As fans of EastEnders will know, Patsy Palmer is now back at work on the show after taking several months off from the soap and her role as downtrodden single mum, Bianca Jackson.

We’ll see Bianca’s return to the Square – she has of course been in prison – early in December, but it seems her status as a single parent isn’t about to change any time soon, given that Sid Owen, who played Bianca’s husband Ricky Butcher, has left the show.

But apparently, Patsy is hoping that he might make a comeback at some point in the future, and she thinks that if he doesn’t, her character Bianca will remain loveless, because Ricky is “the only man” for her.

Speaking to Inside Soap magazine, Patsy said, “I think Ricky will always be the man for Bianca – they’re such a great couple!

“But I don’t know if Sid will come back at some stage in the future – I really hope he does… Read more & comment »

New mum, Adele and boyfriend Simon Konecki reportedly want former EastEnders actor, Sid Owen, to be their new-born baby’s godfather!

According to The Daily Star newspaper, Adele’s partner, Konecki, is really good friend with the actor, who is currently taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and has approached him with the honour of being godfather as he and his award-winning Brit singer girlfriend wish him to have a “close” involvement in their child’s upbringing.
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Bianca Butcher, and her mum, Carol Jackson, will be returning to EastEnders in time for Christmas, according to the Sun newspaper.

Fans of the show last saw the mother and daughter dynamo six months ago, when Bianca (Patsy Palmer) was arrested and taken to prison for a second time, having turned to a life of crime in order to pay off a loan shark she had borrowed money from in order to feed her family.
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EastEnders actor, Sid Owen has revealed that he is quitting the show for good and moving to France as he is “done with the UK”.

Owen has played Ricky Butcher in the hit BBC soap for almost 25 years, although has yo-yo’d back and forth from his role more times than we care to remember, or wanted for that matter!
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Pregnant millionaire, Janine Butcher, is left fearing the worst when she goes into labour on her EastEnders wedding day, three months early!

Butcher’s Joint owner, Janine (Charlie Brooks) will be left terrified that she is losing her baby when she feels the pangs of labour during her extravagant and expensive wedding to Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd).
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As fans of EastEnders will know, Ricky Butcher’s love life is a turbulent affair, and unfortunately for him, Sid Owen – who’s played the part of Ricky on and off since 1998 – seems to be experiencing some of those same heart shaped troubles in his real life too.

The Daily Mirror reports that Sid – who was born David Sutton – has split from his fiancé, TV presenter Polly Parsons, and they have of course called the wedding off, for the second time.

They called off their nuptials for the first time back in 2010, then when they reunited, they planned a wedding day later this year, but sadly, it’s now not to be.

Sid told the Mirror, “We’re still good friends but we are not together anymore. I’m single.”

Sid popped the question – again – to Polly last year, and at the time, he revealed how he’d wanted to make it a truly romantic occasion, so he took Polly on holiday to Barbados… Read more & comment »

It’s been reported today that EastEnders star Sid Owen – who of course plays the role of Ricky Butcher – is to take to the floor to compete in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

A friend of Sid’s told the Sun’s TV Biz, “Sid has seen how many of his EastEnders colleagues have taken part in Strictly over the past few years and they’ve all loved it.

“People such as Kara Tointon, Jessie Wallace and Scott Maslen raved about the experience — as did Charlie [Brookes] when she took part in the Christmas special.

“So now he fancies trying it for himself. He did think about signing up for this year’s Dancing On Ice but the timing wasn’t right and he thought Strictly would be more fun…” Read more & comment »

News from Walford way today begins with BBC Worldwide announcing that they are to air a new episode of EastEnders twice a day, so that Aussies can “catch up” with the plotlines.

EastEnders has been airing UKTV since the channel’s launch in 1996, but in order to close the gap between the Australian episode and those aired here in the UK, installments will now air twice a day, Monday to Thursday, from January 23 at 6.30pm.

BBC Worldwide Australia’s Deirdre Brennan said of the new schedule, “EastEnders is our number one show.

“I’m delighted to be able to give our soap savvy fans a double-helping from the Square as we close the gap on the UK.

“With Mandy’s unlikely romance with Ian, Tyler’s determined attempts to woo Whitney and mayhem at the Moons’, there’s plenty for them to enjoy…” Read more & comment »

As fans of EastEnders will know, big hearted Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) is the adopted matriarch of the Jackson family, given that Bianca Jackson’s kids all live in her house, as well as of course Bianca’s mum Carol (Lindsey Coulson).

And when Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) comes back from Dubai soon, he too will once again take up residence with Pat, but as Digital Spy report, the entire family may find themselves homeless in the New Year!

The plotline begins when Ricky gets home next week to find Pat has bad news for him. She tells him that she took out a dodgy loan on the house, and as she hasn’t kept up the repayments, the loan company are about to sell the house and evict them all.

A desperate Pat is hoping that Ricky can bail them all out with the money he earned abroad, however, he has to confess that he lost it all, and is in fact more brassic than he was when he left! Read more & comment »

It’s been revealed by the PA that EastEnders character Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) will sleep with Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) the night before she’s to marry Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).

And it seems that afterwards, Mandy’s going to become obsessed with Ricky, and the whole thing could turn very Fatal Attraction, complete with bunnies on low simmer and surprise appearances in shower cubicles.

But poor old Ian! I think every single woman he’s ever been out with – or married, or both – has cheated on him!

His former wife Cindy (Michelle Collins) cheated on him with Simon Wicks (Nick Berry) and pretended the resulting baby was Ian’s.

His next wife Mel (Tamzin Outhwaite) had an affair with baddie Steve Owen (Martin Kemp), then the next Mrs Beale, Laura (Hannah Waterman) had an affair with Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves).

And last but not least, his most recent ex-wife Jane (Laurie Brett) nearly – but only ‘nearly’ – had an affair with Masood (Nitin Ganatra). Read more & comment »

It was revealed earlier today that Pam St Clement would be leaving Eastenders and already, tributes from her colleagues have started pouring in.

The former prostitute will leave the BBC soap later this year and bosses have promised fans that her exit will be a “fitting finale not to be missed”. They also assured viewers that Pat Evans will not be killed off and may reappear on the odd occasion down the line.

Barbara Windsor – who played Pat’s on screen best friend and often worst enemy Peggy Mitchell – was the first to praise the actress, releasing a statement saying:

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Natalie Cassidy has admitted that she’d love to see her former co-star Sid Owen become a dad.

The former Eastenders actress – best known as chubby Sonia Fowler – played Owen’s on screen sister in the BBC soap for years. Speaking about his latest decision to take some leave from the show and pursue his charity work, Cassidy wrote in her New magazine column:

“It’s all very admirable but, Sid, when are we going to her the pitter-patter of tiny feet? He’s been with his partner Polly Parsons for years and I’d love to see him become a dad.”

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Sid Owen, who plays Ricky Butcher in BBC Soap, Eastenders, has handed in his notice, The Mirror reported today.

Owen is said to have told bosses last week that he will not be renewing his contract, and will depart from our screens in the summer. However he is hoping to return in 2012.

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