Eastenders makes me feel a bit awkward now..

[wheresclaire]

Its the whole Jim thing. We know he had a stroke in real life and Im just not 100% sure that he is acting. Do you know what I mean?

[Febes]

I know . Poor Jim.

[MamazontheDailyMailtakingadump]

i think that his family and friends will be making sure he doesn't do anything he isn't comfortable with.

[BunnyLebowski]

God it just doesn't sit right with me at all either. Turned it off the other night when I saw him....the poor man

[EccentricaGallumbits]

so anyone who doesn't appear 'normal' shouldn't be on TV? Unless it is someone 'normal' but only acting? Like Billy and Honey's child with Downs?

[HolyGuacamole]

I think it is good to see a real life situation like that on tv. I thought it was really nice to see him back, poor man - best wishes to him.

[BunnyLebowski]

Jeesh Eccentrica calm the bap!

The poor man has had a stroke and has deteriorated quite badly. It seems slightly exploitative to me that he's back on telly 4 nights a week.

Soaps do not want to raise awareness and show real life situations. They want to shock and get ratings - that's it.And to that end it seems voyeuristic to me to see him like that.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I always well up when he is on screen.

I am sure that he is being well looked after and there is no way he wouldn't be on if his family didn't support him. I am certain that June Brown will be looking after him too.

[purepurple]

ffs, he's hardly a performing seal is he?

[EyeballsintheSky]

Why is it exploitative? He may have had a stroke but I imagine he is in full possession of his wits and wouldn't be doing it if he didn't want to. Actors are a funny breed, remember. It's in their blood so they say and they don't tend to retire. He's probably glad to be back to as normal as he can be.

[colditz]

he's had a stroke, not a brain translant. People who have had strokes usually remain entirely 'with it' -how frustrating and unfair to have to leave a job you love because people don't want to look at you!

[HolyGuacamole]

Obviously we know that tv shows want ratings.

However, I am absolutely certain that if any of the other actors on the show or his family, or his doctor thought that he was being exploited, that they would not partake in supporting him being back on the programme.

If he can live as normal a life as possible and continue to do what he loves (ie, acting) then good luck to him is what I say.

[purepurple]

what about that Stephen Hawkin bloke then?
they made him go to uni, write books and do adverts too
talk about exploitation

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

Haven't seen it but surely it's up to him to decide.

[5inthebed]

I read somewhere a few months ago that he was having to return to the show as he was near broke. BBC only pay SSP, which is probably a big drop from his acting wages. Seems very sad to me that he is having to do it really. Off to google to make sure I read it correctly.

[BunnyLebowski]

Colditz and purepurple - That's not what I'm saying at all. Maybe I'm not articulating it correctly but I do not feel like he shouldn't be seen on telly. That's ridiculous.

And I know he's there of his own free will.

It just saddens me to see how he's deteriorated and I find it quite emotionally hard to watch.

I wasn't and am not saying anything derogatory towards him.

[colditz]

I see, sorry I misread your 'tone'

[purepurple]

It is hard watching people deteriorate, of course it is.
I get what you are saying.

[BunnyLebowski]

S'ok

I don't want to be caught up in a bunfight especially when my point of view has been misconstrued.

My Grandad had a stroke a month after retiring to spend time with us, his grandkids. It destroyed him and he died a year later. I'll never forget how it affected him

Not a subject I would be flippant or nasty about.....at all.

[purepurple]

I thought that you might have had personal experience, but didn't want to ask.
Sorry to hear about your Grandad

[violethill]

Why is it different from any other job where someone has suffered an illness or accident which may have left them with some impairment?

What makes me feel uneasy is not that 'Jim' is back, it's the fact that some people are obviously uneasy with the idea of anyone who isn't totally 'normal' (whatever that means) being employed.

I personally know of two people who have returned to work this year, one after an operation on a brain tumour and one after a car accident. Both have been left with some degree of disability, but if they'd been told 'Sorry, love, you can't have your job back' they'd have been outraged.

As long as he's able to carry out the job, what's the problem