty serious breakdown) so I understand the character may have changed, and it would be great to see her back (even for a few episodes). However, I think it's down to the fact Lucy Benjamin won't return - if you haven't got the actress, you can't do it really (cue for recast jokes).

Maybe new-Michelle could also double as new-Lisa?

They could at least mention Lisa! I have found it ridiculous that she would not even come and visit Louise after all that history with Phil. That's down to DTC I know but SOC could at least do something about it instead of the other nonsense we have had to suffer.

I'm quite surprised that Lisa hasn't been back for at least one episode. She returned for a few scenes in 2010, and what with Ryan and a few others popping up for certain storylines, I thought Lucy Benjamin might have nipped back for a few scenes to bridge the gap between 2010 and now.

Lisa would die before letting Phil have Louise. She knows better than anyone what a psycho he is. If, as someone suggested, she'd had a breakdown a SW would have been involved through the mental health services. They wouldn't just let a child wander off like that.

SOC worked at 'Enders when Lisa was there before so I imagine he's got some plans. I hope so!

Especially now that Sharon is good friends with Linda and Jane, she is civil to Kathy and Shirley and her best mate Michelle is back, it would be good to see Sharon's feisty side back by sparring with Lisa. I'm sure the two would clash!

Sharon and Lisa were friends at one time. I'd rather see that again than them clashing.

I've seen enough of Sharon's bitchy side this stint. 2013 it was non-stop.

It was simply unbearable sometimes listening to Phil go on and on last year about not wanting Jay in the house because he had a daughter to protect. Phil was an abusive dad to Ben and royally screwed him up. He contributed to the breakdown of Lisa in Portugal. I just cannot comprehend how they've done a complete u-turn for Lisa regardless of how many years have passed. Lisa (quite like Michelle who's also been mentioned on this thread) fled Walford with good reason - because Grant and Phil are toxic people who aren't fit to be parents. Just look at Courtney throwing away her education and once again falling for Grant's promises to put her - like that's ever going to happen. His words are just that - words. I think we were meant to view that scene and think 'awwwww'' but all I could think 'poor Courtney, falling for his spiel once again'.

I'm hoping that Lucy Benjamin returns briefly this year - if not a recast. Lisa tried to kill Phil in order to escape his hold on her - I can't buy for one second that she would be content with letting Louise live with the man who mentally destroyed her.

This.

We need to at least see some resolution to her and Louise's relationship [that, of course, cements her stay in Walford with Daddy Dearest], because breakdown or not, in the long run I don't think Lisa would let Louise go so easily.

I remember the 2010 episode where Peggy goes to see Lisa with Louise. They talk about Peggy's bruise (Phil hit her) and Lisa shatters Peggy's illusion of Phil, pointing out that Phil hit her several times during their relationship. She brings up the fact that Jamie was like a son to Phil, and still he ended up in hospital after being on the receiving end of one of Phil's attacks. Lisa seems genuinely fearful that Phil could hurt Louise and she's right to. I think Lisa needs to return even if briefly - there needs to be some reason explained for Louise has suddenly forgotten her mum and vice-versa.

It wasn't just in 2001 - 2002 when Lisa was very protective of Louise. She also returned in 2003 for the latter half of the year and I seem to remember she became almost suicidal because Phil wouldn't give Louise back to her or let her see her, so Den and Dennis got Phil involved in a robbery and set him up so Lisa got Louise back and Phil went to prison. I hope Lisa makes a return soon.

This scene took place in 2001, and everything Lisa has to say about Phil is spot on.

I'm hoping 2017 brings real character development for Phil, because it's a bit disturbing that a description of phil mitchell's toxic personality from 2001 still applies in 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZycIoqiLVSI

Maybe their relationship became strained? Maybe Lisa was so over protective, Louise got fed up? Louise does seem to be a bit of a daddy's girl and right now, she seems to get away with so much and run rings round people.

Wasn't there some mention of Lisa having remarried since she left the Square and Lou not getting along with her step dad?

If so, isn't it possible that she's picked another wrong'un? It wouldn't be a big stretch to imagine Lisa getting taken in by someone crazy-attentive and before she knows it, she's in a borderline emotionally abusive relationship with someone controlling (think how Archie used to control Peggy and how she started to change). Louise is savvy enough to realise what's happening and it would cause a rift between Lisa and Louise. The step dad encourages Lisa to see Lou as ungrateful and a stroppy teen, and "maybe if she sees Phil's as bad as you say she'll come back and be better behaved....."

I'm still hoping we get a Lisa return, the one she did at Phil and Kate's wedding party in 2003 was great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JfCEmrsRZE

What a ridiculous idea.

Everyone knows that Sam Womack is coming back as Lisa and Rita Simons is going to be NuZoe.

Lisa should be recast immediately. I think Ellen Thomas would be great in the role

She is just another character destroyed at the altar of the Philth because TPTB do not care about anyone or any credible storyline as long as he gets all of the drama, the duff duffs and remains omniscient, omnipotent and immortal.

It's nothing new.

Forget about all the tough male villains/hardmen/killers being preposterously weakened before His Mighty Wrath - just look what happens to any previously strong female who comes within his malign sphere of influence.

Exhibit A.

Ma Doormat simpering that she was 'nothing without him'.

Pathetic.

I do have to say that the wY Louise came back in is very jarring. It's not even throwing a character under a bus re us being told Lisa hS thrown Louise out or similar. We just haven't been told anything about Lisa unless I've missed something. Lou just showed up one day a few weeks after Phil showed up at her school, nearly died and stayed with no mention of Lisa or Social Services.

The Lisa we knew would never have let Louise go to anybody, least of all Phil. Unless she was mentally incapable. But as said, that would have involved Social Services and Court Orders to reassign parental responsibility. None of which happened.

But then this was DTC who thought the other devoted mother, Kathy, would have let her children, including a 10 year old, sensitive, partially disabled child, believe she had died for an insurance fraud. And allowed it to continue for nearly 10 years despite knowing what they'd gone through re gping to prison, killing people, having their children murdered.

Agree entirely. I'd thought that SOC was good at detail and tying up such anomolies but he hasn't touched this. We've had the Donna rent line that hasn't gone anywhere, Jay stealing the money from the funeral parlour which has been forgotten, Peter, Lauren and Steven's background in NZ which has been back-burnered for months and the issue with Jay staying at Phil's which blew up before Christmas, yet three weeks on he's still there and it's not been revisited.

I think even if it was just a mention, a mental health storyline with Lisa sectioned within a mental health unit would be one of the only plausible reasons that she would not be in Louise's life.