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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 4, 2009 15:15:10 GMT
From the Sun:
Danniella in return to Enders?
By SARA NATHAN
TV Editor
Published: Today
EASTENDERS bosses are in talks to bring back vixen Sam Mitchell — and could ask Danniella Westbrook to play her.
Soap chiefs came up with the idea to cause havoc for Sam’s former hubby Ricky Butcher and his ex Bianca.
Danniella, 35, left the BBC1 show in 2000 after a battle with cocaine addiction, and Kim Medcalf later took the role.
But bosses have mooted the idea of bringing back Danniella to give viewers a “shock”.
A show insider said: “She was the original Sam and the chemistry with Sid Owen as Ricky was exciting stuff.
“If she returns it will be the talk of soapland for months.”
Sid and Patsy Palmer, who plays Bianca, have already returned and Charlie Brooks is back as Janine Butcher.
The source said: “This would hark back to the Albert Square brat pack — Ricky, Bianca, Janine and Sam.” The character was last seen in 2005 after being falsely jailed for Dirty Den Watts’s murder.
Brothers Grant and Phil proved Chrissie Watts was the real killer — but Sam fled to Brazil to escape a four-year sentence for perverting the course of justice.
Mum-of-two Danniella, married to businessman Kevin Jenkins, last appeared on telly in ITV1’s I’m A Celebrity in 2003.
She said then: “These days I live an ordinary life. I work occasionally, but I also do the school run and make dinner.”
There is an earlier example of an actress returning to a part after someone else took over the role.
Barbara Bel Geddes quit as Miss Ellie Ewing in Dallas in 1984 — but came back the next year after Donna Reed had played the part for a season.
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Post by pearly queen on Mar 4, 2009 15:37:19 GMT
Oh no! Who are they gonna bring back next? Lofty? Mary the Punk? Wilmott-Brown the rapist? Get new characters and stop dredging up the likes of Janine and Sam  |
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Post by Nick on Mar 4, 2009 17:03:42 GMT
I think they are trying to hark back to their 'glory days' rather than go to the trouble of creating and casting new characters with the possibility they will be rubbish and get axed
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 4, 2009 17:29:58 GMT
Like Janine. Thicky's okay. He has good interaction with all the kids. Bianca I can also put up with for pretty much the same reason. Janine's a waste of airtime.
Patsy
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Post by pearly queen on Mar 4, 2009 21:34:39 GMT
This dragging up oldies is becoming too popular: Dirty Den back from the dead, the Butchers/Jacksons back on the Square, Ray Langton and Jed Stone in Corrie, and the rumour that Shane Ritchie is on the sniff.
The occasional guest appearance is one thing (funerals and whatnot) but bringing back a major character full time requires major storylines to back up the decision, and none of the soaps can cope with one blockbusting storyline after another, it's too OTT.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 4, 2009 21:45:49 GMT
Dirty Den was stupid because he was dead. Ray Langton was stupid because they brought him back just to die then they changed history and even moved The Yard. Jed Stone is daft because he's been living so close to his old digs and no one knew. I'd have thought if they brought Sam Mitchell back it would be Kim Medcalf anyway. This reminds me of Steven Carrington in Dynasty - new head after oil rig explosion but in The Reunion it was the original actor again.
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 11, 2009 2:12:16 GMT
From the Sun:
Exclusive
Danniella Westbroke
By JEN BLACKBURN
Published: Today
ACTRESS Danniella Westbrook and her millionaire hubby are facing a financial crisis, TV Biz can reveal.
The former soap star could be forced to return to acting so the couple can make ends meet.
Danniella’s hubby Kevin Jenkins is desperate to flog their £1.75million mansion in Kent. Insiders say the couple are prepared to accept a low offer for a quick sale.
A friend said: “They need to downsize. The house has a swimming pool and grounds and costs a fortune to run.
“They’re packed and ready to go as soon as they get an offer.”
Jenkins has already sold his courier firm, Premier Despatch, to rivals Addison Lee after it went into administration.
Last week we revealed how EastEnders chiefs were considering bringing Danniella, 35, back to the soap in her role as saucy minx Sam Mitchell.
A source said: “The credit crunch is affecting everyone and Danniella knows she’s got to pull her weight.
“She’s been a stay-at-home mum for years but as Kevin faces mounting financial problems she’s keen to go back to work and help out.
“The tables have really turned, while Kevin used to be the one flashing the cash, they’re now looking to Danniella to bring home the bacon.”
Danniella, who famously battled a crippling cocaine addiction, left EastEnders in 2000 and was replaced by actress Kim Medcalf.
She later appeared in the 2003 series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, but quit early because she was missing her family.
Kevin’s solicitor Nigel Calvert said yesterday: “Kevin is now pursuing other business interests.”
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Post by CG Wendy on Mar 11, 2009 15:07:55 GMT
If would be a real let down wouldn`t it if Sam Mitchell returned...but as Kim Medcalf (who I preferred) rather than Daniella.
But if Sam did return, how could she be brought back? As soon as she pops her head back in Walford, she`ll be thrown in jail for conspiracy to murder.
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Post by pearly queen on Mar 11, 2009 15:26:34 GMT
EE don't care about such mere details, CG. When Phil Mitchell came back he'd been on the run from prison, but this was dismissed with one daft line about there not being any witnesses or something; they made no attempt to invent a proper or believable explanation.
I hope she doesn't come back, she was an annoying character portrayed mediocrely by both actresses.
If Daniella Westbrook's husband is struggling - that's tough, he needs to 'pursue other business interests' as it says in the article. Why should the BBC bail them out by writing Samantha Mitchell back into the show? They're not a charity.
And if there was a genuine need for her to return to the show - why wouldn't they offer it to Kim Medcalf? Not a brilliant actress - but at least she didn't pi$$ everyone off with her cocaine addiction and bad behaviour.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 11, 2009 16:43:35 GMT
And when Den was brought back no one saw him die. They'll always come up with something inplausible. LOL!
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Mar 16, 2009 20:13:17 GMT
They gave Miss Ellie from Dallas as the only other time an actor has quit a role to be replaced then rejoin as the same character..
..In Brookside Lucy Collins was played by Katrin Cartlidge at the beginning then was replaced with Maggie Saunders..then Katrin Cartlidge returned to play Lucy after Maggie quit
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 16, 2009 20:51:21 GMT
Didn't Barbara Bel Geddes have cancer or something? Or am I thinking of the family of Donna Reed claiming her sacking caused hers?
I'd forgotten about Lucy Collins but I never forgot the name Katrin Cartlidge. Some just stick in the mind. I never liked Maggie Saunders.
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Apr 7, 2009 10:05:59 GMT
From the Sun:
Exclusive
Oh nose! Danniella returns as Sam
By SARA NATHAN,
TV Editor
Published: Today
ACTRESS Danniella Westbrook IS to make a sensational return to EastEnders — just as The Sun predicted.
Danniella, 35, who publicly battled cocaine addiction which left her with horrific nose damage, will make a comeback as fiery Sam Mitchell.
We revealed last month how Enders bosses were considering bringing Danniella back after nine years away from Albert Square.
Her troublemaker character, played for an intervening period by replacement star Kim Medcalf, was last seen in 2005 “bolting” to Brazil.
Now it has been confirmed that Danniella is stepping back into the role she first played as a teenager in 1990.
Speaking for the first time about it last night, she said: “I’m really happy — it feels just like coming home.
“I’m looking forward to working with the others and I can’t wait to get the scripts to see what Sam has been up to since she was last in the Square.”
Danniella starts filming this summer for her dramatic return, which is bound to be a headache for former hubby Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) and his ex Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
Danniella, whose coke problem was highlighted by a shocking picture of her destroyed septum, left the show in 2000.
She last appeared on telly in 2003 in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity... and told how she was an “ordinary” wife and mum of two.
EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer added: “It feels like a great time to bring back Sam.”
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Post by CG Wendy on Apr 7, 2009 14:18:05 GMT
*sigh*
I would have preferred it if Kim came back. I don`t know what Santer was thinking, bringing an actress back with such a troubled past. Ratings perhaps?
What`s the betting that it won`t be long before she starts on the slippery slope back to drug addiction now that she`ll have money in her pocket again. And she`ll blame it all on stress and heavy filming schedules.
It`s ridiculous
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Apr 7, 2009 15:09:31 GMT
I've only seen Kim but Danniella, for all her past problems, does seem to have turned her life around. Course it could be all for show and it may all happen again as you predict.
In spite of it all, I do applaud Santer for bringing back original faces rather then recasting.
Patsy
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Post by pearly queen on Apr 7, 2009 16:07:19 GMT
Oh brother - just what we need: another washed up gobby blonde.
Still she is related to many characters, so it was bound to be on the cards sooner or later.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Apr 7, 2009 16:58:29 GMT
So who will she shag first? Mux or Jack?
CHARLIE!!!!
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Apr 7, 2009 17:57:00 GMT
My money is on Jack
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Apr 7, 2009 21:49:32 GMT
Or both!
Patsy
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Post by madison on Apr 7, 2009 21:56:51 GMT
This is just bizarre and pretty pointless!! xxxxxxxx
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Sept 19, 2009 11:23:23 GMT
Didn't last long. I wonder of she always knew it was short term and this was a helping hand with getting her career back on track? No one is axed this soon normally. Let's face it, Sham must go to jail, flee again or die so not a lot of options. From the Sun:
Enders Sam is ditched
By COLIN ROBERTSON
TV Editor
Published: Today
DANNIELLA Westbrook's return to EastEnders will be short-lived - she will be gone by New Year.
The former cocaine addict is set to leave the show for a THIRD TIME - just two weeks after viewers saw her reprise her role as Sam Mitchell.
Last night show bosses confirmed Danniella is on a three-month contract, which will not be renewed. She will leave as part of an explosive storyline at the end of the year.
Her character returned to the BBC soap after nine years on September 4. Sam flew in from Brazil, where she had fled after being implicated in the murder of Dirty Den. But she was soon held by cops and is in jail - hoping to marry ex-hubby Ricky Butcher.
Danniella, 35 - who blew £250,000 on coke - is due to start filming her final scenes in the next few weeks. Those currently being screened were filmed in June. Some critics have blasted her acting. She has said: "It's hard to play Sam now. I found it immensely difficult in my first six weeks back."
A BBC spokesman said: "We've been thrilled with how Sam Mitchell's return has been received with our audience and hope they enjoy her storylines over the next few months."
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Nov 26, 2009 15:07:33 GMT
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Post by CG Wendy on Nov 26, 2009 19:39:00 GMT
I prefer her as a blonde I must admit.
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