EastEnders: the SPOILERS thread!

[Southeastdweller]

Welcome to the EastEnders spoilers thread, where we post and talk about any EE spoilers we've read about, including those in early release episodes on iPlayer.

Link below to watch episodes on BBC iPlayer - these are usually dropped at 6am on broadcast days - and you can read brief synopses of upcoming episodes:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d

Not bothered about a Zoe return. Funny how they managed to keep Nigel and Angie secret, two much more important characters so they can do it.

Do we know it’s Zoe coming back? Could it be Max or Shirley?

It’s not been confirmed. I’d forgotten about Shirl and the shoe heel taps that we hear in the teaser clip I posted the other day mean it’s probably a woman who returns. I don’t think there’d be this hype for Shirley.

I can see there being hype for Shirley, in the sense it would be totally unexpected, but I can't see where she would fit in nowadays especially as Linda is leaving the Vic. It is well known Max is returning, and he wouldn't fit into this week's storylines which seem to be focussed on Kat and Alfie.

Maybe Max might return in order to beat up Peter.
Or at least have a ‘ chat’ about his attitude towards Lauren and Jimmy ! I don’t think it was him we heard in heels though to be fair.

Shirley used to occasionally wear high heeled boots , but I was also thinking Chrissie watts too ? She liked a heel as did Tanya ! It’ll probably be someone we haven’t thought of ..

I am really hoping it is someone we haven't thought of! If it's Zoe it'll be disappointing now 😆

I think the problem is that they have made a big deal out of it. This doesn't work well when they have released details of the returning characters for this year. Obviously this could be wrong and it could be someone that hasn't been leaked.
If it is Zoe, they should have stayed quiet. They could have left people guessing as to why the iplayer was delayed and there was no need for the video.

I'm going to be disappointed but unsurprised if it's one of the people listed above. The only person I would be shocked to return is Michelle Fowler, but played by Sue Tully, the original Michelle. The recasting in 2016 was a notorious blunder by Sean "let's put out regular PSA's" O'Connor. But she's a successful TV director now so it's unlikely. I still think it's Zoe or (as a distant second) Tanya. But probably Zoe.

I share the same low opinion of Sean O'Connor, the worst director in EE history. Thank god he was 'asked to leave' early, before he could do any more damage.

I think they could recast Michelle but they would have to do a much better job than last time.

I don't think Zoe is that big a character to warrant such an anticipated return, her storyline was more about Kat than her. Even her sleeping with Den was more about Sharon and Dennis.

She's no Cindy, no Den, no Angie. Shoehorning her into a current storyline for the sake of it when she hasn't been missed in 20 years seems desperate to me.

I'd rather see Janine, or Mick back.

Tanya and Max need to come back for Lauren's sake, someone to fight her corner against the Beales.

Janine or Shirl - both amazing characters but they have limited context as neither have faaamly or anything left in the square.

Who is Stacey with ??

I’ve not watched it since the live one, but might it be Cherry?

You mean Hayley?

I think I do, yes! Someone’s cousin, and had a daughter with Alfie?

was that the same actress?

I think so! Looks very different

Yes it was

Did like that after weeks of is it Max or Zoe that’s coming back they nearly cheated us with Hayley. Can tell the CC era is over as if it was still him it would have been Hayley

Yes I went back to check on the credits. How long has she been away from the square? 15 years? More?

It was Zoe wasn’t it?

It's been 20 years since she left. Michelle Ryan is now 41.

I thought that was Lily! I’d never have recognised her as the same actress that originally played Zoe.

I actually liked that episode. I liked the hints it was going to be Hayley, which left me with such dread I was glad to see Zoe😆

Lovely surprise to see Stacey, I hope we see a bit more of her. But why did Stacey call Alfie rather than Kat? That did not make sense. I had no idea of what Zoe would look like nowadays. She’s 40 and behaving apparently like a 20 year old. She’s obviously not going to be buying the Vic for Kat!

I also liked the scene with Phil and George. Some nice writing.

I could have completely done without Jean and Harvey (but lovely comment from Phil that George reminds him of Jean.)

Phil is brilliant lately isn’t he! I’ve always been a fan of him and his safe , even when he is being gangster Phil!