List of EastEnders television spin-offs
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This is a list of EastEnders spin-offs that have aired over the years.
Contents |
[edit] Spin-off episodes of EastEnders
[edit] Civvy Street
This episode first aired on 22 December 1988 and was set during the second World War in the period between 1939 to 1945. The episode was written and directed by the creators of EastEnders, Tony Holland and Julia Smith. It looked back at the early life of the residents of Albert Square and featured a young Lou Beale, Ethel Skinner and Reg Cox, who was a minor character found dead in the first ever episode of EastEnders in 1985. Holland was most upset to discover that Dot Cotton had been too young during the war to be featured as a useful character and also complained that the major events of the war occurred in the wrong order for effective drama.[1] Lou and Albert Beale were celebrating their marriage in Walford, and planning their happy life together when war was declared. Albert was conscripted into the army, leaving Lou and her three children, Kenny, Harry and Ronnie, behind. Lou's family rallied around including her mother, sister Flo and she also had a gang of friends including young Ethel, dodgy Reg and pub landlords Ray and Lil to keep her company. Lou worried that Albert would not return from war intact, and the episode saw her propositioned by another man in his absence, but she managed to stay faithful and she and Albert were reunited. Ethel's parents were killed by an enemy bomb while she was sheltering with Lou in Walford East tube station. Ethel was also torn between the amorous advances of a GI and her admirer William Skinner.
[edit] The Return of Nick Cotton
This episode first aired on 1 October 2000 and was a lead-up to the return of Nick Cotton as a regular character later that year. It showed Nick coming out of prison and meeting up with his son Ashley and ex-wife Zoe after two years. He then took Ashley with him as they travelled around before their return to Walford. It also featured a ghostly appearance by Nick's father Charlie who was trying to warn Nick about something terrible that is about to happen to him. Ethel Skinner's nephew, Eddie also appeared in this episode.
[edit] Ricky and Bianca
This two-part episode aired on May 13 and May 20, 2002 and was a lead-up to Ricky Butcher's return later that year as a regular character. He reunited with his ex-wife Bianca Jackson and son Liam in Manchester. Bianca had been in Manchester doing an arts degree and was struggling to look after Liam.
Ricky discovered she had been working in a nightclub and had stolen money from the club manager's office. Ricky ended up getting caught in the middle of all of this along with his new girlfriend Cassie. After he got Bianca out of trouble, they had a one-night stand. However, Bianca didn't want to get back together with Ricky. She left Liam with Ricky, as she felt he would care for him better than she did.
[edit] Dot's Story
This episode first aired on 2 January 2003 and followed Dot Branning to Wales to visit the family she stayed with during World War II. Through a series of flashbacks, we see Dot being evacuated, and her experiences of evacuation.
[edit] Perfectly Frank
This episode aired on 13 September 2003 and followed Frank Butcher as he set up a seedy nightclub in Somerset after returning from Spain where he was seen in 2002. When Frank is sent a car to valet by the local gangster named Reg Priest, his assistant finds a dead body in the loot. Frank and his club staff try to find a way to avoid the police asking questions and fall foul of Reg.
[edit] Pat and Mo: Ashes to Ashes
This episode first aired on 1 April 2004 and revealed what caused the feud between Pat Evans and Mo Harris that still lasts to this day. Pat and Mo meet at the grave of Pat's brother and Mo's husband, Jimmy, and reminice about old times through a series of flashbacks. Mo's brother, Stan Porter also appeared in the episode.
[edit] Other spin-offs
[edit] Dimensions in Time
Dimensions in Time was a charity special crossover between EastEnders and the science fiction television series Doctor Who that ran in two parts on 26 and 27 November 1993. It was filmed on the EastEnders set, and featured several of the stars of the programme at the time. It was made in aid of the charity Children in Need.
[edit] EastEnders Revealed
EastEnders Revealed is a factual entertainment programme that looks back at the storylines, characters and stars of EastEnders.
[edit] EastEnders: The Whole Truth
EastEnders: The Whole Truth was a series of five documentary episodes, three pre-recorded and two live, broadcast every day from 2 April-6 April 2001, presented by Gaby Roslin. The first three, pre-recorded episodes were broadcast at at 12:00pm, whereas the two live episodes were broadcast before the main EastEnders shows on those days. EastEnders: The Whole Truth examined the Who Shot Phil? storyline, including interviews with Adam Woodyatt, Barbara Windsor, Perry Fenwick, Tamsin Outhwaite, Craig Fairbrass, Todd Carty, Natalie Cassidy, Shaun Williamson, Lucy Benjamin, Jack Ryder, Martin Kemp and Hannah Waterman. Episode 5 was broadcast before the assailant, Lisa Fowler, was revealed to the public, and episode 6 gauged the reaction the following evening.
[edit] EastEnders Xtra
EastEnders Xtra was a magazine programme about EastEnders, presented by Angellica Bell.
[edit] EastEnders Unveiled: A Weddings Special
A behind-the-scenes programme was broadcast on 1 December 2006. EastEnders Unveiled: A Weddings Special gave viewers an insight into how the show's weddings are produced, and took a look at some of the famous weddings that have taken place over the years. It was narrated by Kara Tointon, who plays Dawn Swann, and included interviews with Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell), James Alexandrou (Martin Fowler) and Ricky Groves (Garry Hobbs). It was aired on BBC Three at 8.30 p.m. on 1 December, straight after the wedding of Ian Beale and Jane Collins aired on BBC One.[2]
[edit] EastEnders Sweethearts: The Story of Martin and Sonia
EastEnders Sweethearts: The Story of Martin and Sonia was aired on BBC Three on 2 February 2007, immediately after the departure of Martin Fowler (played by James Alexandrou) and Sonia Fowler (played by Natalie Cassidy). The programme looked at the dramatic storylines from the pasts of the two characters. It was narrated by Phil Daniels (Kevin Wicks) and featured interviews from past and present cast members including Wendy Richard (Pauline Fowler), June Brown (Dot Branning), John Bardon (Jim Branning), Todd Carty (Mark Fowler), Petra Letang (Naomi Julien) and Joe Swash (Mickey Miller).
[edit] EastEnders Scandals: The Wicks Family
EastEnders Scandals: The Wicks Family was broadcast on 8 March 2007, and coincided with Kevin Wicks's return to Walford. It contained interviews with Matt Di Angelo (Deano Wicks), Kellie Shirley (Carly Wicks), Phil Daniels (Kevin Wicks), Pam St. Clement (Pat Evans), Diane Parish (Denise Fox), Linda Henry (Shirley Carter), Jacqueline Leonard (Lorraine Wicks) Tina Baker and Tony Jordan. It was narrated by Michelle Collins (Cindy Beale)[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Brake, Colin (1995). EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-37057-2.
- ^ "Behind-the-scenes special for 'Enders wedding", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2006-11-10
- ^ "EastEnders special", bbc.co.uk. URL last accessed 2007-02-16
[edit] External links
- EastEnders: Civvy Street at the Internet Movie Database
- EastEnders: The Return of Nick Cotton at the Internet Movie Database
- EastEnders: Ricky and Bianca at the Internet Movie Database
- EastEnders: Perfectly Frank at the Internet Movie Database
- EastEnders: Dot's Story at the Internet Movie Database
- Pat and Mo: Ashes to Ashes at the Internet Movie Database
