March 22nd, 2013 by Anna Howell. Tags: arthur fowler, Bill Tarmey, bill treacher, Coronation Street, Dominic Brunt, Dot Branning, Eastenders, Emmerdale, Jack Duckworth, Jane Cox, Jim Branning, John Bardon, june brown, Lisa Dingle, liz dawson, mark charnock, Marlon Dingle, Paddy Kirk, pauline fowler, Steve Halliwell, vera duckworth, Wendy Richard, Zak Dingle
The Great British soap opera has become segmented in our lives, with the likes of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks providing us with over 22,850 episodes between them totalling over 11,500 hours since they all began entertaining us, making them almost an extension of our own lives.
With these facts and figures which make the likes of the Mitchells, the Barlow’s, the McQueen’s and the Dingles such a strong influence on society, it is no wonder the divorce rate in Britain today is so high.
The average relationship life expectancy in soapland is anywhere between six weeks and six years, and whilst weddings occur almost weekly on one mainstream soap or another, successful, long and fulfilling marriages are almost unheard of.
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February 17th, 2010 by TV Writer Lynn. Tags: Eastenders, Mike Reid, Pam St Clement, Wendy Richard
Pam St Clement, who of course plays Pat Butcher in EastEnders, has revealed that she found it difficult to go back to work following the deaths of her co-stars and personal friends, Mike Reid and Wendy Richard.
Mike Reid died in 2007 after a massive heart attack, and Wendy Richard passed away last year after a long battle with cancer.
Pam told the People, “Over the years, you spend so much time with the people that your character has relationships with.
“They are like your family and you do form close bonds because when you are acting you often are showing a kind of vulnerability… Read more & comment »
March 20th, 2009 by TV Writer Lynn. Tags: last night's TV, last night's TV reviews, tv reviews, Wendy Richard
When legendary actress Wendy Richard was diagnosed with cancer for the third time in January 2008, she decided she wanted to make a film to help other people in a similar situation, so in November, she began filming what was to be her final TV appearance, other than those that are thankfully stored for posterity in any number of archives.
“I was terrified about what chemotherapy involved” she said. “I’d heard all sorts of rumours and I was frightened, but yet I knew having refused it when I had cancer the last time, that now I really needed to get stuck in… Read more & comment »
February 26th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: BBC, Eastenders, Wendy Richard
Tribute was paid today to actress Wendy Richard, who has died at the age of 65.
Director-General, Mark Thompson, said: “I am enormously saddened by the news of Wendy’s death. Her countless BBC appearances across decades, especially as Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and then as Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, lit up living rooms for millions of British families who regarded her as a member of the family. That was an enormous achievement.
“Millions of viewers and listeners across the world will mourn her passing today and and she will be hugely missed.”
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February 26th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry. Tags: BBC, Eastenders, Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard has died at age 65 her agent has confirmed.
The actress best known for her role as Pauline Fowler in BBC soap Eastedners revealed last year that she was suffering from terminal cancer and had only a few months left to live.
Her agent Kevin Francis said: “She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end.”
Francis said the star passed away in the Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband by her side.
