TV News
EastEnders producer reveals future plots
Monday 18 July 2011
In an interview with Digital Spy, Kirkwood talked about his plans for the Beale family: "Ian Beale is incredibly important to EastEnders... Adam Woodyatt is one of the most underrated actors on TV - he really can turn his hand to anything and he can have me in tears with the blink of an eye!
"We have a barnstorming story on the way for Ian that gives him an unexpected but brilliant new direction. And I can confirm that the Beale twins will be back at some point in the future.
"The Beale family is essential to EastEnders and they will regain their rightful place in Number 45."
Kirkwood talks about the upcoming plotlines for the Beales
Speaking about Christian and Syed, he said: "I'm a big fan of Johnny [Partridge] and Marc [Elliott] and I'm very much enjoying seeing them back in the limelight where they belong. We've got thrilling plans for Christian and Syed.
"I'm keen for them to stop being defined merely as our gay couple. It's a new experience for all of us to have a happy, successful and loving gay relationship in EastEnders - they're the first for a long, long time and perhaps we've focused too much on what makes them different.
"We're working hard to make sure that we treat them in the same way that we do every single other character."
In relation to the character of Michael Moon, he added: "Michael is going to be here for a long time. I'm delighted with how Steve John Shepherd has made such an impact as Michael - he's got a very unique, spooky presence on Albert Square and he's capable of a lot of things.
"We've extended his family by bringing in his brothers Tyler [Tony Discipline] and Anthony [Matt Lapinskas], so that character is going to dominate over the coming months and I'm excited to see how the audience reacts to his behaviour."
Steve John Shepherd's Michael Moon is going to be busy over the coming months
Kirkwood also spoke about Mandy Salter's return to Walford later this year: "I love Nicola Stapleton, having worked with her elsewhere, and Mandy is going to be like a breath of fresh air when she arrives back.
"She's 20 years older, but she's just as outrageous and uncompromising as ever! Mandy is going to turn the life of one Walford resident upside down."
Nicola Stapleton will return as Mandy Slater later this year
In response to fans fears that Mandy will be just another Janine, (Charlie Brooks), he said: "We have examined that thought - she mustn't be another Janine and I believe that Mandy is different.
"Janine is a damaged little girl who's never managed to grow up and takes it out on everyone around her.
"However, Mandy is very pragmatic and although she's the result of a life on the streets, she's a survivor and isn't down on her luck. Mandy knows what to do to get by, so I see very clear differences between the characters."
He added: "Janine is one of my favourite characters. For me, she is one of the best soap bitches and I reckon there's a lot of imitators on other shows based on Charlie's fantastic performance."
Janine is one of Bryan Kirkwood's favourite EastEnders characters
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