It’s been revealed today that TV presenter and DJ Denise Van Outen is in “secret talks” with the BBC to join the cast of EastEnders in the role of the Queen Vic’s new landlady!

However, it seems that the show’s bosses have previously approached Denise to discuss starring in the show, but she turned them down.

But the Daily Mirror reports, “Now, after a series of hush-hush meetings she is tipped to follow in the footsteps of Walford legends such as Angie and ‘Dirty’ Den Watts.” Read more & comment »

Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks) is of course currently playing piggy-in-the-middle between her former employer – and major crush – Michael Moon and his estranged wife Janine…

And as we’ll see next week’s episodes, Alice becomes increasingly fed up of having to choose where her loyalties lie, because of course also stuck between the warring couple is little baby Scarlett, who Alice is looking after for Janine.

But making things worse for Alice is the fact that Janine (Charlie Brooks) is constantly putting pressure on her to work overtime, and combined with pressure from Michael (Steve John Shepherd) to get Alice to sneak Scarlett to him for a visit, poor Alice is one stressed out nanny! Read more & comment »

In next week’s episodes of EastEnders, we’ll see Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) making preparations to leave Walford to start a new life with her lover Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn) however, during her leaving party, Kim begins to realise that perhaps she may be making a big mistake…

The drama begins on Monday, May 27 when, during her leaving do at the B&B, Kim’s the happy recipient of a number of gifts, as is Ray. However, while one of the gifts, matching onesies, delights Kim, Ray’s far from impressed, and later on, as they’re packing their last few things, Kim spots Ray leaving the novelty garment behind. Read more & comment »

Sharon Rickman hasn’t been overly lucky in love of late, given that her former fiancé Jack Branning dumped her at the altar, and then her rekindled romance with Phil Mitchell hit the rocks after he learned of her addiction to painkillers…

However, recidivist girlfriend Sharon (Letitia Dean) isn’t finding it easy being a single woman, and in next week’s episodes, we’ll see that she’s desperate to heal the rift with Phil (Steve McFadden) and equally as keen that she and her son Dennis move back in with him… Read more & comment »

Fans of EastEnders will of course know that Kirsty Branning (Kierston Wareing) is still pretending that she’s pregnant with Max Branning’s child, however, when he and Kirsty are due to go for her 16 week scan next week, things take a dramatic turn…

The drama begins on Monday, May 27 when an excited Max (Jake Wood) tells everyone at Kim Fox’s party that he and Kirsty are about to find out the sex of their baby at the scan. Pressured, Kirsty feigns illness and tells Max she needs to go home, and though she implores him to stay at the party, Max is determined to be there for her all the way through, so he goes home with her… Read more & comment »

Last night was of course one of the biggest nights of the year for the UK’s top soaps as the cast and crew of our top serial dramas attended the glitzy British Soap Awards 2013…

And we have the full list of nominees and winners for you after the jump, however, as coverage of the awards doesn’t air until tonight on ITV, be warned that if you intend to watch it, the list will contain spoilers!

But if you do want to know, and you want to see pics from the glittering event, let’s go… Read more & comment »

In next week’s episodes of EastEnders, Lauren Branning’s struggles with booze reach a dramatic climax when not only does she steal from her own grandmother to fund her drinking, but in a booze fuelled rage, she also lashes out at Lucy Beale, and is arrested!

The drama begins on Monday, May 27 when, fed up of Lauren’s drinking, her mum Tanya (Jo Joyner) decides enough is enough and so asks Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kirsty Branning (Kierston Wareing) not to sell Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) any alcohol… Read more & comment »

When Samantha Womack left EastEnders two years ago – at the climax of the cot death and baby swap storyline which saw her character Ronnie Branning imprisoned – it was under something of a cloud given that Samantha had found the plotline “stressful and emotional.”

Poor Samantha was even harangued in the street while out with her husband and children by fans who evidently can’t tell the difference between reality and fantasy, and all in all, after quitting the show to star in a musical, Samantha said she had no regrets about leaving the BBC soap.

However, it’s been revealed today that Samantha is in fact coming back to the show to reprise her role as Ronnie, who, as viewers will know, has recently been freed from prison. Read more & comment »

As we reported earlier, ITV were celebrating last night as it was revealed that their primetime soap Emmerdale had thrashed rival BBC drama EastEnders in the viewer ratings on Tuesday night…

And it’s been widely speculated of late that the dwindling number of EastEnders viewers is down to the “cast exodus” which has seen some of the show’s biggest names leaving the soap in recent months.

Among those who’ve left, or are about to leave, is Jo Joyner, who of course plays Tanya Branning, and yesterday, she filmed her final scenes as the long-suffering mum. Read more & comment »

Last night, an overjoyed ITV was celebrating as it was revealed that Tuesday night’s edition of the Yorkshire based soap trounced its BBC rival EastEnders in the viewer ratings.

Emmerdale stars Bhasker Patel and Michelle Hardwick – who play the roles of Rishi Sharma and Vanessa Oldfield respectively – retweeted a message posted by ITV bosses which read, “Last night an hour long Emmerdale beat Eastenders by 2 million viewers.

“@EmmerdalePress @EmmerdaleForum THANK YOU for your support.Cheers xx” Read more & comment »

Things for Billy Mitchell seem to have been looking up of late, what with his old job back with Janine and his fledgling romance with Ava Hartman…

However, this week, it looks like things are over between Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Ava (Claire Perkins) before they’ve really even begun when she can’t deny that she still has feelings for her ex, Sam (Cornell S John)…

The drama begins on Monday, May 20 when, following a run in with Sam in the café, Dexter (Khali Best) informs Ava that Sam’s still in Walford. Ava later tells Sam to leave, but he’s determined to stay until he’s made amends with his son. Unbeknownst to Ava, Billy has witnessed her altercation with Sam, and he then learns from Tanya (Jo Joyner) that Sam is Ava’s ex-husband and Dexter’s father. Read more & comment »

Fans of EastEnders will know that Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) was devastated when her romance with Ray Dixon ended after he shared a kiss with her sister Denise. However, now the dust’s settled on that debacle, Kim has realised that she still has feelings for Ray…

So, in the episode that airs on Monday 20th May, after Kim asks Ray (Chucky Venn) to hand some flyers for the B&B out at The Vic, and he willingly accepts and even flirts, Kim’s left wondering if their conversation was just business or maybe something else!

Then, in the episode that airs on Tuesday 21st May, after a tough day of juggling his work at The Vic with caring for Sasha – and when faced with another ready meal for one – Ray’s tempted by a home cooked dinner with Kim. Read more & comment »

There’s a case of some good news and some bad news for fans of EastEnders today in that it’s been revealed that the show’s bosses plan on reuniting Walford faves Kat and Alfie Moon, however, it’s also been announced that Charlie Brooks is leaving the show for good this time.

Starting with the news about Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie) getting back together in upcoming storylines, the show’s executive producer Lorraine Newman “let slip” the spoiler while at the TV BAFTAs, where ‘Enders scooped the award for Best Soap.

The Daily Mirror reports that she said, “Hopefully they’ll be getting back together… Read more & comment »

Kirsty Branning is of course currently very much preoccupied by trying to keep up her lie about being pregnant to her husband Max (Jake Wood) so the last thing she needs right now is her violent brother Adam pestering her…

However, in next week’s episodes, that’s exactly what he does as he bombards her with phone calls, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Max. And of course, the last time he met with Adam, he got a beating for his troubles, so understandably, he doesn’t want him in their lives again.

So in the episode that airs on Thursday, May 23, just as Kirsty (Kierston Wareing) has finally plucked up the courage to admit to Max that she’s not pregnant, they’re interrupted by yet more calls from Adam… Read more & comment »

Coming up next week on EastEnders, it’s time once again for a review of the custody arrangements that affect little Lexi, and understandably, given recent events surrounding Sharon (Letitia Dean) and her struggles with addiction to painkillers, everyone’s on edge about what the hearing may bring…

Phil (Steve McFadden) is worried that Lola could tell the court about Sharon’s issues, and therefore make the powers that be think the child could be in danger if she stays with him. However, Lola (Danielle Harold) fears that Phil is preparing to once again ruin her chances of getting her daughter back by making up lies about her. Read more & comment »