List of EastEnders television spin-offs
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This is a list of EastEnders spin-offs that have aired over the years.
Contents |
[edit] Spin-off episodes of EastEnders
[edit] Civvy Street
This episode first aired on December 22, 1988 and was set during the second World War in 1942. The episode was written and directed by the creators of EastEnders, Tony Holland and Julia Smith. It looked back at the early life of the residents of Albert Square and featured a young Lou Beale, Ethel Skinner and Reg Cox, who was a minor character found dead in the first ever episode of EastEnders in 1985. Holland was most upset to discover that Dot Cotton had been too young during the war to be featured as a useful character and also complained that the major events of the war occurred in the wrong order for effective drama.[1] Lou and Albert Beale were celebrating their marriage in Walford, and planning their happy life together when war was declared. Albert was conscripted into the army, leaving Lou and her three children, Kenny, Harry and Ronnie, behind. Lou's family rallied around including her mother, sister Flo and she also had a gang of friends including young Ethel, dodgy Reg and pub landlords Ray and Lil to keep her company. Lou worried that Albert would not return from war intact, and the episode saw her propositioned by another man in his absence, but she managed to stay faithful and she and Albert were reunited. Ethel's parents were killed by a enemy bomb while she was sheltering with Lou in Walford East tube station. Ethel was also torn between the amorous advances of a GI and her admirer William Skinner.
[edit] The Return of Nick Cotton
This episode first aired in October 2000 and was a lead-up to the return of Nick Cotton as a regular character later that year. It showed Nick coming out of prison and meeting up with his son Ashley and ex-wife Zoe after two years. He then took Ashley with him as they travelled around before their return to Walford. It also featured a ghostly appearance by Nick's father Charlie who was trying to warn Nick about something terrible that is about to happen to him.
[edit] Ricky and Bianca
This two-part episode aired in May 2002 and was a lead-up to Ricky Butcher's return later that year as a regular character to Albert Square. He reunited with his ex-wife Bianca Jackson and son Liam in Manchester. Bianca had been in Manchester doing an arts degree and was struggling to look after Liam.
Ricky discovered she had been working in a nightclub and had stolen money from the club manager's office. Ricky ended up getting caught in the middle of all of this along with his new girlfriend Sophie. After he got Bianca out of trouble, they had a one-night stand. However Bianca didn't want to get back together with Ricky. She left Liam with Ricky, as she felt he would care for him better than she did.
[edit] Perfectly Frank
This episode aired in September 2003 and followed Frank Butcher as he set up a seedy nightclub in Somerset after returning from Spain where he was seen in 2002. When Frank is sent a car to valet by local "Mr Big" Reg Priest, his assistant finds a dead body in the loot. Frank and his club staff try to find a way to avoid the police asking questions and fall foul of Reg.
[edit] Dot's Story
This episode first aired in 2003 and followed Dot Branning to Wales to visit the family she stayed with during World War II. Through a series of flashbacks, we see Dot being evacuated, and her experiences of evacuation.
[edit] Pat and Mo - Ashes to Ashes
Pat Evans and Mo Harris meet at the grave of Pat's brother and Mo's husband, and reminice about old times. Through a series of flashbacks, the viewers discover what caused the feud between Pat and Mo that still lasts to this day.
[edit] Other spin-offs
[edit] Dimensions in Time
Dimensions in Time was a charity special crossover between EastEnders and the science fiction television series Doctor Who that ran in two parts on November 26 and 27, 1993. It was filmed on the EastEnders set, and featured several of the stars of the programme at the time. It was made in aid of the charity Children in Need.
[edit] EastEnders Revealed
EastEnders Revealed is a factual entertainment programme that looks back at the storylines, characters and stars of EastEnders.
[edit] EastEnders Unveiled: A Weddings Special
A behind-the-scenes programme was broadcast on 1 December 2006. EastEnders Unveiled: A Weddings Special gave viewers an insight into how the show's weddings are produced, and took a look at the past weddings of Walford. It was narrated by Kara Tointon, who plays Dawn Swann, and included interviews with Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell), James Alexandrou (Martin Fowler) and Ricky Groves (Garry Hobbs). It was aired on BBC Three at 8.30 p.m. on 1 December, straight after the wedding of Ian Beale and Jane Collins aired on BBC One.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Brake, Colin (1995). EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-37057-2.
- ^ "Behind-the-scenes special for 'Enders wedding", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2006-11-10
