Enders 'too bad' for five nights

carmelina · Post by **carmelina** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:16 am

PLANS to screen EastEnders five nights a week might be scrapped — because the show is too weak.

BBC director general Mark Thompson yesterday said the soap needed to be “strengthened” and take more risks.

And he added plans for a fifth episode — revealed by The Sun — are on hold. He said: “My biggest focus is making sure we’ve got quality and consistency.

“I won’t rule out looking at five episodes — but the most important thing right now is getting the programme strengthened.” EastEnders — whose stars include June Brown who plays Dot Branning — has seen ratings drop to a record low in May of four million viewers.

Mr Thompson’s revelation came as the corporation admitted audiences were fed-up with the BBC’s lack of ideas and risk taking.

* TORY MP Nigel Evans yesterday called for the salaries of BBC stars to be made officially public. The Sun has revealed Jonathan Ross earns £6million a year. Mr Thompson is on £788,000, more than four times PM Gordon Brown’s £188,931 salary.

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Post by **eefanincan** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:44 am

I don't understand why this MP wants the salaries publicized.... sure the stars make too much money, but if they can negotiate their contracts for that, then they should. I'm guessing the MP's want a raise........

Post by **faceless** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:17 pm

I think their salaries should be public too - the BBC is a publicly funded body and anyone with a tv is forced to pay for its existence, so we should have the ability to have checks and balances. The BBC 'Gravy Train' is well known as little more than a large trough where the middle-class stick their snouts and suck away at the public money.

As far as EE not going five nights - the guy's got sense! thing is though, it probably cost tens of thousands of pounds in studies to find out that the show wasn't strong enough to support so much coverage when I could have told him that for a tenner!

Post by **eefanincan** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:08 pm

faceless wrote: As far as EE not going five nights - the guy's got sense! thing is though, it probably cost tens of thousands of pounds in studies to find out that the show wasn't strong enough to support so much coverage when I could have told him that for a tenner!

I think you're undercutting yourself!

alan1254 · Post by **alan1254** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:23 pm

why would they want more of a show when it struggles to produce decent storylines , surley the story's would only get weaker

Post by **faceless** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:06 pm

BBC rules out five-nightly 'EastEnders'

Friday, November 2 2007, 18:10 GMT

The BBC has ruled out broadcasting EastEnders five times a week in a bid to keep its schedules "distinctive". The corporation was considering adding to the current four episodes a week, but announced yesterday that it had abandoned the plan.

In his first speech as chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyon said the broadcaster must earn viewers' loyalty by being less London-centric. He told the Royal Television Society that people living outside the capital did not see their communities reflected in the broadcaster's programming. Talking about EastEnders, he said: "The Executive's recent decision not to commission a fifth weekly episode reflects their response to our challenge to them to keep BBC schedules distinctive."

The corporation is planning to move 1,500 London jobs to Salford to better reflect the communities of the north of England.

11antoniacourt · Post by **11antoniacourt** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:51 pm

Two days ago EastEnders won a national TV award for Favorite Soap, but it is too weak to go five nights per week. This doesn't make sense.

Post by **Skylace** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:00 pm

I think it's kind of nice to have the break in between as well. Not necessarily because of the strength or weakness of the show but because I just do like a break. I don't like to watch many shows every day.

misslisalynn · Post by **misslisalynn** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 10:34 pm

I love EE but I'm with Sky, I don't think I could watch it 5 days a week especially with the current storylines with Penniless Peggy, Mean Momma Masood and Sulking Psycho Sean.

Post by **eefanincan** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 12:02 am

I'd have to agree with Sky and Misslisa... it's nice to have that break in between. Gives me a chance to get caught up with Mon and Tues episodes before Thurs and Fri.

Kezza · Post by **Kezza** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:57 pm

misslisalynn wrote:Penniless Peggy, Mean Momma Masood and Sulking Psycho Sean.

fritz · Post by **fritz** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:10 pm

I agree with all three of fellow trippers(skylace,missli and eefan) four is enough.And that my story and I'm sticking to it.(-;

cori · Post by **cori** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:13 pm

EE needs a real kick start, Max & Stacey get busted, Sean gets killed, Denise leaves Walford, Jane divorces Ian and goes off with Grant, Billy stops snivelling-just a few suggestions! EE needs a faster tempo, it's getting booooooring!

Post by **Skylace** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:03 pm

cori wrote:EE needs a real kick start, Max & Stacey get busted, Sean gets killed, Denise leaves Walford, Jane divorces Ian and goes off with Grant, Billy stops snivelling-just a few suggestions! EE needs a faster tempo, it's getting booooooring!

I'm up for almost all of those accept for the Ian and Jane

Post by **eefanincan** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:24 pm

cori wrote:EE needs a real kick start, Max & Stacey get busted, Sean gets killed, Denise leaves Walford, Jane divorces Ian and goes off with Grant, Billy stops snivelling-just a few suggestions! EE needs a faster tempo, it's getting booooooring!

A group of people with common interests, known only to each other through the internet, move into the Square. A large number of couches are seen being delivered. The have the strangest names, some are even "faceless". They take Dot and her new found computer skills under their wing and adopt her into their group --- in exchange, they each get a free service wash once a week (since they are far too busy on their computers to venture to the laundrette for long periods). The one named eefan goes to work in the surgery. The one named faceless sets up his new computer business next to the Queen Vic so he can step out for a pint when the need arises. Skylace can be seen rehearsing lines while sitting on Arthur's bench. Aja goes to work at Fargo's and gives Ian a run for his money in the food business.