Classic Eastenders on the Drama channel

[dingdongdigeridoo]

So, classic Eastenders starts airing on the UKTV Drama channel from tomorrow! Two episodes from noon, and they’ll also be on UKTV catchup.

Use this thread to talk about Den, Angie, Arthur, poodle perms, poor fashion choices and Ethel’s Willy.

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That's what I remember, Michelle getting pregnant with Lofty's baby, having an abortion, Lofty being totally heartbroken, and that being the beginning of the end of their marriage.

What on earth does Colin see in Barry? He's like a spoilt, hyperactive child!

I’ve never seen the entirety of the Den and Angie divorce episode. It made me miss slightly rubbish 80s christmases. Pauline has the worst decorated tree I’ve ever seen! Although I feel bloody sorry for her in these episodes. It’s bad that the writers turned her into a villain in her final years.

Bill Treacher has been very good. They tried to do a male depression story a couple of years ago on EE and it was bloody awful. Bill nails a kind of quiet rage.

Bill is a brilliant actor. I don't understand why he hasn't been in much else over the years. What a waste of a great talent.

I think Bill is a true method actor and totally embodied Arthur Fowler. He said it made him depressed in real life and was glad when he stopped playing him. I hope he wasnt type cast as that would have been totally unfair. I think Wendy was brilliant as Pauline too. I feel so sorry for her. I think the storyline of Arthur's breakdown was so well done. It happened slowly over a long period of time and it's been interesting watching the signs starting off subtle then getting stronger. These days things like that happen in soaps over just a few episodes and are unrealistic.

Is anyone still watching? It all seems very drab without Angie. Presume Anita Dobson has a busy 86/87 panto season!!

I’m still watching. It’s a good background/insomnia show. I guess Pat is the replacement for Angie as she seems to be getting plenty of drama. It’s quite bleak at the moment though.

I wish they’d get rid of Niamh. She’s the worst bloody actor I’ve ever seen. She only has one emotion, anger, and is stuck on it no matter what the storyline!

I’m still watching, got a few episodes to catch up on though. I think I’m about 5 behind at the moment.
I agree, I wish they’d get rid of her too!

I’m still watching, for reasons of pure nostalgia. It’s amazing how much of the plotline is taken up with the characters rushing from pub to café to launderette to shop to houses, simply trying to find where someone else is!

The storylines do seem really fast-paced, but I think that’s because two episodes a day now equate to the two a week that were broadcast in 1986, so watching a whole week’s worth in one sitting (which I sometimes treat myself to) is the equivalent of the original’s five weeks. Co-incidentally, some Top of the Pops episodes from 1986 are currently on BBC4 TOTP2, and the same tracks heard in the Queen Vic are on there!

Why does Colin put up with Barry, who steals from him, spends his money and is always really mean and nasty to him? Good to see Colin giving Nick Cotton what he deserves though.

Thank god Arthur’s back, albeit not quite back to his normal self.

Liked seeing Jan struggling with life at the pub! And is this also the beginning of the romance between Sharon & Wicksy? I remember they went away to a hotel for a dirty weekend and she bottled out of sleeping with him.

I reckon Den would probably have ended up back with Angie in real life

I'm still watching! I love it, it's fascinating seeing it as an adult. I was 19 when these episodes were on before.

Definitely think that it really suffers from Den and Angie splitting up for quite a while.

I think, with some honourable exceptions, the acting across the board (minor characters especially) was worse then, but the writing better; compared to current EE.

Also, the doof doofs weren't a big deal then.

The little girl that played Annie seems quite distressed in some of the shouty scenes.

I know! Poor Annie. Did anyone see the scene where she'd been left on her own? She was standing in the cot crying her eyes out - even the set must have been really scary

Yes I saw that and I agree. There was another scene where Mary was shouting at someone (I think it may have been Carmel) and the little girl started crying and saying 'I want Mummy' Must have been quite frightening for such a young child to appear in scenes like that. I believe Annie was replaced with another actress around the age of 2 so maybe her mother pulled her out.

Waiting to see how Kathy and Sharon are with each other now because they seemed to get on well then but I can’t really remember them talking in current Eastenders.

Yeah well Sharon slept with Phil when he was engaged to Kathy so don’t think they’re too friendly now! Had forgotten Angie and Kathy were such good mates too.

Pete in drag was a disturbing sight!

The whole storyline with women being beaten is very odd. I can’t remember who the culprit actually was. To be honest, it would have been an interesting twist if it was Pete or one of the men on the square. People seem to be fine with him hitting his ex-wife anyway.

Yes I felt really sorry for poor little"Annie" by contrast "Martin " always seems to be sucking on an empty bottle

That was pretty horrible with Dot being scared of catching aids from Colin and Barry. Glad other people were more sensible!

It didn't surprise me though , I remember the hysteria and my mum wouldn't take communion wine just in case

The scare stories put around about aids, fuelled by the tabloids, was terrible!

The upcoming Mark storyline was groundbreaking on such a highly rated show.

These repeats are a fascinating reminder of social change over the last 30 years.

Just watching today's episodes on catch up and I notice the small number of extras compared to 2019 EE.

PS I remember Mary scowling and shouting the whole time. Must have been exhausting to play.

PPS the new DS Terry Rich is a bit confusing

Angie's hair is at full Brian May today.

Oh whoops I confused Terry Rich with Roy Quick!!! Bit similar names, very different looks!