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| Jake Wood is "leaving for one year"; Wants to pursue other projects but claims he'll be back | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 28 May 2015, 04:19 (15,260 Views) | |
| The Local Butcher | 28 May 2015, 10:46 Post #21 |
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If it's not the Carter show it's the Vincent show which is admittedly an even worse proposition. They've got a lot riding on Claudette's lot and I'm yet to be convinced. If they don't work out they're going to have a problem on their hands. There's a lot of speculation at this point but I wouldn't blame Lindsey for leaving. I'd probably applaud it at this point. Carol reached her peak as a character back when Bianca's lot and David were still there. When they left the character already took a major hit but there was still just enough to keep going. Now Liam and Max, the two characters Carol is easily the closest too at this point, are leaving as well. What does that leave for Carol? Sonia and Whitney may still be around but her relationship with them just isn't all that compelling and they've been integrated into the Carters at this point which makes Carol's presence even less relevant. Edited by The Local Butcher, 28 May 2015, 10:47.
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| Warning: Posts made by The Local Butcher may contain sarcasm, frustrated expressions of fatigue in the face of Eastenders' neverending insanity, desperate and ill-conceived attempts to be funny, controversial opinions and nuts. Not necessarily in that order. | |
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| Daniel68 | 28 May 2015, 10:50 Post #22 |
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Well, at least he's coming back after a year. It's not all bad. |
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| Mr Carter | 28 May 2015, 10:55 Post #23 |
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I will miss Max Branning and Jake Wood but at the end of the day no character or actor is ever bigger than the show. He needed a well earned break and when he comes back next year hopefully he will be re-energised like Stacey/Lacey was. |
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| The Local Butcher | 28 May 2015, 11:00 Post #24 |
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Breaks can do a world of good. I even kind of miss Lauren and that's coming from someone who thinks she's the most overrated character ever. |
| Warning: Posts made by The Local Butcher may contain sarcasm, frustrated expressions of fatigue in the face of Eastenders' neverending insanity, desperate and ill-conceived attempts to be funny, controversial opinions and nuts. Not necessarily in that order. | |
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| See You Slater | 28 May 2015, 11:32 Post #25 |
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I think in the long run this will do a world of good for Max. He's become a bit tired recently, so to give Jake a break means that Max can return reenergised for a killer 2016. |
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| The Other Slater Cousin | 28 May 2015, 11:40 Post #26 |
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I'm really happy about this. We all know what a fantastic actor Jake is, but taking Max out of the Square for a bit and letting the character have a little rest will do wonders. Max does feel a bit tired right now and I'm perfectly happy to get the opportunity to miss him over the coming year. No doubt he'll come back refreshing and ready to go. The fact we known he's coming back next year for a fact makes it all okay. I assume Jessie is on a similar deal... |
| "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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| Mr Branning | 28 May 2015, 11:41 Post #27 |
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I'm so glad they've now said he's signed to come back for next year. I agree it seems likely he's going to be arrested for Lucy's death, though allowing an innocent man to rot in prison for a year isn't going to do much for the Beales' popularity. |
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| The Other Slater Cousin | 28 May 2015, 11:46 Post #28 |
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I'm quite worried about this because how am I going to get completely invested in the Beales storylines over the next year when I know there is a man that's in prison when they know he's not guilty? It damages them, even if we know and understand why they do it. It'll certainly be something when Kathy finds out. And let's not forget Lauren storming in, baby in tow... |
| "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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| Jay Lee | 28 May 2015, 11:47 Post #29 |
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I'm in two minds about it. I agree that a break from Max will do the character some good and I'm pleased that Jake Wood has signed a deal to return next year. Having said that, coming so soon after the departure of Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace - all of whom one might consider to be "A list" characters - it is not exactly great timing. I hope this does mean other characters (beyond the Carters) get more screen time AND that the material these characters are given goes beyond "filler" mode. EastEnders in limbo following cast departures and dwindling storylines does not make for an exciting prospect. I hope Dominic Treadwell-Collins knows what he is doing. Edited by Jay Lee, 28 May 2015, 11:50.
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| MrJames | 28 May 2015, 11:55 Post #30 |
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"Max Branning, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Lucy Beale..."
Edited by MrJames, 28 May 2015, 12:40.
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| Georgia | 28 May 2015, 11:59 Post #31 |
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I'll definitely miss Max, but I agree that a break might just do him the world of good. Who'd have thought back in 2012 that Abi and Carol would be the last Brannings standing?! |
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| eastend90 | 28 May 2015, 12:39 Post #32 |
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Cue Inventable Duff Duff when this happens Now it's obvious that It's Max who (wrongly) Gets blamed and is put in jail awaiting trial but then when Lauren comes back off maternaity leave this is where it could be via her that the rest of the Sqaure end up finding out about Bobby and leading to Max's return a year down the line. also i'm not quite we can place Dot as being on a break (yes reduced apperances) as i'm sure there was an article somewhere that she wasn't going anywhere. |
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| ChrissieW | 28 May 2015, 12:40 Post #33 |
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Now the full details have emerged I think this is good news, I love Jake Wood and Max but a year out for a character who had been front and centre for a such a length of time is actually a really great idea. Let's hope Jake returns refreshed and DTC has a fresh new angle for Max upon his return. I'm pleased there is clarity over his contract, even though it might spell bad news for Kat (sob) so yeah, what looked like bad news has become really pleasing news, I won't miss a character if they're only away for a year, I'll simply look forward to his return. Now if DTC could just announce Lindsey Coulson's new contract everything is peachy. Max getting banged up for Lucy's murder came to my mind too, but would Lauren really sit on the truth for a whole year leaving her Dad to languish in prison? I know New Zealand is far away but it's still on Planet Earth and I assume she is in touch with her family. I mean I do think that's what is going to happen, it will just be interesting to see how they deal with the Lauren element and wow, Abi Branning flying the flag for the family all on her lonesome and she'll pull that off too. Who would have thought it? Makes even more sense why she's been grouped in with the Mitchell family. |
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| ChrissieW | 28 May 2015, 12:57 Post #34 |
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Shane, Jake and Jessie are all high earners and while The Star naturally sensationalised what DTC said, I think it's clear there was truth in his remarks about juggling the cast a little to bring in named guest stars. It's the "A Listers" salaries he needs, but that's not so bad because it's also the "A Listers" who would most benefit from breaks from time to time. Max, Kat and Alfie are all characters who would benefit from a year out, although it seems as though it's probably a more permanent move for the latter two. When the big Autumn stories swirling around Kathy, Gavin, the Beale family and the Mitchell family kick in, as well as whatever Cater drama is going on it should (hopefully) get back to being exciting enough that people won't even notice the absence of those three for a while. Their roles would only have been minor during that period anyway, better to be off screen to come back fresh than have the likes of Jake Wood reduced to a Fatboy type role. |
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| Planck | 28 May 2015, 13:01 Post #35 |
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Seeing as Abi's relationship with Ben is about to implode, I wonder where this will leave her... |
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| MrJames | 28 May 2015, 13:04 Post #36 |
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We'd all best get ourselves buckled in for the Carter/Sonia takeover in the first quarter of 2016. Max, Kat & Alfie all on extended breaks and Roxy, Ian & Phil all on panto breaks. |
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| eastend90 | 28 May 2015, 13:09 Post #37 |
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Indeed although When (or if) Kat and Alfie return if have feeling it might only be for a short time for Alfie as surely they can't brush his tumor under the carpet. |
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| Mrs B | 28 May 2015, 13:21 Post #38 |
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It looks likely that Max will be wrongfully arrested for Lucy's murder, I can just see Jane pushing a panicked Ian into silence. I think it's a good thing for actors on the show to the chance of a break to try other work and return refreshed. |
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| MrJames | 28 May 2015, 13:24 Post #39 |
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Lorna Fitzgerald has been in the show as long as Jake Wood, with nowhere near the same amount of breaks... just sayin. Excited that Abi will be the only 2.0 Branning for a while. |
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| Mrs B | 28 May 2015, 13:26 Post #40 |
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Possibly because Lorna hasn't other work projects to pursue, plus she hasn't had the intense storylines that Jake has over nine years. |
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7:49 PM Jul 11