BBC One's "EastEnders" Celebrates Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee This Coming June with Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall

By James V. Ruocco

Get ready "EastEnders" fans.

In honor of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, the Queen Vic is hosting a gala Jubilee party in Albert Square featuring most of the "EastEnders" cast including Danny Dyer, Kellie Bright, Natalie Cassidy, Gillian Taylforth, Rose Ayling Ellis, James Bye and Letitia Dean, among others.

The celebration, launched by Mick Carter, Dyer's popular character in the long-running soap, is a big day for the Walford pub owner and his family, all of whom will partake in the Jubilee festivities along with other Albert Square residents.
But as the festivities evolve, a surprise visit by the Queen's son, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, sets the stage for a 70th Anniversary party no one quite expected, imagined or thought was even possible.

These special moments - Mick and Linda Carter presiding - will be broadcast on BBC One in conjunction with the start of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee on Thursday, June 2 during the 7:30 p.m. broadcast of "EastEnders."

"We are truly honoured to have both the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall appear in what is set to be one of 'EastEnders' most special episodes, "EE" producer Chris Clenshaw explained to the British press during a break in filming.
"Linda Carter (played by Bright) is naturally in her element - giddy with excitement as their Royal Highnesses arrive in Walford - but it wasn't just for her.
"For all of us at 'EastEnders,' it was an extremely special day that will go down in 'EastEnders' history."

Prior to filming these moments on March 31, 2022, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were given a tour of the "EastEnders" set at Elstree Studios, which was followed by a meet-and-greet with the entire cast and crew of the BBC primetime soap.

"I did think what amazing sports they are to be just willing to so this," recalls Bright. "I just thought 'Wow.!' They've never done anything like this before and they really didn't know what to expect. It was completely out of their norm."

For plot purposes, the June 2nd episode of the "EastEnders" Platinum Jubilee celebration offers "hints of surprise" when Mick Carter announces that he has secured a couple of VIP guests to participate in the Square's big street party.
But no one, including Mick, ever expected to see Charles and Camilla walk through the doors of the Queen Vic in honor of the Queen's 70-year reign.

Wonder what the late Peggy Mitchell, the onetime landlady of the Queen Vic, would have to say about that?

"EastEnders" is broadcast on BBC One 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

From the Desk of Jim R: The UK Soaps: The British Soap Awards 2022 This June

By James V. Ruocco

The British Soap Awards.
It's the biggest night of the year.
And it's back - LIVE on ITV this June 11th - after being off the air for two years due to the COVID 19-related pandemic.
Hosted by Philip Schofield of ITV 's "This Morning," the event will take place in London at The Hackney Empire Theatre, an iconic venue, which officially opened its doors on Mare Street back in 1901 as a musical hall, later expanding its entertainment calendar to include comedy acts, touring shows, opera, concerts, theatre and performing arts programmes for young people.
The awards ceremony will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and run approximately two hours with no interval.
Tickets are £39.50-£19.50 (plus £1.15 per ticket online, £1.35 per ticket over the phone).

As predicted, "EastEnders" and "Emmerdale" have received the most nominations - 13 each - including two nominations apiece for Best Leading Performer. "Coronation Street," in turn, follows with 12 nominations while "Hollyoaks" received 11 and "Doctors" clocks in with 9.
A total of 14 awards are up for grabs including Best British Soap, Best Newcomer, Best Storyline and Scene of the Year.

Who will win?
Who will lose?
Who's the best?
Who will go home empty-handed?

Will "EastEnders" win the award for Best British Soap?
Or will "Emmerdale" take home the coveted prize?
Is "Hollyoaks" the dark horse? 
Or will the award go to "Coronation Street?"
Or "Doctors?"

"The British Soap Awards are the highlight of the year for everyone in the soaps," says a spokesperson for the ITV telecast. "It's a chance for everyone involved to celebrate and recall the hard work they've put in throughout the year."

So who knows?
Anything can happen - and will happen - at The British Soap Awards.

Villain of the Year nominees Toby-Alexander Smith (ex-Gray Atkins on "EastEnders") and Paige Sandhu (ex-Meena Jutla on "Emmerdale") will be among those attending the event alongside cast members from all five primetime UK soaps including fellow nominees Gillian Wright, Linda Henry, Mark Charnock, Paddy Bever, Sarah Moyle, Jayden Fox and Matthew James-Bailey.

My choices (in some cases, there are more than one) for each category are in bold.

The Nominations:

BEST BRITISH SOAP

Coronation Street

Doctors

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks

BEST LEADING PERFORMER

Sally Carman (Abi Webster) – Coronation Street

Gillian Wright (Jean Slater)  – EastEnders

Linda Henry (Shirley Carter) – EastEnders

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla)  – Emmerdale

Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) - Emmerdale

BEST FAMILY

The Alahans – Coronation Street

The Carters – EastEnders

The Dingles – Emmerdale

The McQueens - Hollyoaks

VILLAIN OF THE YEAR

Maximus Evans (Corey Brent) – Coronation Street

Laura White (Dr Princess Buchanan) – Doctors

Toby-Alexander Smith (Gray Atkins) – EastEnders

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) – Emmerdale

Rhiannon Clements (Summer Ranger) - Hollyoaks

   

BEST COMEDY PERFORMER

Jane Hazelgrove (Bernie Winter) – Coronation Street

Sarah Moyle (Valerie Pitman) – Doctors

Tameka Empson (Kim Fox) – EastEnders

Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) – Emmerdale

Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen) - Hollyoaks

 

BEST NEWCOMER

Paddy Bever (Max Turner) – Coronation Street

Ross McLaren (Luca McIntyre) – Doctors

Ross Boatman (Harvey Monroe) – EastEnders

Darcy Grey (Marcus Dean) – Emmerdale

Matthew James-Bailey (Ethan Williams) - Hollyoaks

 

BEST STORYLINE

Coronation Street - Hate Crime

Harry Visioni (Seb Franklin) Mollie Gallagher (Nina Lucas) Sally Carman (Abi Webster) David Neilson (Roy Cropper) Millie Gibson (Kelly Neelan) Maximus Evans (Corey Brent).

Doctors - Bear and his mother encounter racism at St Phil’s Hospital

Dex Lee (Bear Sylvester) Angela Wynter (Makeda Sylvester) Laura Bayston (Nurse Cathy Jenkins)

EastEnders - Jean’s Bipolar

Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater) Ross Boatman (Harvey Monroe) Jessie Wallace (Kat Slate) James Bye (Martin Fowler)

Emmerdale - Meena Serial Killer

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla)

Hollyoaks - Misbah’s Historic Rape

Harvey Virdi (Misbah Maalik)

  

         

BEST SINGLE EPISODE

Coronation Street – Flashback

Doctors – Three Consultations and a Funeral

EastEnders – Jean in Southend

Emmerdale – Marlon’s stroke

Hollyoaks – Out of Time

 

BEST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE

Sally Carman (Abi Webster) – Coronation Street

Dex Lee (Bear Sylvester) – Doctors

Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) – EastEnders

Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) – Emmerdale

Harvey Virdi (Misbah Maalik) - Hollyoaks

 

BEST ON-SCREEN PARTNERSHIP

David Neilson & Mollie Gallagher (Roy Cropper & Nina Lucas) – Coronation Street

Chris Walker & Jan Pearson (Rob Hollins & Karen Hollins) – Doctors

Lacey Turner & Gillian Wright (Stacey Slater and Jean Slater) – EastEnders

Isobel Steele & Bradley Johnson (Liv Flaherty & Vinny Dingle) – Emmerdale

Anna Passey & Kieron Richardson (Sienna Blake & Ste Hay) - Hollyoaks

          

                                                            

 BEST YOUNG PERFORMER

Millie Gibson (Kelly Neelan) – Coronation Street

Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon) – EastEnders

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor) – Emmerdale

Jayden Fox (Bobby Costello) - Hollyoaks

           

           

SCENE OF THE YEAR

Coronation Street – Johnny’s Death

Sally Ann Matthews (Jenny Connor) Richard Hawley (Johnny Connor) Julia Goulding (Shona Platt)

Doctors – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Adrian Lewis Morgan (Jimmi Clay) Ashley Rice(Sid Vere) Jane Pearson(Karen Hollins) Sarah Moyle (Valerie Pitman) Ben Moor (Paul Brooks) Harriet Thorpe (Hattie Brooks) Helen Lederer (Maisie Oliver)

EastEnders – Hall of Mirrors

Gillian Wright (Jean Slater) Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater)

Emmerdale – Bridge Collapse

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla) Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe ) Isabel Hodgins (Victoria Sugden) Rebecca Sarker (Manpreet Sharma) Kevin Mathurin (Charles Anderson) Anna Nightingale (Andrea Tate)

Hollyoaks – Misbah Didn’t Consent

Haiesha Mistry (Yasmine Maalik) Harvey Virdi (Misbah Maalik )

For tickets or more information, call 44 20 8985 2424.

The Hackney Empire Theatre is located at 291 Mare Street, London, United Kingdom, E8 1EJ.

Seating is currently available in the Dress Circle, the Upper Circle and the Gallery (unreserved only). The Stalls (lower level) are completely sold out.

On June 11th, the British Soap Awards will be recorded LIVE for future broadcast on ITV. By purchasing a ticket and attending the performance, you consent to your image being used all during the telecast.
As stated earlier, the ceremony will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.
Per management of the Hackney Empire Theatre, there will be strictly no latecomers or re-admittance to the event.

ITV's "Coronation Street: The Best Performances of the Year: 2021

 

By James V. Ruocco

"Coronation Street"

It's the world's longest running UK soap - the first episode was broadcast on December 9, 1960 - with an average audience of seven million viewers per episode.

And though the characters of Ena Sharples, Hilda Ogden, Bet Lynch, Elsie Tanner and Stan Ogden are long gone, life on the cobbles continues with absolutely no sign of slowing down.
And oh yes, the Rovers Return is still in business. It's still the pub of choice. You'll also find a new landlady in charge. But the memories of all those wonderful women before her still linger. 

Nostalgia aside, let's get down to business.
Like "Emmerdale," "Hollyoaks" and "Eastenders," characters  - new, old and legacy - come and go.
Some say "goodbye" after years and years of being front and center in the show's mainstream  character-driven storylines.
Some take a break with hopes of a return in the not too distant future.
Others meet their untimely doom (ie., death, unexplained disappearance) at the hand of the show's reigning villain. 

2021 was no different.

Who stood out?
Who got away with murder?
Who was caught weeing on the street in the dead of winter?
Who lied and lied only to be found out on their big wedding day?
Who reduced the at-home viewers to tears?
What plotline kept you on the edge of your seat?
What newcomer caught your eye?
Who made you laugh the most?
What romantic pairing - straight or gay - did you enjoy the most?
Who made the biggest impression?

Who did you want to kick in the ass or slap in the face?
What character's death did you not see coming?
Who surprised you the most?

Lots of actors....Lots of characters...Lots of storylines...Lots of plot twists...Lots of drama...Lots of comedy...Lots of great performances.

The list is endless.

My picks are as follows:

Best Performance by an Actor

David Neilson (Roy Cropper)

Joe Duttine (Tim Metcalfe)

Richard Hawley (Johnny Connor)

Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt)

Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs)

Rob Mallard (Daniel Osbourne)

Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald)

Trevor Michael Georges (Ed Bailey)

Charlie De Melo (Imran Habeeb)

Gareth Pierce (Todd Grimshaw)

Best Performance by an Actress

Mollie Gallagher (Nina Lucas)

Sally Carman (Abi Franklin)

Maureen Lipman (Evelyn Plummer)

Sally Ann Matthews (Jenny Connor)

Sally Dynevor (Sally Metcalfe)

Helen Worth (Gail Platt)

Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape)

Lorna Laidlaw (Aggie Bailey)

Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw)

Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts)

Roxandra Porojnicu (Alina Pop)

Shelley King (Yasmeen Nazir)

Georgia Taylor (Toyah Battersby)

Jane Danson (Leanne Battersby)

Allison King (Carla Connor)

Alexandra Mardell (Emma Brooker)

Sair Khan (Alya Nazir)

Kate Ford (Tracy McDonald)

Jane Hazelgrove (Bernie Winter)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor

Jude Riordan (Sam Blakeman)

Ellie Leach (Faye Windass)

Millie Gibson (Kelly Neelan)

Adam Hussain (Aadi Alahan)

Harriet Bibby (Summer Spellman)

Tanisha Gorey (Asha (Alahan)

Isabella Flanagan (Hope Stape)

William Flanagan (Joseph Brown)

Villain of the Year

Maximus Evans (Corey Brent)

Mark Frost (Ray Crosby)

Will Mellor (Harvey Gaskell)

Paul Opacic (Stefan Brent)

Zora Bishop (Sabeen Habeeb)

Kate Spencer (Grace Vickers)

Best Newcomer

Paddy Bever (Max Turner)

Joe Frost (Leo Thompkins)

Sam Retford (Curtis Delamere)

Kiran Landa (Marrium Nazir)

Jamie Kenna (Phill Whittaker)

Bill Fellows (Stu Carpenter)

Best Legacy Character Performance

Barbara Knox (Rita Tanner)

William Roache (Ken Barlow)

Helen Worth (Gail Platt)

Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts)

Sally Dynevor (Sally Metcalfe)

Best Comedy Performance

Lisa George and  Andy Whyment (Beth and Kirk Sutherland)

Patti Claire (Mary Taylor)

Tony Maudsley (George Shuttleworth)

Antony Cotton (Sean Tully)

"Coronation Street" is broadcast Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on ITV

ITV's "Emmerdale:" The Best Performances of the Year: 2021

 By James V. Ruocco

Who's in?
Who's out?
That is the question.

On ITV's "Emmerdale," characters come and go.
Some say "goodbye" after years and years of being front and center in the show's mainstream  character-driven storylines.
Some take a break with hopes of a return in the not too distant future.
Others meet their untimely doom (ie., death) at the hand of the show's reigning villain.

2021 was no different.

Who stood out?
Who got away with murder?
Who reduced the at-home viewers to tears?
What newcomer made everyone sit up and take notice?
Who made you laugh the most?
What romantic pairing - straight or gay - did you enjoy the most?
Who made the biggest impression?
Who did you want to kick in the ass or slap in the face?
Who surprised you the most?

Lots of actors....Lots of characters.

The list is endless.

My picks are as follows:

Best Performance by an Actor

Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle)

Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe)

Jonny McPherson (Liam Cavanagh) 

Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle)

Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle)

James Hooten (Sam Dingle)

Max Parker (Luke Posner)

Jurell Carter (Nate Robinson)

Bhasker Patel (Rishi Sharma)

Best Performance by an Actress

Fiona Wade (Priya Kotecha)

Claire King (Kim Tate)

Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle)

Karen Blick (Lydia Dingle)

Samantha Giles (Bernice Blackstock)

Elizabeth Estensen (Diane Sugden)

Zoe Henry (Rhona Goskirk)

Amy Walsh (Tracy Metcalfe)

Rebecca Sarker (Manpreet Sharma)

Katherine Dow Blyton (Harriet Finch) 

Sally Dexter (Faith Dingle)

Isabel Hodgins (Victoria Sugden)

Natalie J. Robb (Moria Dingle)

Susan Cookson (Wendy Poster)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor

Isobel Steele (Liv Flaherty)

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor)

Mimi Slinger (Leanna Cavanagh)

Joe-Warren Plant (Jacob Gallagher)

Jack Downham (Noah Dingle)

Gabrielle Dowling (Cathy Hope)

Villain of the Year

Paige Sandhu (Meena Jutla)

Michael Wildman (Al Chapman)

Best Newcomer

Lawrence Robb (Mackenzie Barton)

Jessie Elland (Chloe Harris)

Best Comedy Performance 

Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle)

Patrick Mower (Rodney Blackstock)

Lesley Dunlop (Brenda Walker)

Christopher Chittell (Eric Pollard)

"Emmerdale" is broadcast Mondays through Fridays at 7 p.m. on ITV. Double episodes are usually scheduled on Tuesdays or Thursdays.