-Kevin-

Wow the scene where Carly told Tom what happened to her mother was so powerful and emotional. I am loving these eearly years episdes! Its nice to see all their troubled pasts coming out now, they all carry such horrible memories

I think theres been way too much water under the bridge for Kane to have returned for Kirstys exit actually. Lets face it guys KK were never the KK we all knew and loved since they both returned, you ould say they we're ruined. Kane should never have gone to prison I think Kirstys story was actually wrapped up perfectly in the end .A lot of people will disagree with me but Kirsty has been estranged from her family for such a long timeand hearing Shelley tell Kirsty about having a family get together was just the nicest thing. How nice would it have been to see the Sutherlands reunion!

So glad Leyla came clean to David , at least Nathan can't hold it over her anymore. Although I do wish he hadn't dumped Leyla

He said it was going to take a year! I don't know what's going to happen with Tony except that , but it had better be good. They've dragged it out for so long and stretched our suspension of disbelief to breaking point (Maria falling for the guy who basically admitted to her that he'd killed her husband?!), so they owe us a really good pay-off. I'm guessing it will all happen at Christmas? No actually To be honest its just typical Corrie rubbish.

Annie & Romeo is the worse storyline/pairing ever for a start. and I also remember when Xavier was " fun compared to the other teen boys" and look where hes at now , I swear the writers are annoying me on purpose with Annie & Romeo I do think he can be redeemed by his backstory , I guess it depends on what it is.

Ooh I see Tim Coleman too

Well actually I believe Syed & Amiras wedding is on New Years Day, not Christmas Day and also Bradley & Stacey got married on or around the 1st of November. I don't think it all comes out at the wedding though because I've seen pics of the wedding , and as Amira & Sy set off on honeymoon they seem pretty happy. I do think that whe it does cme out Zainab will lose baby. This storyline is going to be so fantastic when it comes out. Nina Wadia who plays Zainab is AMAZING and does angst brilliant.

Really? I'm the complete opposite - I would have said that it can't possibly get any worse, so bring on the new guy! Aside from the occasional interesting storyline/character I think the show has gone downhill massively over the last few years. Wow I highly disagree with you !! IMO Santer has completely turned Eastenders around and I feel that the show is at the best its been in years.

Except the writers cleverly made a way around that. They only held a memorial service for Beth in the bay. Her funeral was in Adelaide (I think) and we were told that the whole family went to that.

Former Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood is to take the helm at the BBC's flagship soap EastEnders after Diederick Santer steps down following the show's 25th anniversary. Since taking over in October 2006, Santer has pioneered EastEnders through some of its most powerful and controversial storylines of recent years, including the Tony/Whitney paedophile plot, Danielle's death and Stacey's bipolar. His time in office has also seen the return of a handful of the soap's iconic characters, such as Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), the original Sam Mitchell (Danniella Westbrook) and from early next year, the rest of the Jackson clan, including Carol, Sonia, Robbie and Billy. Santer also introduced the show's most successful Asian family the Masoods into Walford and spearheaded the Bradley/Stacey/Max Christmas day reveal, which was seen by an average of 14.38m viewers. He also took the decision to mark the show's 25th anniversary with a special live episode. Santer (pictured below) said of his departure: "I've had the most fantastic time at EastEnders. It's without doubt the best job in telly, and I've loved every minute of it. It's a busy and challenging job so I'm now looking forward to becoming reacquainted with my family and friends. I'm grateful to all the people I've collaborated with over the last three years who work so hard and so creatively. It's been a real pleasure to work with them and to get to know them, and I'm going to miss them all enormously." From February 20, Santer will relinquish his role to ex-Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood, who helmed the Channel 4 teen soap for three years before stepping aside to make way for successor Lucy Allan. Kirkwood said of his new position: "I'm a huge soap fan so for me to be the new executive producer of EastEnders is a dream come true. Diederick Santer has done an amazing job and I'll be taking over a show at the top of its game - quite a daunting task but one I can't wait to get started on." Kirkwood headed up production of E4's late-night Hollyoaks offering Later, which featured soapland's first parachute death and a cameo performance by Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler. Prior to Hollyoaks, he spent a decade working at Coronation Street as a storyliner during the Richard 'Tricky Dicky' Hillman (Brian Capron) era. Santer added of his successor: "I'm delighted that I'm passing the show on to Bryan Kirkwood. He's a vastly talented and original producer with a brilliant storylining mind. I'm confident that under him, EastEnders will continue to thrive and to grow and to keep delivering the very best drama to its massive audience." Controller of BBC drama John Yorke said: "Diederick has presided over an incredibly strong period in the show's history and demonstrated an instinctive mastery of what makes the programme such a success. Able to switch from brave and radical public service storytelling to big sweeping set pieces, he has been concerned only to get the best out of those around him and to match the highest standards of the programme's founders." He went on: "Leaving EastEnders fighting fit and at the top of its game as it reaches its quarter century, he'll be missed hugely by cast and crew. He's going to be a very hard to act to follow but I'm confident Bryan is the right man for the job." I am actually SO gutted that Santers leaving!! He is without doubt one of the best exec producers Eastenders has ever seen, he created the best characters ever (Ronnie,Roxy,the Masoods,Christian,Archie,Danielle,) and brought back some of the shows most iconic characters (Bianca,Ricky,Janine,Carol,Sonia,Robbie,Sam) Not to mention the huge storyines he can be credited for (Ronnie/Danielle,Christian/Syed, Stacey & Max's affair revelation,Staceys bi polar, and so many more) I know that Bryan Kirkwood done a goo job when he first took over at Hollyoaks but towards the end he was pretty crap. I now think that Santers leaving was a big factor in Barbara Windsor quitting. Eastenders will dearly miss Diederick Santer

Got My Sisters Keeper on DVD earlier so I just watched that. Tears. Again.

Ah I found that quite funny as well It was just so random and his tone of voice was funny

I don't know how long you've been watching Eastenders, but Lucy is supposed to be just like her late mother Cindy - a scheming b*tch. This isn't the first time we've seen Lucy blackmail someone, she was blackmailing Chelsea and Deano when she was only 13! I don't condone blackmail, but Syed is such a horrible selfish character, he kind of deserves it. Yeah I think Syed deserves anything he gets. He is one selfish person when hes under pressure and will do absolutely anything to try and shift the suspicion from himself just like he told Zainab that his dad was having an affair with Jane just to cover his own affair.

Omg that is what I was thinking too. Both Romeo and Kim are the hottest guys to ever grace H&A tall and handsome young men! I have to disagree I never found Kim to be hot nor do I find Romeo to be hot. He may have a good body but hes just a drip and I dont usually find such drippy people attractive

Actually Eastenders was at an all time low with very poor writing and very crap storylines during the years when she wasn't around. I believe she returned towards the end of 2005 and 2004/2005 was a pretty bad year , the only best part of 2005 was the Dens murder storyline. That was pretty much the Chrissie/Den/Sharon show during that year. It was also quite bad in 2006, but Santerhas really turned the sho around and has pulled off some of the most amazing storylines the show has seen and introduced some fantastic characters.

I am so upset by this news . I love Peggy

Sorry but Jack has been a core part of Martha's character for the last 4 years since 2005 so its only inevitable that people might like to mention Jack in a thread thats also about Martha. This is a Martha/Hugo thread but aren't we allowed to post in here that we don't like them and that Martha was better with Jack ? and yes there are other places where we can reminisce about J&M but we come in here to say our thoughts about Martha & Hugo which I said that I don't like them as much as J&M. and AnnaB I didn't mean that Martha wasn't good when she wasn't with Jack I just meant that she was better during her earlier years with Jack i.e 2005-2008. I do love Martha and she has some great storylines both with Jack and also on her own and I've enjoyed them all. I would so love to see how strong this relationship would be if Jack made a return to the bay, I am positive that Martha would drop Hugo in a heartbeat. I can't believe that Hugo has got a and never told Martha.Where is the trust in this relationship ? I think that Hugo is jut so accustomed to lying about everything that it just makes sense to him to not be honest. Jack & Martha we're a huge part of the show for 4+ years and we're pivotal parts of each others lives so its hard not to ever mantion Jack again.

I know how you feel Steph I quite liked some of her ex's as well but I think the difference now is that she and Jack will never be together again , with all her other boyfriends the chemistry was still always there with Jack. I don't feel anything for Martha & Hugo , I don't hate them nor do I like them they are just there. Martha was better when she was the other half of J&M

OMG!! The Jacksons are returning to Eastenders!!!! Sonia,Carol & Robbie Jackson will be returning to the show in the new year!! Lindsey Coulson, Natalie Cassidy and Dean Gaffney are to return to EastEnders in the New Year as the Jackson family reunite ahead of the show's 25th anniversary. Carol, Sonia and Robbie head back to Albert Square in the early part of next year, much to the shock of their Walford-based relatives, who include Bianca (Patsy Palmer) and Branning brothers Max (Jake Wood) and Jack (Scott Maslen). Source : Digitalspy I am actually so excited to see Carol and Sonia especially back in the square

I knew it was sooo gona be Darren. It is the most shocking of all the other choices and least expected.

Really looking forward to tonights episodes where Carla gets the better of Jimmy after being ordered to kill her at Tonys request. Jimmy will finally get whats been coming to him in the form of something hard smacking him in the head.

OK so I think that the daddy will either be Darren Miller or Jack Branning.

I went to bed and I wanted to seep but SAW II was on so I watched 5 minutes ad I got realy into it The twist at the end makes me go everytime. If the detective just did what Jigsaw requested and talked to him for the duration of the game the he would have gotten his son back and he wouldn't have gotten captured at the end.