Womack quits as EastEnders baby swap plot is to be cut short

EastEnders actress Samantha Womack, who plays the grieving mum Ronnie Mitchell, is to leave the BBC1 soap in the summer.  The show’s bosses have come under severe fire for its controversial baby swap storyline, and have now confirmed to end the plot earlier than expected after a record number of complaints.

DEPARTING: Samantha Womack is to leave this summer

Womack, who came into the show in 2007 – along with fictional sister Roxy, played by Rita Simons, has had a turbulent time in the Square, but her latest storyline has seen EastEnders move right into the public spotlight.  Her newly born son James was victim to a tragic cot death on New Year’s Eve.  Confused and grief-stricken, Ronnie walked across the Square and swapped her dead child with another newborn Tommy.  Viewers have been distressed to see the emotionally charged which have seen Kat and Alfie Moon, played by the popular Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie grieving at the baby’s loss, whilst across Walford, a guilty Ronnie is bringing up their baby. 

The BBC has received 8,400 complaints as of Friday afternoon, which has made it the most complained plot in its 26 year history.  It surpasses the 7,000 complaints received when Ronnie’s daughter, Danielle Jones was run over by Janine Malloy (Charlie Brooks) in April 2009.  The broadcasting regulator OFCOM has received approximately 350 complaints, though it is believed that the media watchdog is unlikely to make an official inquiry into the storyline.  

DEFENCE: Producer Bryan Kirkwood still has confidence in the plot

Ex-Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood, who revived the fortunes of the failing Channel 4 soap between 2006-2009 defended the plot on the official EastEnders website; “EastEnders never sets out to upset its audience - not only would it be counter-productive, it would be a breach of a long-established trust that we can deliver truthful stories that inspire debate in a way that's acceptable to a family audience.  "Although we have had complaints, we have also had positive responses from people who have been through the experiences we are currently dramatising who feel we've done this and have contacted us to offer their backing.

The Sun ran the story of Samantha Womack’s departure on its front page on Thursday, claiming that her reluctance to do the storyline has resulted in her decision to leave the show.  These allegations were firmly denied by Womack’s agent, Michael Wiggs later that day; "There's no truth whatsoever in any suggestion that Sam is 'quitting' EastEnders over the current storyline.  "Sam has had an incredibly happy and fulfilling time on EastEnders over the last few years.  "She has huge respect for the show, writers and producers and has thoroughly enjoyed playing such a complex role that has been involved in so many tough and challenging storylines."

Kirkwood has confirmed that scenes are being rewritten and reshot and the storyline, initially due to run for an entire year, will be concluded soon, possibly even as early as Easter.  He also revealed that there would be a happy ending and that Kat will be reunited with her son.

Personally, the storyline has attracted a lot of criticism and perhaps, EastEnders should have thought about running it, especially at such a highly-charged point of time, such as the happy festive season.  However, it has pushed the soap back into the media spotlight, after playing second fiddle to rival Coronation Street since Barbara Windsor’s tame exit as queen matriarch Peggy Mitchell last September.  By responding to the audience’s widespread complaints, it has managed to salvage some of the damage taken from the storyline and the acting qualities of Samantha Womack, Shane Ritchie, Jessie Wallace and Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) have shone through brilliantly, especially in filming such highly-charged scenes.

Excellent Enders Storm The Soap Awards

      

On Wednesday night, ITV screened the annual 12^th British Soap Awards bash, held at BBC Television Centre on May 7^th.  The night was dominated by the stars of BBC’s EastEnders, which scooped a staggering ten awards, the highest for any soap in any given year.

EastEnders, celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year was a class above the rest from the competitors this year, Coronation Street, Doctors, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.  It scooped all of the key awards, including Best British Soap for a third consecutive year.  Its spectacular live episode, as part of the anniversary celebration in February, which featured Stacey Slater being revealed as Archie Mitchell’s killer was the clear winner of Best Single Episode.  Lacey Turner, who is leaving the show later in the year, scooped the double for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance.  Also collected a duo of awards was Scott Maslen.  The former star of The Bill, who plays the dynamic Jack Branning won the Best Actor category and was voted Sexiest Male for the second consecutive year.  Charlie Clements, whose character Bradley Branning, fell to his shocking death in the live episode won Best Exit, holding off stiff competition from Jamie Lomas demise in Hollyoaks.  Finally, the evil Archie Mitchell, played by the distinguished Larry Lamb won Best Villain.

With EastEnders storming away with all the key awards, it left the rest fighting over the minor crumbs and comforts.  Like Hollyoaks last year, Emmerdale was nominated in every single category, yet failed to pick up an award.  That was apart from established writer Bill Lyons, who won the Special Achievement Award.  Lyons has been part of the writing team since 1984, and was behind the brains of the dramatic Emmerdale Plane Crash storyline in December 1993, which turned the show’s fortunes around.  For the second consecutive year, Hollyoaks had a tough time of things, as their domination of the 2008 ceremony seems a distant memory.  However, they did win the Most Spectacular Scene award, for the parachute skydiving stunt during its Hollyoaks Later show last October and saw Sarah Barnes (Loui Batley) plunge to her death. 

BBC daytime show Doctors did well again, collecting two awards, for Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor/Actress and Best On-Screen Partnership, which left Coronation Street, normally a traditional frontrunner with a tame three winners.  Michelle Keegan won Sexiest Female and there was a deserved Lifetime Achievement Award for Betty Driver, who is famous for Betty’s hotpots in the Rovers Return.  The most emotional part of the how evening was the fitting tribute to the dearly missed Maggie Jones.  Maggie, who played the hilarious Blanche Hunt, Deirdre Barlow’s mum in Coronation Street passed away last Christmas.  As the VT finished of her video tribute, the whole auditorium stood up in appreciation and applause, with many tears shed for a fantastic icon of Weatherfield.

However, the night firmly belonged as expected to EastEnders.  The other soaps have a lot to do over the next twelve months, to avoid this kind of whitewash from the Walford stars again.