Yes, I heard about the sex ring storyline from my mum. I feel like Oates has gone for an alternative Ben that would have emerged after killing Heather. Since we had Reid in between, it's jarring. It would be less jarring if this Ben had taken over after Pascoe. Ben would still be a loathsome git, but it would feel less weird after seeing a slightly more human Ben. You're right, it's unfair how some characters like Ben, Phil, Stacey etc, get a free pass for any behaviour whatsoever, yet other characters like Ruby get crucified for everything they do. I think they should do some kind of storyline to highlight Ben (and Phil's) misogyny. Not have it really heavy-handed, but just having it as a subtext. Perhaps have Ben have to take on Lexi more often for some reason. Through this it could be highlighted how Ben really does think that childcare is Lola's problem as Lexi's mother, rather than his. I did kind of enjoy Lola telling Ben and Peter off for their hypocrisy this Friday though.

I've seen the trailer. Um, I might just be thick or missing something, but I watched it and thought 'who are all these people?' I recognised the EE characters, but there were just random people in between. Who were they supposed to be? I don't know about Janine and Zack - she'd eat him for breakfast, realistically. Yes, Jay and Honey are still together, but I don't know why, since their entire relationship seems to consist of a few conversations every couple of weeks, and the way Billy feels about the whole thing.

Callum only didn't shop Kush because it meant Ben getting into trouble as well. I hope he's really bloody uncomfortable on that high horse of his, because it seems all he does is walk around not working, moaning to Ben about one of them being caught for their latest misdemeanours. I think he shows what I hate most in characters in general - I despise sanctimonious characters - do you? It's why I've found Jean hard to swallow lately. She's been acting like Stacey's a hard done-by saint, as though Stacey has ever had any right to a moral high ground over Ruby. I mean, she said that Stacey was sat in a cell, away from her kids, because Ruby had stopped justice prevailing, but if justice had prevailed, Stacey would still be sat in a cell, away from her kids, only for much longer for identity fraud.

Tommy is six months younger than Lily, so 11 in December? But yeah, I'll be more shocked if it isn't Janine. It won't be Stacey, Jean would have heard if she'd escaped from prison. Ben has had some tough times, granted. He never asked his mother to fake her own death, or his father to be an alcoholic thug who despised him for who he was, or even to be gay. But that doesn't excuse the frankly appalling way he behaves and treats others. Phil has told Ben he's proud of him so many times, yet they have to do that scene over and over again because the writers won't think of anything new. Yawn. The sight of Ben looking shocked when Phil says he's proud of him is so old it's hilarious.

I think they cast the War Doctor because a) Hurt is a much bigger name than McGann, and b) Moffat wanted to be the one who solved the 12 regenerations issue. Shame, because McGann would have wiped the floor with that episode. You're right, it makes literally no sense, that the Doctor was the Doctor before he/she/whatever was the Doctor. Maybe they should have a moment as Jodie begins to regenerate when Peter Capaldi steps out of the shower and it was all a bad dream? :)

I remember people saying that if she stayed too long, the show might not survive Billie Piper's departure, but I think that's what happened with Jenna Coleman, tbh. The thing is, she had a great exit in Death in Heaven, but Clara then had to be dragged into S9 and killed off. It was stupid. Moffat did the same with Rory and Amy, gave them a decent exit from the TARDIS and then brought them back to kill them off. Yaz is boring because she has literally nothing distinctive about her, because Chibnall hasn't bothered to develop the fam much. I mean, you can level many criticisms at the golden trio of Adric, Nyssa and Tegan, but they were all distinctive characters, even though there was 3 of them. I wish they'd do more companions that aren't from 21st century Earth. They do work, look at Jamie and Zoe. I feel like perhaps with the Doctor actors it would be less a case of whether they wanted to do it, and more if they could fit it into their schedules. Tennant's been in literally everything since leaving Doctor Who. Yes, I'd love to see Susan and Ian again, for a proper role rather than a brief cameo. It would be great if they did some kind of 'The Fourteen Doctors' similar to the Five Doctors. If they did it like that, then we wouldn't need to worry about whether it was feasible they could return (all Moffat's companions are dead) because they could be taken out of time whilst they were travelling with the Doctor. I think Emma Watson as a one-season companion could get people interested again. Maybe cast an unknown as the Doctor and get famous actors to play companions? I'm not sure who I'd want as the Doctor. Definitely a man this time round, I don't really like gender recasting. A black actor, or maybe ginger? How about you?

Oates likes to do dark stories. She did Bethany’s grooming in Corrie, which I thought was really poorly handled, but as always those storylines pick up the awards. Then she threw in the sex trafficking into the container storyline, just to show us how much of a baddie Ben is, just to then have the whole thing skirted over, forgotten about, and tell us all to feel sorry for poor Ben. It was also done to put Louise in danger, make Keanu a hero, so they got together, to complicate the Sheanu affair, which was stupid putting Leanu (?) together as they had no chemistry. Dunno why no charity or anyone has properly criticised them for that, because it’s a real serious issue and they made a joke of it. Yeah it makes no sense Bowden’s Ben being vengeful and bitter after Reid’s version. It’s ashame they made him a psycho anyway, I dunno why they did that. A nice balance between Kathy and Phil would’ve been good, a fiery character who is good natured, and making him gay was enough of a storyline around Phil’s acceptance. It could’ve been a storyline people related to, but instead the make it OTT. Yes their misogyny should be addressed but definitely not heavy handed, because it comes across as so obvious their trying to preach the message to us and treat the viewers like their guilty and need lecturing. That’s what DW does now. It’s what Corrie did with some storylines. I mean, they all do it. Because it’s headed by people who’ve never actually experienced racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. If anything it’s more telling because it shows a sign of their guilty conscience, trying to prove they're not something they probably are. Don’t suggest to loudly about Ben having Lexi more, or the writers will bump poor Lola off, so everyone feels sorry for, not Lexi, but Ben and Callum being lumbered with a kid and having to rise the challenge of being gay parents. Although they’ll never watch her and granny Kath will have her all the time off-screen instead. Speaking of which, get Kathy away from Terry Rocky Horror Show Cant Act. Gillian is apparently nice in rl, so let her work with other genuinely nice people.

I think the idea was to make the show look like it’s in the real east end. They included other real locations, had typical east end things like what the cafes look like there, with the green tiles, etc. It was so cringe the voiceover narration. And they were showing all boring characters. Janine’s inclusion in the trailer was embarrassing tbh. The speeding by in a sports car is so cliche. Then why she is dressed and styled like that (not Janine at all) and smirking at the Slaters house, idk. Is she gonna be their landlady? Gonna kick them out and live there because retcon Pat owned the house and gave it to Janine in her will. A whole Janine promo would’ve been better. Not putting her as part of that terrible ensemble cast and random east end extras. The show really doesn’t represent the east end, no matter how much they think it does. Janine really should’ve been with Kush, it’s annoying me. I’d like her and Sharon to be friends. Jay, Honey and Billy have been there years yet feel like side characters, they add nothing. I don’t dislike them.

EE’s current characters have no morals or anything, they just do whatever the writers decide. It’s a really poor show at the moment, and barely anyone is liking it, so idk why the beeb haven’t had words. Don’t think Janine is gonna save it, because if that’s all the show is clinging onto, they need to think again. If it wasn’t for this new set, I think that axe would’ve been swinging its way. What do you reckon to the rumours they might be selling all the sets at Elstree off? That means the new set would be real properties. So weird. Especially after all that money. Our money. And if the show were to carry on, they’d have to rebuild another one, again, somewhere else. Which would no doubt go way over budget… again. I hate sanctimonious characters so much. I’ve never liked him but he just gets worse. Dunno what people see in him it baffles me. Ikr the old Phil telling Ben he’s proud of him moment, when he’s done literally nothing to be proud of, and they act like it’s the first time he’s ever said it in the history of the show. Urgh.

I get Hurt is a bigger name than McGann, but tbh I think the main draw was David Tennant and Billie Piper ngl. It would’ve been nice for there to be another companion than just Clara and 3 Doctors. I hoped it’d be Rose and 10 from Series 2, but also not. They should’ve brought Sheridan Smith in as 8’s companion. Introduce her enough so new audiences can get to know her, like with most guest characters, or Hurt’s War Doctor, but not too much is needed as she’s already established in Big Finish to the audio listeners. I’d rather they left the 13th Doctor as the last, and was thinking the other day, I always wanted them and us to be on edge about them dying because they know this is their last one. But obvs their saved. It made me realise, it’s good Moffat did that as the show is in a terrible state rn, so the BBC would’ve had a good excuse to axe it. Also maybe that’s why Chibs did the Timeless Child thing so that the Doctor can never die, they can never cancel it by saying he was only given a limited amount of new regenerations, not it is limitless. But it’s still bad. A lot of people want that to happen, and some claim this era is all a dream or a parallel universe. It’s just sad. Jodie could’ve been good. The first female Doctor should’ve been good, to prove that a woman can play the part. But only Jo Martin has done that, in 10 minutes lol.

Yeah if Billie had stayed for Series 3, they might’ve done the 3 series/trilogy rule they give to dramas and films and things and ended it there. They tried to end it after Tennant left but RTD saved it, yet again. Wish he’d save it now. I didn’t like Clara’s DiH exit. LC would’ve worked and it’s ashame that good exit of a companion having grew old as a big twist would’ve been good. It didn’t suit her characters though tbh. Shame they wasted that exit twist though. I do like her final exit, but she shouldn’t come back now. Tardis teams have worked before, 1/Ian/Barbara/Susan, later Vicki, 5/Adric/Nyssa/Tegan. None of the fam are good so that’s the problem. People have been asking for years for an alien or other time companion. They nearly did it with Jenna Coleman, it was supposed to be the victorian nanny, but then he came up with the new companion being Oswin and that twist, which was good initially. I do think if you’re gonna have multiple companions, you don’t need them all to be from the same place/time and all know each other previously, as easy writing as that is. Have a new companion join in episode 1 and pick others up along the way like with Jack in series 1, but have them stay into the second series. It’d also be good to let the actors sign on per episode so they could leave in any given episode, like the classic series. That’s when the intense secrecy would work and be needed. I know Emma Watson is a big name, but I don’t think she’s a big enough draw. As popular as Harry Potter is, I don’t think any of them rn would be enough to get back viewers. It’s sometimes the less obvious people, the ones you least expect who are the magnets. I didn’t want the gender swap at all. If the Doctor had been a woman, I wouldn’t have wanted her to become a man, ever. So it’s the same principle really. But it’s not seen like that unfortunately. Idm a woman. I just want the best actor for the role, a decent person who’s a good brand ambassador and a good actor who gets the part. Black, asian, etc, not bothered, aslong as they are British. Although I think they're gonna go down the route of tokenism, so everyone can be the Doctor. Although I would like 13 to be the only female Doctor in the anniversary as I want the previous ones to react to it. No one’s reacted to it, like it is a big thing for the show. I’d like a fairly unknown actor to take on the role. I don’t want the cliche big names. I really wanted Katherine Kelly to be the first female Doctor. She’s been in loads of dramas, and Becky in Corrie, Miss Quill in Class. I hate Who actors playing other roles but I’d allow that exception for her. Glad she wasn’t 13 under Chibnall though. I reckon had he worked with her, she would’ve been considered and auditioned. I always wonder who else auditioned for 13. Maybe Vicky McClure did, Kate in Line of Duty, she was in Broadchurch series 1. I doubt Olivia Colman did or else they would’ve gave her the role straight away. I hate Capaldi was the only consideration for 12, I think the main parts should be open for audition to find the best person for the job. I hope they manage to get a series out before the 60th with the new Doctor. Do you reckon it’ll stick as 6 episodes, or 8, or 10? I doubt it will ever go back to 12/13 now though.

Since this is an EastEnders thread, which EE actors past do you think would make good Doctors/companions, not necessarily together. And which present too? I think Lacey Turned would've been an obvious suggestion for companion back in say 2010. And there's always the ridiculous Danny Dyer as Doctor Who rumour. Watching EE 2008 and there's bits of Rob Kazinsky that remind me of Matt Smith, so if he didn't have a troubled time back then, he might have been a contender, although there's soap snobbery so it's very unlikely.

Yeah the sex trafficking was thrown out there as a contrived way for Louise to be kidnapped. I hated how there was basically no follow-up to that and we were all expected to just forget it ever happened. It always irks me that when Ben is at his most vile (sex trafficking, the Martin debacle), that's usually when we're supposed to be rooting for him and his oh so sweet relationship with Callum. Yes, he watches Hannah Montana cuddled up on the sofa with his boyfriend, then he goes out and threatens a man whose daughter has just attempted suicide. Yuck.

Yes, everything's far too heavy handed lately. I know Doctor Who has been as subtle as a brick in the past with its political commentary, (making a story about a planet joining the 'Galactic Federation' in 1972, hmm, I wonder what that's referencing?), but in Ruby's rape storyline (which I really didn't like, how about you?) and S12, I half-expected the actors to break the fourth wall and address the camera. Although they'd never do the misogyny storyline because they'd never intentionally cast their golden boys in a bad light. Callum is marginally better than Ben, but the way Whitney was treated was appalling, and I hated how he still hung around her afterwards.

The good side of the sports car cliche though is that it looks like she's still rich! Which is a good thing because the last thing we need is Janine taken back to square one like its 2008 all over again. I wonder when Janine did sell No 31 though? Because she bought it and paid off Pat's debts when she died so that the Butchers wouldn't be homeless (not that Bianca was ever grateful), but would she have ever agreed to rent to Martin and Stacey? And would Stacey ever rent off Janine? And she sold pretty much everything when she left so it makes me wonder if she sold it on and someone else sold it to the Panesars. I suppose they don't want to give too much away about Janine's return. I suppose she's at the Slater house because Tommy-Kat-Stacey-Jean. Oh no, Sharon will hate Janine's guts, probably for killing Michael, or something. I mean, Michael was a slimy creep that nobody liked but Janine is eeeevvil, EEEEVVVILLL!

What the show needs is to not rely on the old faces that everyone's seen for years. I mean, this is some kind of craze that started with Michelle, then Mel, Tiff, the Slaters, Ben and Lola, Chelsea, Lucas, Peter, etc. They need to devote time to their newer characters. Look, the main Branning unit came in mid-2006. They were at the centre of Christmas 2007. Ronnie and Roxy, mid 2007. Centre of Christmas 2008. Archie, mid 2008. Centre of Christmas 2009. Masoods, late 2007, built up in 2009. New Year 2010 and Christmas 2011. My point is, they were all new, yet they were develop to the point where they could carry the big episodes. Can anyone see the Taylors given the chance to carry Christmas alone? Or the Panesars? These characters are being used to make the older families seem more interesting, rather than being characters in their own right. I mean, Jane and Tanya and Lauren and Lucy were friends, but in no way were the Brannings there to prop up the Beale unit. They just need some faith, because the Panesars and the Taylors are actually pretty good when given the chance. They're just bogged down with Mitchell sh*te these days.

I don't know about these rumours. I thought they were just selling the studios and would lease the EE space from the new owners. Seems more complicated than it needs to be, but I don't understand the BBC. Callum has become an appalling person tied to the Mitchells - hey, maybe a self-realisation storyline as he realises what he's become when Ben tries to get him to help with more sex trafficking? Then he shops Ben to the police, but promptly is also arrested for being corrupt, and the two rot in cells at opposite ends of the country for 20 years. :)

Yeah Tennant and Piper were always going to be the carrot on a stick the public would chase after. Two sets of Doctors and companions would have been better than the moment Rose. What's your favourite anniversary special? For me it's between the Five Doctors and the Five (ish) Doctors Reboot. I suppose the clever thing about Moff's new regeneration cycle, is that we don't know how many the Doctor was given, so technically he could regenerate for ever. The Timeless Child is badly thought out tho, as you say, it wouldn't be the Doctor, unless Chibnall is saying that the Doctor was the Doctor, then forgot about the whole thing and became the Doctor again. Although, imagine if the Doctor is Rassilon or Omega? Or actually, hang on, don't. We don't want to give Chibbers any ideas. Jo Martin was good, granted. Still don't agree with female Doctor though.

The thing is, even with 5/Adric/Nyssa/Tegan, they were visibly struggling to include all the companions. One ended up getting sidelined (usually Nyssa) and then they killed off Adric to get rid of one of them. When you factor in the fact that Season 19 had more than double the run time of Series 11/12, and you start to see why the fam are so crap: how to you cram them all in? So we've ended up with three characters with nothing particularly distinctive about them, apart from Graham perhaps, fulfilling a role that one person could have filled without changing any dialogue. The fact that they all live within 200m of each other doesn't help either. They're literally the same character, made into three for no decent reason. I didn't know Oswin was going to be the companion, I thought it was going to be Victorian Clara then Moffat chickened out and went with Modern Clara instead? I don't know if they'll increase the episode count again. I hope they do. That's another point, actually: Chibnall seems to take longer to do a fraction of the work that RTD/Moffat did, yet it's crap. I also think we've lost the Christmas slot for good, which is a shame, because it was decent ratings, if nothing else.

For the companion, is Jacqueline Jossa too obvious? I don't know how good she'd be, but she seems to have been the only replacement in mind for Michelle Keegan on Our Girl. Speaking of which, Michelle Keegan? Or Lorna Fitzgerald, Jess Plummer, Madeline Duggan or Jasmine Armfield. Even Maisie Smith if the rumours of her leaving are true, she'd bring in a younger audience. They'd all be good for 'generic modern day companion' stereotypes, but if they wanted, say, an older companion, then how about Tamzin Outhwaite or R&R? Although would she do Doctor Who? For the new companion I would cast an East Asian/Chinese/Japanese actress, although can't actually think of any EE characters for that off the top of my head. As for the Doctor, yes I get the Rob Kazinsky idea. He'd be good. Please God not Dyer. His acting's painful enough. There's a bit of me that thinks Charlie Clements would do a good job, although it would never happen. I reckon Jake Wood's too famous as Max to be cast as the Doctor. Davood? I know he's already been in it, but so had Capaldi and Colin. Er, can't think of many. Hang on I've thought of someone worse than Danny Dyer: Shane Richie! What about you? Dream East End TARDIS Team?

So annoying having to go through the site partners, disallowing them, nearly every time I go on here. Same with cookies. I hate how they never followed up that storyline too, but because they want us to like Ben, they dropped it. It’s wrong how they want to make us feel sorry for Ben when he’s at his worst, yet fools fall for it so.

Doctor Who has been political throughout the classic and new who series, however it’s kind of subtle, it’s worked intricately into the story, and it’s now preached or lectured to you in a demeaning and undermining way. But these ‘fans’ don’t get that, just arguing it’s always been political, bladi-blah. Yeah I didn’t like Ruby’s rape storyline. I dunno if they were trying to break new ground with it, but it was not interesting. Another storyline where they seemed to not really know what they’re doing with it or where it’s going. They could do a misogyny storyline, or a racism one, or about Ballum being homophobic to other gays (which is a very real thing and people are scared to portray the reality of that on tv), no matter what they do, the show will always present them as being the ones in the right and demand viewers to feel sorry for them, which the fanatics will. I’d rather Ben be salvaged as a character, if that’s still possible, and Callum axed.

I hope Janine is still rich, but the sports car could be a ruse. The producers teased she could have reformed her ways. But that wicked pantomime villain look suggests otherwise. But why mention it? Yeah we want her to come back to the Square stronger this time, but there’s no reason for her to come back. If Ricky was there, then it’d make sense for her to come back for a family thing and then stay to help out with something because she genuinely does care, and there’s a business opportunity nearby so she takes that up too. She wouldn’t have rented to Stacey, and now the Panesars have it, I mean, what don’t they have, they have everything and everyone in the Square. They’ll soon be renaming the pub to ‘The Queen Panesar’, and having Suki’s cafe, Panesar’s Plaice, Panesar Cars, etc. Why would Sharon care that she killed Michael? I never liked that character, dunno why. Didn’t Sharon and Janine get on a little bit?

Yeah it’s been like that for awhile, with imposter Michelle, Mel, Ruby, the Slaters, Janine, etc. They do need to concentrate and invest in their new characters that surnames don’t start with High and Pan. Yeah those points on those family groups and their peaks, holding their own in big episodes, is very valid. I think the last time we got that is the Carters, joining late 2013/early 2014 and having Christmas 2014, New Year 2016. We need a new family to properly get behind and relate to. They tried to do that with the Taylors, but going down the typical cliche rough working class family from hell who see the error of their ways and go from hated in the community to the pillar. Boring. The only interesting thing about them was Sheanu. I like Karen but have no interest in the rest of the clan. I want her S Club 7 Primeval sister to return though to lift everyone’s spirits up. I can see the Taylors and Panesars given the chance to carry Christmas alone, but pulling it off is a different matter completely.

I don’t understand it all either, but it’s quite worrying. I like the current set as it’s so iconic, and I reckon changing it is going to ruin things. It’s a weird correlation how Corrie has gone more downhill since moving sets, and as much as I like the new set, it’s nowhere near as good as the old one. It felt real. Don’t get me wrong, it’d be great to finally have back yards for all the houses, and better structures, and not clearly fibreglass bricks on the walls. It would be nice to see the golden boys get punished for their crimes. Though I reckon they’d both enjoy it in prison. The show would even relocate from Albert Square and follow them two instead.

The Five-ish Doctors Reboot is quite funny, not watched it in ages though. Since this is an EastEnders page, I mean, I guess I’ve gotta say the 30th anniversary, Dimensions in Time. I dunno actually, I wasn’t keen on TDoTD, was very disappointed, it didn’t do what I thought it would or wanted it to. Don’t think it was the best story either tbh. The 5 Doctors is ok. I watched the 3 Doctors this year and that was alright. I dunno why the anniversary specials always concentrate on Gallifrey, I find the planet to be so boring tbh. I also hate the unlimited amount of regenerations both Moffat and Chibnall have given the Doctor. I really wish they stuck to the rule, and then the actual 13th Doctor was somehow gifted more regenerations, not just his companion begging for a minute to a crack in a wall. Yeah Chibs basically is saying the Doctor was the Doctor, forgot, then became the Doctor, your destined to be who you are, blah blah. Luckily his last episode is being filmed rn so he’s unlikely to be stealing our ideas, although knowing him he’s still got no original ideas. I bet Chibnall can’t wait to be finished with the show. He’s seemed like that way since he ever got it. It was always Moffat who wrote right down to the line though. It would’ve been interesting to see how other eras coped with the pandemic. Luckily (I say luckily) all of series 12 and Revolution was completed nearly 6 months before lockdown, whereas other eras worked right near transmission date. I dunno if the BBC have found a new showrunner yet, I dunno what’s going on there. But they knew he had a 5 year plan, 3 series and out, and he handed in his notice a year ago, so they’ve had plenty of time. It’s seeming unlikely we’re getting a series or even an anniversary special in 2023. Some people think a new Doctor having an anniversary multi-Doctor story in their first year is bad. I think it’s be ok if they had a full series that year first though, it gives them enough time to establish themselves. I mean, Jodie’s had 2 already and not done that, so. Idm a female Doctor now but it really has to be the person for the role, regardless. And while I don’t want them to harp on about it being a woman all the time, I don’t want them to ignore it completely like they have done. There’s some actresses I’d rather see get the part than some actors.

You’re right, the fam are not at all distinctive, and all 3 are the same, uninteresting, uninspired characters wrapped into 1. I’m not keen on 5/Adric/Nyssa/Tegan, I think I don’t like any companions after Romana 2 until Ace, although I like Mel because it’s Bonnie Langford. But all she does is scream so that’s sad. Yeah it was going to be the victorian Clara, but then he thought about making the Oswin character into the new companion who dies in her first appearance (River Song anyone?) and then decided to do it twice, so we’d get (another) modern day companion, as a contemporary one is more relatable. I think my favourite of the 3 is the victorian one. I hate the real one the most tbh. Although all are annoying. I could’ve been ok with decreasing from 10 episodes to 8 because of covid, but the fact it’s 6 and 3 specials annoys me. I’d rather 8 in the series and then the 1 final special tbh. I think they might continue with the 6-8 episodes from now on, it’s perfect for the BBC who’ve been trying to dwindle down the episode count per series for years. It’s mad isn’t it how much RTD and Moff churned out each year. Out of his 8 years, Moffat only had one series-less year, but that’s because they pushed Series 10 back “because of the olympics being the year before”... because they wanted to give Chibnall more time before taking on the showrunner role and give Moffat more time to work on the exit. Series 7 was split across 2 years but we had the 50th in one of them, so it’s understandable. What Chibnall is doing isn’t. Lazy. RTD produced 14 episodes a year for 4 years. Quality episodes. Not just that, but he had spin off shows aswell. In 2008 we had 39 episodes of Whoniverse content. That was like an anniversary thinking about it, was the 45th anniversary year, we had all the spin offs having full series, it was the 30th season, Russell, David and that team’s last, and we had the epic two-part finale featuring returning companions and Davros. Iconic. No wonder RTD left so soon, he did a long time there and he did more than any other showrunner. He was committed. That’s what we need. It’s unlikely we’ll get the Christmas slot back again. Moffat literally finished on Twice Upon A Time and now The Doctor Falls because Chibnall didn’t want to introduce his new Doctor in a Christmas episode, which he thought was fair enough, so wrote that purely just to keep the slot, then Chibbers goes ahead and throws it away anyway. Just rude. That era could’ve done with being exposed more, although it’s crap. I wouldn’t have watched it with my family, it’s embarrassing. I hate watching it myself, cringefest. I dunno how Series 11 got decent ratings. Glad Series 12 didn’t.

I know she is good at acting as Lauren Branning, but I don’t think Jossa would be a good choice imo. And she’s too reality for it I think. Michelle Keegan is the same, she’s done a lot, and would draw in people, but I think they’d look down on her too much being a former soap actress and being more of a media personality. Plummer could potentially do it. Tamzin had a guest role but she could play another part. I think she’d definitely do Doctor Who. Same with R&R. It’s one of the most high profile shows on the box, and worldwide. An east asian companion would be good because it’s never happened before, and it’s all about equal representation, although it should be the best actor for the role. I loved Toshiko in Torchwood, Naoko Mori was good, she’d have made a good companion, had TW not happened, as would Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper. Have you watched it? Always forget Davood was in Doctor Who, literally... Imagine Shane Richie. Christ. Although it would be funny if Adam Woodyatt got the part. Every cliffhanger when the Daleks take over the universe or whoever, he just squeals, “I’ve got nothing left”. I did think of a good EE Tardis team but I can’t remember now. Ben Hardy is probably too big for it now, and I don’t think a muscly guy suits the part well. Maybe Natalie Cassidy could defeat the monsters with her sonic trumpet? Aslong as Sen and Oates aren’t showrunning it, we should be alright. Soap stars do go onto big dramas, and Jenna Coleman started off at Emmerdale, and Yaz and Ryan were on Hollyoaks- ok that example speaks for itself, but it’s possible someone currently on EE rn might go into the show.

Haha yes! You're right, the narrative of Ballum is that Ben is a tortured soul who needs to believe he's capable of being loved by a good man like Callum. The reality is he's a human-trafficking murdering scumbag who's twisted and corrupted a half-decent character to make this loathsome couple that apparently is the best thing since sliced bread. And they are NEVER offscreen. I swear this week is the first time in months that they haven't been in any episodes. It's been such a bloody relief. I skip all their scenes now because I just don't care and I'm sick of them.

Yes, the 'moral' of the story is shoved in the viewers face and lectured. No more provoking moral debate, this point of view is right and that is the end of that. And sometimes the moral isn't great either - these giant spiders deserve a humane natural death, so lets lock them in a room and starve them, and watch one suffocate to death! But the man who points out 'shooting's quicker' (admittedly for his own selfish reasons) is irredeemable scum for daring to use a weapon. I still can't believe that. I disliked Ruby's rape storyline because at one point it seemed to be implying that sexual assault was okay if a woman did it to a man. I mean, the show has a lousy track record with that particular crime, but still - it makes me uncomfortable to this day. Yes, that's an interesting idea - although I imagine they'd make the other gay couple violent and confrontational, and then Ben fights them, so we can have weeks of Callum insisting to Ben that he did nothing wrong. I agree, I'd much prefer Callum to be the sacrifice if one has to go, but the thing is, I honestly don't see Ben coming back from this, whereas with Callum I feel he could if they use the excuse of Ben corrupting him.

The spoilers seem to be suggesting that Scarlett is in care. I honestly don't know what to make of them. I guess she might be trying to appear good for that? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Although, why would she try to come back to the Square, where everyone hates her, for that? The only other real theory is that she comes back to look after Tiffany but Tiff has Whitney and Sonia there as well. No, there's no reason for Sharon to hate Janine, but there was no reason for Kathy to hate Sharon either, after the Sheanu fallout, and we still had that. I would like them to get on, but unfortunately I cant see it happening. Then again, Linda's leaving, but I feel as if Jean may be filling the role of Sharon's best friend. Shirley who?

I remember how the Taylors came into the neighbourhood playing really loud music and a few weeks later Karen suspected Keanu of being the father of Bernie's baby. Did they ever play loud music again? Was there ever any hint that scenario with Keanu and Bernie would ever happen? No, but it was all to ram down the audience's throats what 'rough' working-class neighbours from hell they were. I think the Panesars could do some strong scenes if Pa Panesar came in. All that fallout is still to come - they just need to get on with it and cast him. Yes, the Carters are the newest family they seem to have any faith in. It's annoying.

I think as long as the old and new sets are basically indistinguishable from each other there won't be too much of a problem. At the end of the day, they can't overhaul the new set whilst they're filming on it.

Dimensions in Time is okay as long as you don't take it too seriously. I first watched it before I watched EE, so watching it back recently and thinking, ooh, there's Pauline and Kathy! was fun. I thought Day of the Doctor was okay. Not amazing, not terrible. 5 and 3 Doctors are both good, I think. Troughton and Pertwee are very funny together. I agree about Gallifrey, whenever I watch scenes set there I just feel like everything grinds to a halt. That's another point about Chibnall, he consigned the 50th anniversary and 'saving Gallifrey' moment to the scrapheap by blowing it up again. I wonder what Moffat and RTD think of this era, I mean really think. I know they'll say its wonderful and Chibnall is a genius now, but in 20+ years time I'd love to get classic who-style interviews where they say exactly what they think. Still chuckle at the Earthshock DVD documentary where someone says that if the guns on set had been real, the director wouldn't have lasted one day. I read somewhere that Series 3 wrapped production a few days after Smith and Jones was broadcast, and I know certainly that Genesis of the Daleks wrapped a few weeks before it aired (what a classic!). I suppose if they worked hard the new Doctor could have the Christmas/New Year Special as a debut, then maybe a series in 2023 with the finale as an anniversary special? You're right, the new Doctor needs to hit the ground running at all times, otherwise they struggle. Although, the JNT Doctors are the only ones I can think of that didn't hit the ground running.

I don't get this argument that contemporary companions are more relatable - there are loads of instances where the Doctor has travelled with someone who isn't from present day Earth and they were still relatable characters (Jamie, Victoria, Zoe?). I read somewhere that Moffat was originally leaving after S9, but Chibnall wasn't available so he had to stay on for S10, but he hadn't planned anything so the series got pushed back to 2017, then Moffat had to do the 2017 Christmas special because Chibnall then refused to start on a Christmas special. You're right, RTD and Moffat fought so hard to keep the Christmas Day time slot, so the fact that Chibnall binned it immediately is a little disheartening. The amount of work Russell did was staggering - the DW production team deserved 2009 off after 4 years of 14 episodes, plus 2 spin-offs. The Series 11 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are hilarious. 90% approval from critics and 20% approval from audience. Series 12 is similar - 78% for critics and 16% for audience. ROTD is down to 69% from critics, so it seems even the professionals who wrote their reviews for Series 11 before it aired are turning on the show. What I don't understand is how a lot of people seem to be turning round and saying how Jodie was good really, it was just Chibnall who ruined it - er no, she is as responsible for her Doctor as he is. He wrote the lines, but she delivered them.

Idk, I reckon Keegan would be looked at more favourably since she did Our Girl, and won an award for it as well. Jossa hasn't done anything like that. Plummer is another one like Keegan, I know she did I'm a Celebrity but she's done some dramas since, I think. Didn't Tosh and another TW character die in the same episode? I don't know, I've never watched it. Haha I want the sonic trumpet now. Or Phil with his sonic baseball bat. Your point about Yaz and Ryan is valid - their casting proves literally anyone could do it regardless of talent. They might push the boat out and go for someone in theatre though, like they did with Pearl Mackie. Good EE Team - Clements & Fitzgerald? (I do love the Brannings). Or maybe Nitin Ganatra or Himesh Patel? Thinking about it, those two, with Lorna, Jess Plummer or Maisie Smith might actually be pretty good if we were going for a full EE team.

Hi, you're spot on about Ballum, and I skip their scenes too. Bowden's been like the most featured character since he appeared 2 years ago. The writers really love him.

The BBC really is woke in the bad sense though. They just lecture you. People were claiming about the racist hospital patient to Ash last night, like it was just forced. Soaps never get bullying, racism, sexism or homophobia right. It's always cringely acted and cliched dialogue out of a textbook. Yeah many people criticise that scene in Arachnids, they just tried to make Chris Noth's character like Trump and he was bad no matter what he did, or funny. I couldn't care about anyone in the episode though. It's just so bad. I want Ben to be redeemed so he's not such a wrongen in terms of unforgivable crimes like the sex trafficking. It's just worse how it's skirted over and forgotten about, then we're dictated to sympathise with Ben.

They've paired Jean with Shirley, then Sharon. But I don't get why not with Honey? They are pretty much the same character. They have the same caring personalities in brash families. And Billy is both their exes. Characters always come in as scallies and thugs, play loud music, litter, are rude, then suddenly they are transformed by the street or the square like it's some place of solice and reflection. Kinda cringe really. There's character development and then complete absurdity. Yeah the Taylors played loud music, Karen smoked outside and was rude to people. All the typical cliche things of the family from hell soap trope. And now they get on with everyone in the community. The Keanu/Bernice baby thing was weird, I never did understand that. In fact, I don't want to.

I wish they could've kept the current set. The block of flats in the background. There's history there. Iconic moments. To replicate it wouldn't be the same, just like Corrie. Dimensions in Time is so funny and so bad. You've gotta laugh at it as a spoof, but imagine waiting patiently for that in 1993, the show not being on air in 4 years and that's what you get. Yeah it's fun to rewatch it and know all the EE characters now and be like 'it's them!' 2 and 3 are a very funny dynamic definitely. Yeah I didn't like Day, was very disappointed, I expected more. Just wasn't the story I wanted for the 50th. I hope the 60th is good. I doubt any Doctors will come back as the 'new' showrunner doesn't like multi-Doctor stories. Gallifrey is boring. RTD and Moffat praise Chibnall so not to be rude, but you know they really think it's trash. RTD joked about the scene in Journey's End where the Tardis materialises with the meta-crisis Doctor to save everyone and says it doesn't work as well when you know there's now 1000 Doctors out there, or something like that. There's other snide remarks I've noticed too. I just hope it goes back to Saturday nights when Chibnall leaves. Usually, especially in Moffat's eras, filming wrapped so soon to transmission. Chibnall is ahead, it's always wrapped like a year before, which is good in one way I suppose. The way I see it, now there's a showrunner in place, they could get a series in Easter 2023, a 60th and an xmas special. Min 12 episodes or max 15. Coz of who it is, I'm expecting 13 episodes. The JNT Doctors weren't great. Troughton was in Colin's 4th story for goodness sake. I like the Seventh Doctor though. I can see the potential with 6 having recently watched Trial. Fifth I'm not keen on.

Yeah there's been loads of relatable non-contemporary companions, the audience aren't dumb. Idk why they won't do it. Yeah Moffat wanted to leave with Smith who expected to leave in Series 8, but he wanted to leave sooner because of typecasting and Karen and Arthur leaving, but convinced him to end of Series 7 and specials. Husbands of River Song was gonna be Moffat's last episode but Chibnall wasn't ready because of Broadchurch. Doctor Falls was supposed to be his last, but then Chibnall didn't want to start with an xmas special, fair enough thought Moffat. So he wrote the Christmas special so as to keep the slot, because one the BBC take it away from them, they might never get it back. Then Chibnall decided to axe them anyway. Bet Moffat was pissed. He worked hard. I hate TUaT but I'm glad TDF wasn't the last episode, atleast Bill's exit wasn't as bleak then. They said in the press statement pushing Series 10 back to 2017 was because of the Olympics the year before. Whatever. But also it bridges the big gap there would've been between Series 9 and 11 in late 2018. Russell did so many episodes. Series 11 seemed to be really popular which annoyed me because it's crap. So I'm glad Series 12 got criticism and low ratings. People only liked it because it was a woman Doctor. Had it been a man with this writing, or her acting, they'd have been criticised. I like her, but she isn't right for the part, yes she's a good actress, but not in that role. As rubbish as those scripts and directions, etc, are, a good actor can make it a tad bit better, which none of the main cast can do as they have no gravitas.

Yeah Tosh and Owen died in Exit Wounds, wish Tosh wasn't killed though. I really watch Torchwood to come back, I think it was looking likely. They put Waterloo Road on iPlayer, and that's coming back. Did you watch it? And thankfully back in Manchester. I think they were planning the same with Torchwood. But now with what's going on with Barrowman, that won't happen. What he did was bad, but he's getting more critical attention than Clarke which is annoying. I wish they'd bring it back with Gwen running it instead.

I didn’t plan to watch Janine’s return, but I did inevitably watch the first 2 weeks, like when I was bored or on a train journey. It was worse than I expected, which is saying something. What did you think of it? I mean I think it is a stupid storyline. I would rather Janine and Scarlett came back together, not this going into care business. Why is Janine so posh? She never was before, she had a bit more cockney in her and more raspy-gravely in her voice. Others have noticed it too. She’s also acting rather silly all the time, like she’s a comedy character. They were so reliant on her bringing old viewers back and saving the ratings, but that hasn’t happened. There was no real reason for Janine to come back to the Square. They keep doing character assassinations, claiming Ricky is in prison. And omg recast Liam! What do you think of him? Janine being back as Tiffany is leaving also makes no sense, she is her only real link. We hoped Janine would come back rich, but yet again she’s having to sleep at other people’s places and grovel. This is 08/09 all over again. Like I imagined Janine living in France and living a bit of a luxury lifestyle. The accent would atleast help to explain that. I just can’t get over how actors say they can’t move on from a character and get cast in other stuff, and Charlie just starred in Lie With Me which is the first show she’s done since leaving really, and then instantly goes back to EE, while it’s bad. I hated how Sharon had a go at Janine for no reason too, I would’ve liked them to be friends atleast. Some of the lines are just nasty for the sake of it and not original or witty at all. Like when Janine said to Kat “I thought leopard print went out years ago” and then had to mention BBC’s Drag Race. But like, 1. Leopard print is really popular atm. And 2. Janine used to wear leopard print. It’s just the writers obsession with Kat and leopard print and wanting to come up with a funny insult. The remark about worrying Scarlett will have “a leopard print obsession/attachment” was actually good and worked, it made sense.

I don’t get the point of the fire storyline. Phil’s house was nice and didn’t need burning. The set designers atm aren’t good so can’t wait for his house to be ugly. Nobody died, it didn’t move any stories forward, apart from Janine pretend coughing in court for lols. All the jokes aren’t funny, like the Rick Astley stuff, jesus wept. Alfie isn’t even here for the Michael Moon as Tommy’s dad reveal, so that’s crap. And why did everybody just stand there and not catch Tommy when Janine was dangling him out of the window for about 10 minutes, her arms must’ve killed. It was an attempt to show off doing a stunt during covid, but it didn’t work. And the music when Gray saved Kheerat, wow. Cringefest.

What do you think of the Rocky twist? I’m just glad he’s not Sonia’s dad, but atleast there’s a twist even though it doesn’t make much sense.

I’m guessing you’ll have heard the Doctor Who news by now? Can you believe RTD is coming back! Who’d have thought it? How do you feel about that?

When Max eventually quits, I wouldn't be surprised if exhaustion was a reason.

EE and DW have jumped on their soapboxes a lot lately, and it's like they don't trust the audience to get the message. Back in the day we'd have Mark's HIV storyline, which is still remembered today as challenging perceptions about AIDS. Now we've got Ruby's rape, which basically involved Stacey turning and addressing the camera on evil men, and the Doctor lecturing on climate change. I read a DS article which basically dismissed all criticism of the lecturing in Jodie's era by pointing out that Doctor Who has always made political and social commentaries, before rounding up by blaming the whole thing on misogyny. They kinda missed the point there! I don't remember Doctor Who lecturing or coming down on the side of a poorly made argument before - actually, I do, in Kill the Moon, and everyone kicked off about that one as well. Jodie has been the victim of a lot of misogyny, there’s no denying that, but to blame every criticism on that is silly.

I don’t know about Saturday nights, if it went on there it would be up against shows that mainly only work with live viewing, like the X-Factor and Ant & Dec, and the show really isn’t in a strong enough position to stand up to shows like that right now. Even going on after Strictly in the autumn, it carries on so late, so when would Who be on - 10pm? Too late for some kids to watch on the night so that’s a chunk of the audience gone. Sunday is sort of the night for dramas these days, having said that I looked at the viewing figures for HDM S2, and they were appalling! I just hope we go back to a reliable timeslot - like how we know that Death In Paradise always comes on in January, and Strictly in the autumn. These days, we don’t know when a season is coming or going and having to wait so long only adds to the expectations that what we will get will be stunning, and frankly none of Chibnall’s Who has stood up to those expectations. Fifth Doctor is probably my least favourite because they totally regressed the character of the Doctor but then didn’t go anywhere with it, i.e. do some kind of character arc with the Fifth Doctor. Nothing ever effects him, he just forgets about it in the next episode.

Twice Upon A Time was a bit of a mishmash of things that I think Moffat wanted to do. Glad we got one more outing with Bill though, I wish she’d been kept on because she was a great companion, much better than the fam. You’re right, a good actor can elevate a bad script - since this is an EE thread, look at the work Louisa Lytton, Lacey Turner and James Bye had to do to make a story that shouldn’t have made it past the first draft work - but if an actor of the talent of Peter Capaldi can only just manage it, what hope did Jodie stand? And sorry, but she’s just not a very good actor. I recently found out that Christopher Eccleston didn’t watch Doctor Who to prepare for the role, and obviously he should have done so he knew what character he was playing, but I think he gets away with it because the Doctor wasn’t exactly fresh in everyone’s minds so he could really put his own stamp on the character and take him in a totally new direction. Also, Eccleston is a phenomenal actor.

The one thing that has stuck out for me in Janine’s return is how frankly vile Kat has been. She’s marched into the court, demanded they hand over full custody of Scarlett to her, and they just did!!!! No mention of the fact that this ‘fostering history’ that Kat has involved looking after her cousin’s baby for about 18 months before just handing her back when Hayley asked, or that Kat’s cousin is in prison for assaulting a pregnant woman, or that Kat is in a relationship with Phil Mitchell of all people, or that the woman her children viewed as a grandmother had just been arrested for growing a cannabis farm in her garage, or that this supposed ‘home’ that Kat was going to give Scarlett burnt down the day before the hearing! At this point, it’s pointless for me to sit here and take the piss out of what’s happening by making jokes. Just writing down the lunacy as it happened is enough. I don’t believe Kat actually gives a shit about Scarlett beyond being able to rub Janine’s face in it. Kat only showed an interest in custody of Scarlett when she found out Janine was trying to get her back; she was happy for Scarlett to remain in care when she thought Janine didn’t want her.

I have found EE amusing these days, although for the wrong reasons. I was in disbelief over Sharon causing Janine ‘poison’ (although “did Beale make you squeal” is definitely one of the best lines of 2021) and I HOWLED with laughter at Ruby getting the last laugh on Martin. In the fire, when Gray saw Kheerat and the special effects kicked in, I thought with horror that we were heading for another deafness storyline. I have no words for the song when Kheerat and Gray emerged.

I dislike the Rocky twist immensely. I thought Rocky and Sonia worked well together, and he opened up potential for Sonia to have a new family and actually do something again. Now that duo has a shelf life and Sonia will go back to being irrelevant once it’s over. Also, it makes no sense whatsoever. For this plan to work, it requires things to happen that there was no way on God’s green earth that Dotty and her uncle could have predicted, such as Sonia not contacting or speaking to Carol, no family members visiting and realising Rocky wasn’t Terry, and Sonia not posting any pictures of Rocky on her social media or mentioning to anyone who is in contact with Carol or someone who would know Terry and saying he was part of her life. It’s ludicrous. Is Carol in a coma or has she died or something?

I have heard the news! I’m more optimistic about the 14th Doctor now I know Chibnall isn’t at the helm, and it’s good to have some kind of time frame of when Russell’s new work will be onscreen, and obviously we’re going to find out the new Doctor and companions in the meantime. What totally baffles me though is that Mandip Gill and John Bishop don’t seem to have a clue whether they’re going to be in S14 or not. Which is weird since they’ve apparently wrapped on the centenary/regeneration episode. So either they’re lying because they aren’t allowed to say what episode they’re leaving in, or……. We will still be stuck with them post-Jodie’s regeneration. Will they be written out offscreen then? Because I imagine Russell will want a clean slate. It’s far too early to judge Dan, but Yas has had 4 years and 2 seasons to prove she’s an interesting character, and for me she’s failed miserably.

People argue Doctor Who has always been political, and not subtle, which is true, but it's the way they go about it and work it into the story, and the Doctor's gender has got nothing to do with the valid criticism of that. Yes, Mark's HIV storyline was done so well and wasn't lectury and instead was important informative. They managed to do it years ago but they can't now, incapable and incompetent. The climate crisis storylines across all the soaps are so unrealistic and cringe and pathetic.

I love Saturday nights. Most importantly as a kid I hated Sundays (still do) and would've hated Doctor Who being on a Sunday night, right at the end of the weekend, having homework to do, dreading school the next day. I liked to stay up afterwards and play outside with friends or play with action figures, think about the episode, or as I got older research about it and see what people were saying on social media, you could stay up late, then you had the next day to process it too, and have rewatches. And if you missed an episode, it wouldn't be spoiled by someone in school the next day. But it being on a Sunday takes all of that away. The timeslot is a real issue though, I think it should be before Strictly but around 7-ish on a Sunday maybe. On a Saturday it should be around 7, but it depends on the time of year. If it's when it gets darker later like in the Spring and Summer, later is ok, like 8-ish. But it could even be on as early as 5 or 6-ish like it originally was in the darker autumn, winter months. Positioning it so it isn't against a big entertainment show on a rival channel, and slotting it between 2 popular shows would help, and it gives some variety to the boring game show/talent show entertainment shows on Saturday nights. I mean, Saturday night is Casualty and film nights too.

I think Bill would've been a good transition companion for the first female Doctor. Nardole too. I like the new showrunner new cast thing but I do think the first female Doctor should've had companions to accompany and react with the audience, and they would've been the right two companions. Annoying 13 has one companion taking up her entire era yet she's the most boring and underdeveloped yet.

I'm sick of hearing Janine saying she just wants to do an "honest days work" she must say it a million times every single episode. It's so cringe. The whole court storylines are questionable and unrealistic. No one mentions much that Kat is with Phil and living in the Slaters house. We've not even seen him moving in, no mention of him having lost his possessions to the fire, it was done purely to gain viewers but it was a crap stunt that's ruined a nice set. I'm really disappointed with Janine's storylines, she's getting annoying now, and it's 2008 all over again. Why couldn't she come back strong and rich and with her daughter, it'd be interesting to see their relationship. It's also a shame really she left when Scarlett was young, it would've been good to see how Janine adapted to motherhood. And I'm annoyed Charlie missed out on the DTC era, yet is back for this crap show. Sean came back randomly? I seen rumours of him returning for Christmas and leaked papparazzi pics, but he turned up for that random episode. What did you think? What did you think of Stacey getting married to a woman and whats your opinion on Eve? I was worried they were going to turn Stacey lesbian, because it wouldn't surprise me, these storyliners. It's all just done for shock value. They killed off a representative lesbian character who didn't want her sexuality to be the doofdoof and neither did the characters creator, yet this current team who claim to be woke and championing diversity, have made sexuality of a character the doofdoof, and a joke, either we would've missed Stacey's proper coming out journey for the sake of a surprise twist, but instead it's the shock twist of her getting married to house Eve, which makes no sense. They just make a mockery of it all. They make a mockery of domestic abuse with Ben and Gray, and a mockery of sexuality with Tina, Ash and Stacey.

Yeah I find EE amusing too but for the wrong reasons. I'll be honest, last week's episodes I think weren't too bad though. Had some decent characters, and during my watch which I usually skip through most of the episodes, there were a lot of decent characters in them so I watched most of the episode, but now Ballum are back so that's over. What did Ruby do to Martin again? Don't, the music playing when Gray and Kheerat stumbled out of the fire. I heard the song today in work and it reminded me of that and I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe. What were they thinking? Their still trying to make us feel sorry for Gray, even now. I don't get them. Yet we're clearly supposed to hate Harvey. Is that his name? Dana's dad. Writings so obvious.

The Rocky storyline is unrealistic. Unless they had mentioned Carol living in a country abroad and not coming back because of covid, it would've been ok. But social media. As we know with wooden Maria from Weatherfield popping up on Albert Square residents' social media, Sonia could send a picture of her and her 'dad' to Carol. It's stupid.

I was so shocked by the news and also thought it meant just the 60th special. I hope we get a multi-Doctor episode but I doubt we will now as RTD doesn't like those. There's pros and cons to him coming back. He's better than Chibnall. His era was the golden era. But can he live up to the reputation and strike gold twice? It's worrying too as he said he's only return to Who in a crisis, so the BBC were clearly gonna axe it. And could they not find anyone else decent to take the mantle? I'm also annoyed it's been 10 years since Torchwood finished and it hasn't come back, yet it wasn't supposed to be the last one. There's unfinished business. But of all the eras, RTD's hasn't got good publicity recently. The Noel Clarke and JB stuff doesn't make that team look good, so them coming back isn't the greatest, so they really need to make sure nothing of the sort happens again. What JB did was wrong, but people are concentrating on that and cancelling him more than they are on Clarke, which was worse, and it's him (although years ago) who caused all the JB hate and downfall. There were serious issues back then which need to be addressed properly really, and behind the scenes make sure everyone is comfortable and their casting decent peole. I think RTD will go for someone he's worked with, someone diverse too. I want the next Doctor to be a woman, he's cast 2 men before. I would say T'Nia Miller but she's been The General and I don't like actors changing roles. I don't like any of the rumoured ones either from It's A Sin, but I reckon it could be them. Ideally I'd like Series 14 in Easter 2023, but it's looking like 2024.

I hope neither are in Series 14. Dan can't act. Yaz can't act, but she's been in it way too long. I doubt they are, but you never know. You'd think Mandip would want to leave with Jodie, but who knows. Who do you think RTD will pick as 14 then?

The thing is, telly is generally a lot more fast-paced these days, so soaps have increasingly plumped for shocks and stunts over years in order to keep up with the faster pace. The result unfortunately is that they’ve sacrificed the slower pace and gritty realistic character drama that made them unique in the first place. I skipped most of the Bailey nonsense a few weeks ago, it just bored me rigid. And criticism of Jodie’s Doctor is totally valid now that we’ve seen two seasons of her work.

Honestly, it was really handed to Chibnall on a plate. Bill was already a fully rounded character with buckets more personality than Ryan and Yaz COMBINED, yet she was literally just tossed aside for the Fam, who are drier than cardboard. Yaz is so dull and my heart actually sank a little at the Next Time trailer on the last episode that seemed to show Yaz was alive and kicking, not dead. I know that Moffat had a brand new companion with Smith, but I suppose the reason people forgive him for that is because Amy is actually a decent companion. She’s entertaining, which is the basic requirement of a companion, because they are first and foremost a character in an entertainment program. Although, on Bill, one of my major gripes with the Moffat era is that he let the companions stay far too long. I think Russell did well to shake up the TARDIS crew every season, because it made it feel a bit fresher - Amy and Rory were done by the end of series 6 and dragging them back in S7 only reinforced what we knew in S5: that Amy would always choose Rory over the Doctor. They’d chosen each other, they were happy in their lives on Earth, but Moff had to bring them back just to kill them off. Clara was done at the end of S8, in Death in Heaven, and yet Moff brought her back and killed her off as well. So I think Bill’s one-season story arc works.

Sean was back for one night and one night only as he helped Saint Jean Escobar scare off Eve. Eve, I have mixed feelings on, partly because if a man had turned up having been released from prison and punched two women in the face in a bar, he’d just be sent back to prison and no-one would be laughing. But she’s been fairly entertaining so far, and she doesn’t make my skin crawl like Aaron does. I am grateful they haven’t decided to make Stacey a lesbian (never thought I’d type that!) and the scam marriage is the sort of thing she’d do, but since when has bonking your cellmate got you a reduced sentence? And Jean has been unbearably unpleasant lately. I did laugh when she said she didn’t want a violent offender in the house with the kids though, and Stacey pointed out that Phil Mitchell was in the shower.

Ruby has left Martin without a pot to piss in - she’s emptied the joint account and found a way of enforcing the prenup he signed, meaning that he’s got no home, no money and no job. All he’s been left is the kids and the rabbit. I skip huge chunks of episodes these days - Ballum, Gray and Chelsea, and now KIm. Speaking of what were they thinking, have you seen the baby Alyssa twist?

EE lives in the dark ages when it comes to technology. Nowadays, pretty much everyone is on social media, and you can track phones, bank cards, etc, most transactions are done with cards rather than cash, and London has thousands of CCTV cameras in it. In the real world, the police would be able to track Tina’s bank card being used by Gray on the cashpoint outside the Vic and there’s supposed to be CCTV outside the Minute Mart which would probably catch him. That’s another point, how does Gray know Tina’s PIN? Was it her last words?

The scam is drivel. I read an excellent summary of the storyline online: “There's no earthly reason why a girl of about 20 would be so desperate to bring forward her inheritance by a couple of years, that she'd concoct an elaborate scam using one of her secret relatives, to fool a PoA that he was instead one of her secret relatives, in the tenuous and totally random hope they'd form a bond and she'd then be stupid enough to invest someone else's cash in a con trick. Neither is there any reason why EE thought this nonsensical bullshit would make a compelling storyline.” Which is the whole thing in a nutshell. It also shows how narrow the world of EastEnders is - Carol, Bianca and Robbie have left Albert Square and just stopped existing.

I think Russell is a good enough and experienced enough producer to know that he can’t just do a rerun of the greatest hits of his last era like it’s 2008 all over again. I suppose the saving factor even though RTD’s era hasn’t had the best publicity lately is that Russell and David Tennant, the two main men, appear to be squeaky clean. Barrowman and Clarke weren’t on set much. Clarke sounds much worse than JB, with him it sounds like a poorly thought out joke. I would prefer the Doctor to be a man again, because I will never understand all the rubbish they trotted out at the time of Jodie’s casting saying that Doctor Who needed a strong female lead - as if it had never had a decent female character in it before. The sad irony is that even the female characters in the 60s could wipe the floor with the women of Chibnall’s era. I just hope that RTD puts his foot on the gas when he does take over because it’s high time it felt like someone cared behind the scenes.

Dan’s been fairly entertaining lately - at least he has some sort of personality as opposed to Yaz, who is appalling. I have no idea who will be 14, it could be literally anyone, but Russell’s never let us down with important casting before, so I’m optimistic.

In other news, someone is truly looking down on us! Have you heard the Jon Sen news? *pops champagne*

Nothing is shocking anymore though, because they've done so many outlandish things, and they throw everything at a story and hope it sticks, and trying to outdo itself each time, nothing stands out. We're desensitised to it now. E.g. someone cheats by just having a kiss with someone else, it doesn't seem a big deal to viewers now.

Love your descriptions of the fam lol. So true that he could have utilised Bill instead. Her and 13 would've worked. If anyone was to have a companion smother their entire era, it would be 11 and Amy. But he needed to interact with another companion. However, we had episodes without Amy. He has essentially other companions in ALL her christmas specials, and had side episodes with JC. Imo it was only Clara who outstayed her welcome. She was the first bad companion, annoying and unrealistic. However she was a capable actress. Which is what we lack in a companion now. It's interesting that RTD had a new cast member every series, though I think it just worked out that way. Had Eccleston chosen to stay on for Series 2 and Piper 3. I just think the Amy, Rory and Melody stuff was wasted after Let's Kill Hitler, no real exploration of their feelings and how it affected them. I liked Series Part 1 being their swansong though and having a movie-feel. It was ashame they weren't companions in 2011 xmas special though, as I said, Amy didn't really interact with The Doctor in those specials. However I do think maybe they could have left them in the present day and they be recurring companions in viewer time, not crammed into the 5 episodes just so the actors can part ways. Clara died multiple times. It's ashame they wasted the Last Christmas exit as it's really good, however wouldn't have suited her character, I much prefer Hell Bent, though most prefer Face the Raven. I agree Bill's one series arc works too. We saw enough of her. But the fact we knew her after 12 episodes and Yas has made no impact after 28 is ridiculous and says a lot. Idc about the characters anymore.

The fact Jean thought Eve was bad yet happily allowed Janine and then Phil Mitchell to live under their roof. The worry that Stacey would turn lesbian was real. So out of character. The baby Alyssa twist is mad and random. However, I did think since they killed Denny off, the only way to get round it to continue the Watts line would be to say he fathered a child just before the boat crash and never knew. It's still icky though. Also no to the name.

The Whole Gray thing is just annoying, stupid and boring. The Dotty/Rocky/Sonia thing is so stupid. I'm just glad he's not Sonia's dad.

The Doctor didn't need to be genderswapped. It's true that there are few and far between male role models who aren't violent action types, thugs or masculine and hyper sexualised. Like I didn't need to be the same gender as a character to relate to them. I related to Rose, Sarah Jane, Gwen, Martha, Maria, Donna, Amy, River just as much as I did to 9, 10 and 11. Dr Who has always had positive female role models, but times are getting madder. But I would like to see RTD with a female Doctor and they prove it can work. It's one thing that the first female Doctor's run is so bad, the worst ever. And bad that they are retconning the history, after making the biggest change yet. But it's also bad how the first female Doctor has been overshadowed by other Doctors; by Jo Martin in the series, and David Tennant in extended media. Plus the show was supposed to go in a new, fresh direction and it seemed positive, yet Gallifrey's been destroyed, and it's focusing more on The Doctor's hidden past, which idc about. I'd have much preferred some episodes of Series 13 (hate calling it Flux) had it not been for the Division/Timeless Child rubbish.

If you've seen the finale episode, what did you think? I love Yaz's reaction to something that happened.

I know! I was so happy when I saw the news. It's about time. Though why they are moving him to already failing Casualty, idk. I just hope Chris Clenshaw is a decent producer. Idk much about him, though he worked under DTC so hopefully he'll be good. However, Oates is still there. And I doubt they'll get rid of Ballum anytime soon. What do you think he'll do?