Soapwrap: Bumper Edition

Its been a while since we last wrapped up some soapy news in brief – mainly due to the lack of any decent soap news happening, but we have pulled the best bits off the grapevine.

Another EastEnder For The Bill

Its fast becoming the home for old soap stars, yes Sun Hill, is becoming Over The Hill as the years roll on. And the lastest old soap sud to join the team is Walford’s Natalie Evans, who had a ding-dong with Ricky Butcher in the early 1990s before returning a few years later to make love, not war with Barry Evans.

The 31-year-old actress will play CID officer Stevie Moss. Speaking to The Sun she said: “Stevie’s such a great character. I’m really looking forward to my first scripts.”

Are They Just Old Perverts?

Coronation Street bosses may sink to some gutter levels to try and keep hold of viewers, but rather than sinking, this time they’re raising their game, well skirts to be exact.

The 17-year-old actress who plays Rosie Webster has been told to dress pretty much like a whore for her latest role. Fair enough, it didn’t do any harm for Liz McDonald, but Liz even in 1989 was mutton dressed as lamb.

Helen Flanagan – who plays Rosie – was told to change because her original outfit wasn’t revealing enough. The dress – or lack of it – is for her scenes where Rosie tries to seduce teacher John Stape, in a storyline that has already been covered in the 90s by Hollyoaks, and the 1970s in Crossroads.

A Granada staff member told the Mirror: “When Helen came back to the set people’s eyes nearly popped out.”

Lets hope they don’t ask her to stop wearing a bra, otherwise it might not just be the Granada crew’s eyes thats popping out.

Get Fit With Natalie

Don’t laugh, its serious. Porky former Albert Square actress Natalie Cassedy is releasing a fitness video. She has apparently lost over two stone since leaving EastEnders earlier this year.

Obviously the offers of serious drama roles must have also been lost in the post, and a DVD exercise release is the next best thing.

EastEnders For An Hour

When the up-and-coming Branning wedding takes place, a rare one-hour episode of the Albert Square drama will air on BBC One.

It is rare for the BBC to ‘milk’ their soap, and have been wise – unlike Emmerdale – to air only extended editions when a real need has been required.

The episode is promising to be hugely dramatic – and again unlike Emmerdale – will not depend on fancy explosions or gimmicks to avoid scriptwriters having to write a decent story.

Instead the “love triangle” between Stacey and her boyfriend Bradley and his father Max will come to, a possible, climax. The episode will air early in November.

Over-use Your Loonies

Seems if you get something remotely good in Coronation Street, you just have to over-use it until people are sick of the sight of it. In this instance it seems popular David Platt – played fabulously by Jack P Shepard – is going to go on a rampage at his sister Sarah’s wedding.

Lovely, you know nutters are great in moderation, but the realms of reality with David Platt are being pushed not to, but very much over the limits. Again fancy gimmicks are being used with this story rather than character or plot substance. But is isn’t surprising is it? seen as that is a trademark of Steve Frost’s Corrie.