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Post by eithne on Nov 15, 2007 23:11:52 GMT
EastEnders is to pioneer soap's first single-hander episode featuring only Walford legend June Brown.
The special script sees June's character Dot Branning reflecting on her life as she records an audio tape of memories for her beloved husband, Jim (John Bardon).
In the moving 30-minute script written by Tony Jordan, the character speaks about life through the war, those she has lost, those she's loved and how much Jim means to her.
An EastEnders source told Digital Spy: "June is a much-loved actress and a brilliant performer.
"It'll be a treat for EastEnders viewers to watch one of Albert Square's longest-serving and most cared about characters reminisce about her past. It's a sure bet that the names of her husband Charlie and son Nick will crop up!"
They added: "The script is fantastic and we have no doubt June will make it one of the soap's best ever episodes."
EastEnders' first ever double-hander came in October 1986 when Den (Leslie Grantham) revealed to his stunned wife Angie (Anita Dobson) that he was filing for divorce.
Since then, there have been various other uses of the concept, the most notable over the years occurring in July 1987 between Dot and Ethel (played by the late Gretchen Franklin) and in October 2001 when Kat Slater revealed that she was, in fact, Zoe's (Michelle Ryan) mother, and not her sister. This episode drew a massive audience of 16.9 million.
The special Dot single-hander is due to be filmed and broadcast early next year.
Last month, EastEnders won the National Television Award for 'Best Serial Drama'.
Source: Digital Spy
It'll be an amzing feat if she manages to do it. It'll be touch to hold an audiences attention for an entire 30 minutes.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 16, 2007 0:12:02 GMT
EE seems to do them best. Corrie ones (when I watched) aren't quite right and quite padded.
It does look like John Bardon won't be back for the forseeable future then. I think I'll break the habit of a lifetime and tape that one.
Patsy
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Post by jessi on Nov 16, 2007 15:55:02 GMT
If any one can pull it off, June Brown can.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 16, 2007 17:04:23 GMT
Teletext said it will be shown in February.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Nov 16, 2007 21:27:14 GMT
I agree that EE do them best, and its been quite a while since they last did a two-hander.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 16, 2007 21:43:27 GMT
Which was the last? Was it Dot and Ethel?
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Nov 17, 2007 3:20:51 GMT
Its bound to be brilliant, and June Browns tears will probably be for real. I`ll probably need some tissues myself
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 17, 2007 12:41:12 GMT
The Mirror said the door's been left open for John's return but I suppose we'll have to see. I think it's good they're doing this rather than keep making excuses for Jim's absence.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Nov 17, 2007 17:32:00 GMT
I agree. There needs to be some kind of closure there, just in case he doesn't return.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 17, 2007 19:59:10 GMT
I honestly can't see him returning with him being as bad as it appears. I'd love to be proved wrong.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Nov 18, 2007 22:11:48 GMT
^ I'd love you to be proved wrong as well!!!
The last 2 hander was in 2004 between Dot and Den, although there have been a few 3 and 4 handers since that one. EE is usually at its best when it is doing these types of episodes, so this is a good sign.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 18, 2007 22:50:43 GMT
Oh I remember that one. It was in the launderette, wasn't it?
Well they pioneered it and it's good they can still come up trumps when needed.
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Nov 18, 2007 23:03:41 GMT
I may even watch that myself
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Post by eithne on Nov 19, 2007 22:54:23 GMT
Yep, it was the one where Dot revealed she had cancer and with Den's help worked up the courage to tell Jim about her cancer. Den also decided to leave Chrissie (to cover for LG's suspension). The next episode was a four-hander, with Dot telling Jim and Den telling Chrissie.
I'd say it might well get one of EE's highest audience's in a long, long time - probably more than Pauline's final episode got.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 19, 2007 23:51:29 GMT
Glad you remembered all that, Eithne. I didn't and forgot Dot had cancer. I do remember it being very good because Dot had known him since he was a little boy. It's all coming back to me now.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Nov 20, 2007 16:30:12 GMT
I didn't remember. I did a quick search on Wiki and then I remembered!
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 20, 2007 18:22:45 GMT
LOL!
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jan 16, 2008 20:15:12 GMT
From the Mirror:
Eastender Dot's tears
16/01/2008
Eastenders veteran June Brown wept yesterday as she watched her character Dot Branning record a poignant message for sick husband Jim.
In the soap, Jim has suffered a stroke - just as actor John Bardon did seven months ago.
At a special screening of the forthcoming episode, June, 81, revealed that her tears were sparked when Dot said she could not bear for Jim to be "there but not there".
The actress, who has visited John regularly as he recuperates, said: "I do miss him very much. He is walking now and can move his arm again. He just needs to work on talking."
In the one-person episode to be shown at the end of the month, Dot tells of her sad childhood as she tapes her message.
It is the first time the BBC1 soap has featured only one character.
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Post by eithne on Jan 17, 2008 22:26:18 GMT
Its on air January 31st - this day 2 weeks.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jan 18, 2008 0:03:37 GMT
Oh wonderful! I can't wait for this one. June and the writers will do John proud.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Jan 19, 2008 21:41:05 GMT
Nice to see that D. Santer actually listens to cast members concerns - or at least appears to!
Veteran EastEnders actress June Brown has complained about the amount of sex and violence on the soap.
June, who plays Dot Cotton, admitted that she has voiced her concerns about the tone of the show to the producers.
"EastEnders used to be set in a more simple and moralistic time - it stood for something," Brown told The Sun.
The soap's executive producer Diederick Santer said: "June's fantastic, she will always come to me if she's unhappy about something. Her experience and great knowledge of the show definitely count."
Source: Digital Spy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jan 20, 2008 1:11:54 GMT
Wish more were like him. But of course over at Corrie, any producer is overruled by Mr Sensationalism & Misery - Kieran Roberts!
We don't want morals because that's the same as issues. How about just good storytelling and well-rounded characters you care about?
Patsy
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Post by sootycat on Feb 2, 2008 13:26:34 GMT
From The Mirror
EastEnders' 30-minute monologue loses nearly a million viewers
husband Jim lost EastEnders almost a million viewers.
Actress June Brown's solo performance - a first for a TV soap - was seen by 8.7million people, compared to 9.4million the week before.
At 37 per cent, it was EastEnders' worst Thursday viewing share since November - but the BBC1 show still comfortably won its slot against ITV1 which averaged 4.9million.
ITV1's The Bill and Trial & Retribution both won in their slots. The Bill was watched by 5.5million and Trial & Retribution gained 700,000 viewers at 6.1million.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Feb 2, 2008 13:38:15 GMT
Yes ageist twats who don't like older characters I reckon turned off. But how many? And how many casuals (like Nick) tuned in?
Patsy
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