EastEnders

[Di]

[Ashirr-Leigh]

So is that Sam gone for good now?

[Dazacoulls]

Yep! I think so... Sadly!!!

[Ashirr-Leigh]

Meh, I'm not so sad about that. She was never one of my favourite characters.

[Di]

Airing Monday, 28th November 2005 at 19:30 on BBC OneNaomi makes her feelings known

Naomi and Sonia are both stunned. Sonia tries to ease the situation but it’s obvious that Naomi’s feelings run much deeper.

Meanwhile, Pauline is adamant that she doesn’t want another man in her life, although she is worried that she has completely blown it with Joe.

Airing Monday, 28th November 2005 at 20:00 on BBC One

Martin and Sonia argue

Following her antics on Friday night, Martin challenges Sonia to remember what she said to him. They also argue over Sonia’s concern for Naomi and her apparent lack of concern for him.

Later, Sonia seeks out Naomi to get some advice on the state of her marriage.

Elsewhere, a menacing Johnny warns Juley to stay away from Ruby, and Billy arranges for Honey to have some professional photos taken.

Airing Thursday, 1st December 2005 at 19:30 on BBC One

Kat wonders if Alfie has a new woman

When a bunch of white roses is left at the Fowlers’ doorstep, both Pauline and Sonia think that they are for them…

Kat wonders if Alfie has a new woman when she sees him with Dr McCulloch. However, when she asks her, she realises that she is Nana’s doctor and goes to speak to Alfie.

Airing Friday, 2nd December 2005 at 20:00 on BBC One

Pat receives her court summons

When Alfie tries his hardest to make the penultimate wish on Nana’s list come true – tea with HM The Queen – Kat rails at him for making promises that he cannot realistically keep. However, she soon comes up with a plan…

Elsewhere, Pat receives a court summons to attend Janine’s trial.

Airing Monday, 5th December 2005 at 19:30 on BBC One

Pat is stopped by a familiar voice

Pat prepares to attend Janine’s trial but is unsure of what she is going to say in court. As she prepares for a battle, she is stopped in her tracks by a familiar voice…

Meanwhile, Stacey is concerned when she hears from an old neighbour that her mum is unwell. She decides to return home but is shocked when she sees the state of the house.

Elsewhere, Chrissie finds it hard to adjust to prison life.

Airing Tuesday, 6th December 2005 at 19:30 on BBC One

Chrissie sees her solicitor

Stacey tries to instigate some routine into Jean’s life beginning with her medication. When Mo realises the seriousness of the situation, she tries to persuade Stacey to admit Jean to hospital.

Still in a daze, Chrissie agrees to see her solicitor and breaks the news about her bail money.

Elsewhere, Pat is keen to get away from Frank. However, when he catches up with her, he begs Pat to tell him what she knows.

Airing Thursday, 8th December 2005 at 19:30 on BBC One

Stacey feels the pressure

Stacey feels the pressure of having to care for Jean. When Stacey goes out she is horrified when she realises that people stood by and did nothing to help.

Elsewhere, Pat is furious when Frank reveals that he has seen Janine, and Chrissie outlines the plan for her defence.

Airing Friday, 9th December 2005 at 20:00 on BBC One

Chrissie reveals her decision to Jake

Chrissie is unresponsive when she speaks to her solicitor. When she later sees Jake, she tells him her decision.

Pat is keen to see justice done but Frank is persistent with her. She refuses to listen.

Elsewhere, Stacey makes a difficult decision about her mum.

Airing Monday, 12th December 2005 at 20:00 on BBC One

Johhny checks up on Ruby

Johnny roots through Ruby’s make-up bag searching for proof that she’s seeing Juley. He also warns Stacey and Ruby that he will be checking up on their whereabouts during the night, but Ruby has an idea…

Meanwhile, Billy is in despair about his feelings for Honey, believing her to be out of his league.

Airing Tuesday, 13th December 2005 at 19:30 on BBC One

Phil delivers some news to Johnny

Phil takes great pleasure in telling Johnny that he has seen Ruby crying and it looked like boy trouble...

Elsewhere, Demi talks to Sonia about her feelings for Leo.

Airing Thursday, 15th December 2005 at 19:30 on BBC One

Honey hides from Billy

An embarrassed Honey tries to hide from Billy. When they eventually talk, Billy tells Honey that it wasn’t him who sent the messages. She suggests to Billy that they have dinner…

Elsewhere, Phil is pleased to see the heartbreak he is causing Johnny.

Airing Friday, 16th December 2005 at 20:00 on BBC One

Kat tells Alfie to slow down

Kat warns Alfie to slow down and spend some quality time with Nana. Nana, meanwhile, gives Kat an envelope, instructing her not to open it until after her death.

Elsewhere, Pauline is keen to get the Christmas decorations up but fails to interest Martin and Sonia, who are arguing again. Pauline also wonders if she should tell them about yesterday’s visit…

[Ashirr-Leigh]

Aww, so Chrissie's still actually in the show? Great!

[Liz]

I really liked Ruby/Juley, but I'm sad to say that they could have just been a plot device. If they were only set up for a couple of episodes to fuse another agrument between Ruby and Johnny, I'm pissed off. There was something there, IMO.

[The Cure]

It's really only a rebellion storyline for Ruby....now that she knows Johnny hates him so much, it is only going to drive her on to be with him, just to spite her father. She is too immature for a proper relationship.

Also....this may be a controversial opinion but...I am the only one who thinks the girl who plays Ruby is a really, really bad actress?? She was ok-ish in the beginning, in all those emotional scenes with Johnny, but she is terrible at anything else. She is just really expressionless or something. She delivers all her lines in excatly the same, flat, whispery, timid way. I thought that was quite appropriate for those scenes where Johnny's past was revealed, but for other stuff it is quite awful, cringe-worthy even. She also does that crazy-eye swiveling thing when she is doing an emotional scene that I suppose she thinks is a good acting technique but just comes off as really comical.

It's a shame she is so wooden, as the character has great potential, I feel.

Ah, well. Hopefully she will leave when Johnny does, and not a moment too soon either.

As for this mass exodus of the old characters and mass influx of new....well, I do predict rough waters ahead. Just think about it: By the new year there will no Watts', no Moon's, very few Slaters, no Dennis, Sam or Chrissie.....and a whole host of randomers. I think it will take viewers a while to get over the old lot and to warm to the new. It's a hugely risky move of EastEnders....I reckon it will either make or break the show for good.

[Ashirr-Leigh]

I don't think Ruby's too immature for a proper relationship, she seems way more mature than any othre 17 year old that I know!

As for the actress who plays her, I think she's great! To me, she portrays a teenager very well (most likely because she is the same age or around about that). I haven't noticed the eye thing you're talking about but I'll be on the look out!

[claire_louise]

Yeah I think she's actually a very good actress, but everyone has their own opinion! I like the Ruby/Juley relationship, but I don't want it to end up like Kareena and Mickey - with her going off to be with her family. It's a bit strange how no one seems to know if Ruby is actually leaving.

The Cure, I agree with you about everyone leaving, but there's not much they can do about it as most of those actors and actresses have chosen to leave of their own accord. I do think they need to sort out the situation with Letitia Dean though - either she wants the job or she doesn't. You don't see other cast members flouncing in and out whenever they feel like it. As it stands, I think they're doing the right thing with bringing in new family members for existing characters, rather than just a load of random people.