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Sharons biological brother casting confirmed by cast list
Topic Started: 16 Feb 2015, 08:17 (3,498 Views)
Queen Florence Serene
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0546rp0

The young Mr Hanley is indeed now listed for a future episode and those who were speculating on the actors identity were correct! B-)

Jonathan Broadbent plays Kristopher Hanley-just not sure if hes,a regular.
Edited by Queen Florence Serene, 16 Feb 2015, 08:18.
Don't be lazy destiny needs some proactive nudges
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Jade
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Where do I recognise him from? I am sure he isn't a famous actor but the name rings a bell and I cant remember why.
I am looking forward to this. I know for some it doesn't work out well with their siblings but it does for some my cousin although not really close to his birth mother met (whom he tracked down in his late 30s) does still get along with his siblings.

And it doesn't make Sharon less part of her adopted family either. My cousin isn't any less my cousin as he is in contact with his birth siblings. I am glad they are going down the route of realistic things with adoption. In the past we have had ridiculous things like people getting their biological children back after adoption and such. Which was a silly and irresponsible message to give out.
And I love Sharon as the Mitchell matriarch meeting her brother doesn't mean she cant be both. Families don't work in neat boxes that way. And considering Sharon has zero family (minus Vicki) apart from the one she is married into I don't have an issue. However if over 10 move in overnight then I will. I will give it a chance. Nice to see something that can actually happen for a change. And I know some have said this but I rewatched it at the beginning her siblings didn't know who she was, but in the end Carol told them as she told Sharon in one of her last meeting when Sharon decided to cut contact. So I don't understand where that came from unless they are retconning it? But I wont prejudge. I love we are meeting her siblings and she is still a matriarch. Peggy and Pauline certainly had both.

Your approval is neither desired nor required.

Julia Smith "We decided to go for a realistic, fairly outspoken type of drama which could encompass stories about homosexuality, rape, unemployment, racial prejudice, etc., in a believable context. Above all, we wanted realism".

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Queen Florence Serene
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Jade
16 Feb 2015, 09:17
Where do I recognise him from? I am sure he isn't a famous actor but the name rings a bell and I cant remember why.
I am looking forward to this. I know for some it doesn't work out well with their siblings but it does for some my cousin although not really close to his birth mother met (whom he tracked down in his late 30s) does still get along with his siblings.

And it doesn't make Sharon less part of her adopted family either. My cousin isn't any less my cousin as he is in contact with his birth siblings. I am glad they are going down the route of realistic things with adoption. In the past we have had ridiculous things like people getting their biological children back after adoption and such. Which was a silly and irresponsible message to give out.
And I love Sharon as the Mitchell matriarch meeting her brother doesn't mean she cant be both. Families don't work in neat boxes that way. And considering Sharon has zero family (minus Vicki) apart from the one she is married into I don't have an issue. However if over 10 move in overnight then I will. I will give it a chance. Nice to see something that can actually happen for a change. And I know some have said this but I rewatched it at the beginning her siblings didn't know who she was, but in the end Carol told them as she told Sharon in one of her last meeting when Sharon decided to cut contact. So I don't understand where that came from unless they are retconning it? But I wont prejudge. I love we are meeting her siblings and she is still a matriarch. Peggy and Pauline certainly had both.

http://www.whatsonstage.com/search/?term=Jonathan+Broadbent

I dont know if you go the theatre much Jade but going by that link hes done a fair bit of stagework especially in the Westend?Perhaps you know his face from there?

He was also in a 2006 film called The Magic Flute.

Brilliant post by the way,especially your points on adoption and the many complicated very unclearcut emotional ambiguities in human relationships.

Theres adoption within my close family circle and what you say rings completely true.Every case is different/unique and other peoples misconceptions and definitions on what makes someone more or less a family member are often unhelpful.
Don't be lazy destiny needs some proactive nudges
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Jamie Fowler
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I thought I recognised his name too them I realised I was thinking of Jim Broadbent.
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SunhillPumpkin
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When there's someone completely new its a good call cos there's no comparing it to when they played in shows previous,and watching em with jadede eyes
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TellyAddict
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I did a quick search on IMDb and he's appeared in a TV movie of Alice in Wonderland as well as an episode of Gimme Gimme Gimme. His most recent work has been as a voice actor on Thomas The Tank Engine.

I'm quite looking forward to this. I like the idea of them bringing in some new blood for Sharon although obviously it all depends on where they intend to take it - I can see this appearance being something to test the waters for a potential full-time role on the show.
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Shamelessness
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Gimme Gimme Gimme superfan here, he appeared in probably my least favourite episode and IIRC he only had one line ("you, passing person..." or something similar) and he was in a costume so I don't think we even saw his face. I seem to remember he was doing an American accent and was meant to be a big Hollywood actor underneath the costume (possibly Tom Cruise).
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Mr. Right
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I wonder whether he'll be a guest character or a regular.
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MrJames
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I actually looked at the castlist when it was released - can't believe I didn't spot that!
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WalfordFanatic
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Ooooh, I'm looking forward to this. Anything to give Sharon more screentime is a good thing in my book.
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Thanks Nick
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Ruperta
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Where are her other 2 siblings.
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Slater11
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Interesting. So how old will the character be about?
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Katie
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Was his name spelt with a C last time round, or wasn't he credited?

I'm happy about her biological siblings appearing. Just Kristopher being a regular would be enough, but if Carol does die we'll probably see the other two unless they've already died or are living on the other side of the world like Michelle.
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Mrs Peel
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Jade
16 Feb 2015, 09:17
Where do I recognise him from? I am sure he isn't a famous actor but the name rings a bell and I cant remember why.
I am looking forward to this. I know for some it doesn't work out well with their siblings but it does for some my cousin although not really close to his birth mother met (whom he tracked down in his late 30s) does still get along with his siblings.

And it doesn't make Sharon less part of her adopted family either. My cousin isn't any less my cousin as he is in contact with his birth siblings. I am glad they are going down the route of realistic things with adoption. In the past we have had ridiculous things like people getting their biological children back after adoption and such. Which was a silly and irresponsible message to give out.
And I love Sharon as the Mitchell matriarch meeting her brother doesn't mean she cant be both. Families don't work in neat boxes that way. And considering Sharon has zero family (minus Vicki) apart from the one she is married into I don't have an issue. However if over 10 move in overnight then I will. I will give it a chance. Nice to see something that can actually happen for a change. And I know some have said this but I rewatched it at the beginning her siblings didn't know who she was, but in the end Carol told them as she told Sharon in one of her last meeting when Sharon decided to cut contact. So I don't understand where that came from unless they are retconning it? But I wont prejudge. I love we are meeting her siblings and she is still a matriarch. Peggy and Pauline certainly had both.

Sometimes, and more often than not, blood siblings meeting as adults after one has been adopted at birth, simply doesn't work out. It's not always a happy ending, and considering that this is a soap, I gather it won't be either.

Sharon needed something like this a couple of years ago when she was floundering under Simon Ashdown's misguided attempt to make her into a lesser version of Tanya, but now she knows who she is, and she's said it herself: Sharon Watts.

This guy is a stranger, whom she saw briefly as a child and who was told she was his mother's friend. They share a woman who gave birth to them and nothing else. That is not the basis of a familial relationship in terms of adoptees. Yes, sometimes, there are happy endings, but very often, there are not.

Sharon isn't alone and isolated anymore. She has a child, a stepchild and a husband.
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The Other Slater Cousin
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I hope this doesn't sound rude, but the fact this guy isn't a "hunk" or a gym buff, is quite promising. Obviously being stereotypically attractive doesn't equal no talent, but after the likes of Tyler, Joey etc over the years, it's good to know he isn't being cast for his abs.
"I loved it in the Olden Days because you talked more. There’s more action now. You know, we would do scenes in the Rovers of me, Bet and Doris Speed with a cup of coffee each before we opened the pub, talking about absolute rubbish. But it was something, and it was what people do." - Betty Driver
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Mrs Peel
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The Other Slater Cousin
16 Feb 2015, 17:58
I hope this doesn't sound rude, but the fact this guy isn't a "hunk" or a gym buff, is quite promising. Obviously being stereotypically attractive doesn't equal no talent, but after the likes of Tyler, Joey etc over the years, it's good to know he isn't being cast for his abs.
He has theatre experience. I just hope he's doing a guest appearance for a couple of episodes for whatever reason, and that he doesn't start slumming it in Walford. If he's a middle-class professional, we know the way he'll go (May, Stella, Lucas, Yusef).
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Shamelessness
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I hope they haven't changed the spelling of his name to honour Kris Green.
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Lotty27
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Could be very interesting, I hope they don't have them bonding straight away and show the awkwardness that can happen between two people who share half their genes but in all other ways are total strangers. Unless they're planning on bringing all three siblings in and this Kristopher is the one she bonds with most but still being awkward with the other two? I don't think it's against the laws of probability that out of three people you'll get on with one of them even if it's in just a friendship way rather than a familial one?

Either way I am surprising myself by being quite curious about this and eager to know how they're going to play it and of course it has the knock on effect of Sharon being on our screens more which, for me, is a good thing.


Can't imagine any of them being long term though, they'd have to move onto the square for a start which would be a bit bonkers if all of them did. It seems that you can't be in the programme for any decent length of time but live elsewhere. I had high hopes that Sonia would stay a permanent character but still live away from the square but it wasn't to be, you have to live on Albert Square now - even Ava the workshy deputy head ended up living on the square! I remember the days when Pete, Kathy and Ian lived in the tower block and just came to the square for work, visiting relatives etc. Don't see why it can't be like that nowadays really.
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Jade
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Mrs Peel
16 Feb 2015, 18:03
The Other Slater Cousin
16 Feb 2015, 17:58
I hope this doesn't sound rude, but the fact this guy isn't a "hunk" or a gym buff, is quite promising. Obviously being stereotypically attractive doesn't equal no talent, but after the likes of Tyler, Joey etc over the years, it's good to know he isn't being cast for his abs.
He has theatre experience. I just hope he's doing a guest appearance for a couple of episodes for whatever reason, and that he doesn't start slumming it in Walford. If he's a middle-class professional, we know the way he'll go (May, Stella, Lucas, Yusef).
Or maybe DTC will actually not make him a psycho. I just think in such situations you cant make sweeping generalisations. And I would take this over the really awful adoption stories we had which weren't even unlikely but literally impossible.
But meeting your birth family (and even accepting them) doesn't make you any less part of your adopted family. And that I do know. My cousin is still my cousin and nobody will tell either of us different. In fact the irony is he looks like my brothers far more than his own siblings (he was adopted as a only child). His birth mother its a bit more complicated but the siblings he is delighted for his children to know their heritage from all sides including the one he was adopted into. In fact one of them said "What took you so long!" My aunt is still his mother she raised him, she is his mother in every way. Its her he calls mum not this woman. She even asked him when he was old enough if he wanted too. At first he said no and when he was much older changed his mind and she has always supported him in that.
So no meeting with your birth family or even bonding with them takes away from your adopted family.

So Sharon is still a Watts. I don't think anything will change that, even if she comes to love her brothers (though this cant happen overnight_. Now if the EE was saying she would be referred to as Hanley (or Stretton) then yes I would agree. Or if she had been under 18 and ended living back with them again it would be different. At least this can happen.
I do worry they wont keep to that with Shabnam. But I am willingly to be pleasantly surprised.

It doesn't need to be a happy ending but simply giving her more family. Like a great many other characters on the show have had. She isn't the first character to have family turning up. Only difference is they aren't retconned and we know existed. For all I know we might only see them a couple of times or they will be recurring off the square.
Edited by Jade, 16 Feb 2015, 18:26.
Your approval is neither desired nor required.

Julia Smith "We decided to go for a realistic, fairly outspoken type of drama which could encompass stories about homosexuality, rape, unemployment, racial prejudice, etc., in a believable context. Above all, we wanted realism".

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MrJames
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'Kristopher' is the older one right?
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