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.

Very true. dindong, mary , lofty, Arthur etc i dont think i have seen them in anything elsr evem Nick Berry he did Heart beat and tjat Harbour thing i cant remember anything else?

Arthur has retired, Mary works in mass media or something. Didn't Lofty have his own radio show? Can you tell I've been googling? How sad am I?

And Anita Dobson went on to marry the greatest guitarist ever and is hopefully living happily ever after .

The greatest guitarists ever PhD

Brian May, CBE, PhD, FRAS is a founding member of Queen, a world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer, also a Doctor of Astrophysics, 3-D stereoscopic photographic authority and a passionate advocate and campaigner for animal rights

My DS is learning to play the guitar and doing a Degree . I tell him he needs to follow in the footsteps of Mr May. (He could also follow Professor Brian Cox but I prefer my line of thought)

Though DS isn't studying the same subjects, doesn't really care much about animals and won't be marrying Anita Dobson .

Does he have big permed hair though 70?

no he doesn't and he won't wear clogs either (where am I going wrong ? )

And my DS drinks Kopperberg not Guinness (I know rather too much about Brian May, long term fan of Queen)

@dingdongdigeridoo Anita Dobson played a dominatrix in an early episode of New Tricks.

i'm currently obsessed with this - i haven't watched eastenders for about 10 years. I can't believe how sexist some of the male characters are, you'd never get away with that now.

@cleanupinaisle7 My jaw hit the floor at the conversation between Ali and Mehmet in the cafe.

I was thinking of all the characters still to come in Eastenders, while the scene in the cafe on tonight's episode. Which made me think of Frankie Pierre singing in the cafe. Who was of course played by Syan Blake. Just such an appalling thing to think for her life.

Also, didn't Mary look young without her make up?

I can definitely see Anita as a dominatrix! There’s an early EE scene where she’s wearing a floor length PVC coat to walk the dog, which I thought looked rather kinky.

Mary as a stripper is a ridiculous story. I can’t imagine there was much demand for alternative looking strippers in the 80s. And why were they dancing to The Stripper and taking off long gloves? It’s not the 50s! It was terrible how people on the square were so judgy about her job.

This is the New Tricks episode Anita was in It gets repeated on Drama a lot.

1 "A Delicate Touch"[25] Jon East Roy Mitchell 9 May 2005 7.86
The UCOS team have a new boss, DAC Robert Strickland, who ask them to investigate the death of a famous barrister found trussed up in his car 20 years earlier. A now retired and much respected detective famous for always getting his man didn't get a result, so can the team succeed where he failed? Pullman digs for dirt and discovers from an old call girl that the barrister had very odd sexual penchant. Meanwhile, Gerry and Brian clash when they suspect the members of UCOS are paid by how superior their ranks within the force are.

Ahh! Wilmot-Brown!

Can anyone remember who were real life couples in early Eastenders? I know Ali & Mary were and Andy & Debbie but I forget who else. Some unlikely people if I remember correctly.

Roly and Willy?

According to Wiki Lofty and Angie dated in RL

Now they'd have interesting puppies. Apricot pugs?

Lofty and Angie? Hmm. I think there was a younger man older woman couple but I don't think it was them.

Roly and Willy the puppies btw. 

Assuming the dog actors were not both boys for puppies.

Sadly both boy dogs so no puppies. 😔 According to wiki they shared a dressing room and Willy was going to be called Philip.

Yes I'm aware I'm talking to myself here.

Don’t worry. I like the Willy trivia! I’ve noticed that Willy looks a lot different from today’s pugs. His face isn’t as flat and eyes aren’t as big. It’s weird how a breed can change so much in 30 years.

You don’t see many poodles around anymore. I remember when they were the cool dog to have. My neighbour had three giant poodles that I called Roly. Yes, they were all called Roly in my mind.

Aww! I'm really hoping to get a pure breed poodle at some point. There are lots of cross breeds which are also cute but...