Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 22, 2009 12:22:44 GMT
From the People:
22 March 2009
JACKSONS THE COMEBACK
EastEnders EXCLUSIVE You knew about HIM.. but what about THEM? EastEnders to bring Dean's TV family back New actress may take part of mum Carol And Nat'lee is going to need a bigger role!
By Gareth Morgan
The Jacksons are hitting the comeback trail - but forget Michael, it's the popular EastEnders family.
The clan, including Dean Gaffney as road sweeper Robbie and Natalie Cassidy as long-suffering sister Sonia, were last seen on screen together 12 years ago.
But last April, a solo return by gobby older sister Bianca Jackson - played by flame-haired Patsy Palmer, 35 - pulled in an extra two million viewers.
Now EastEnders execs want to bring back the whole family to boost ratings - which average between eight and 10million - even more.
A bbc source said: "Bosses believe bringing back the entire clan would be fantastic for viewing figures.
"And it would allow more storylines involving Bianca, particularly as she has been so popular since her return."
The other Jacksons were mum Carol (Lindsay Coulson), her boyfriend Alan (Howard Antony) and youngest son Billy (Devon Anderson). It's believed Lindsay, 49, has turned down offers to return to Albert Square.
Bosses are debating whether to re-cast her character or invent a plot which leaves the role open.
Our insider said: "At the moment, without Lindsay onside, Natalie Cassidy is top of the priority list and bosses are confident she will want to return.
"Once she is back, it paves the way for the rest of the family to follow, with or without Lindsay."
Nat'lee, 25, seen in BBC3 series Natalie Cassidy's Real Britain, released a fitness DVD after dropping from 12st to 8st.
But she's since struggled with her daily two-hour workouts and admitted: "I'm still finding it hard keeping the weight off."
Pictures of her in jogging pants last week underlined the problem.
Dean Gaffney, 31, who left the soap in 2003, appeared in TV reality show I'm A Celebrity. In 2006 The People revealed how he was having to sell his home after blowing his £1million fortune.
Howard, 45, alias kind-hearted Alan, has appeared in Doctors, and screen son Devon, now 22, was in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
The Jacksons were last seen together in 1997 before being moved into a witness protection programme after an armed robbery.
Last night an EastEnders spokesman said they were "thrilled" at Bianca's return but denied plans for a Jackson family comeback.
22 March 2009
JACKSONS THE COMEBACK
EastEnders EXCLUSIVE You knew about HIM.. but what about THEM? EastEnders to bring Dean's TV family back New actress may take part of mum Carol And Nat'lee is going to need a bigger role!
By Gareth Morgan
The Jacksons are hitting the comeback trail - but forget Michael, it's the popular EastEnders family.
The clan, including Dean Gaffney as road sweeper Robbie and Natalie Cassidy as long-suffering sister Sonia, were last seen on screen together 12 years ago.
But last April, a solo return by gobby older sister Bianca Jackson - played by flame-haired Patsy Palmer, 35 - pulled in an extra two million viewers.
Now EastEnders execs want to bring back the whole family to boost ratings - which average between eight and 10million - even more.
A bbc source said: "Bosses believe bringing back the entire clan would be fantastic for viewing figures.
"And it would allow more storylines involving Bianca, particularly as she has been so popular since her return."
The other Jacksons were mum Carol (Lindsay Coulson), her boyfriend Alan (Howard Antony) and youngest son Billy (Devon Anderson). It's believed Lindsay, 49, has turned down offers to return to Albert Square.
Bosses are debating whether to re-cast her character or invent a plot which leaves the role open.
Our insider said: "At the moment, without Lindsay onside, Natalie Cassidy is top of the priority list and bosses are confident she will want to return.
"Once she is back, it paves the way for the rest of the family to follow, with or without Lindsay."
Nat'lee, 25, seen in BBC3 series Natalie Cassidy's Real Britain, released a fitness DVD after dropping from 12st to 8st.
But she's since struggled with her daily two-hour workouts and admitted: "I'm still finding it hard keeping the weight off."
Pictures of her in jogging pants last week underlined the problem.
Dean Gaffney, 31, who left the soap in 2003, appeared in TV reality show I'm A Celebrity. In 2006 The People revealed how he was having to sell his home after blowing his £1million fortune.
Howard, 45, alias kind-hearted Alan, has appeared in Doctors, and screen son Devon, now 22, was in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
The Jacksons were last seen together in 1997 before being moved into a witness protection programme after an armed robbery.
Last night an EastEnders spokesman said they were "thrilled" at Bianca's return but denied plans for a Jackson family comeback.
