EastEnders is riding high but here’s the five characters that desperately need a storyline to make sure it stays on top
THROUGHOUT the past year it has been very clear that EastEnders has been number one out of all the soaps.
The soap has of course been captivating for decades since its inception back in 1985, however the show well and truly caught the attention of viewers since the preview of the Christmas 2024 storyline.
From the moment we saw Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) walk out from the Vic hallway with her bruised lip we knew we were onto a winner.
The smashed bottle in Denise’s hand, Sharon’s bloodied wedding dress and a mysterious body lying on the floor of the pub, it was high camp, but high drama and we ate it all up.
Several storylines since have been nothing short of expert in the way they have been put together.
The slow and personal deterioration of Linda Carter was a personal highlight of soap greatness while EastEnders has been keeping us on edge with the Cindy (Michelle Collins) and Junior (Micah Balfour) affair.
But all shows can be improved, and like many formats, EastEnders is not a drama that is immune to problems every week.
It’s clear that some characters just get lost in the pipeline before we know it, as bosses simply do not pay the proper attention.
Here are the Walford characters that might need a little bit of TLC (or should I say R&R) going into 2025 to make sure the soap stays fully on top.
Mo Harris
Without a doubt, Mo Harris (Laila Morse) is a legendary character, known previously for some comedy timing. In the past, we have loved to see her exploits.
I always chuckle at the time she conned the Square residents out of cash by pretending that Kat (Jessie Wallace) was dead. Poor Stacey was in absolute bits, only for Jean to ruin the whole plan when she revealed that Kat had spoken to her over the phone.
Over the years, Laila, 79, has had a number of stints on the soap and only returned to the serial drama full-time in February 2024 alongside her great grandson Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier).
Since then, Big Mo has been somewhat of a floater in the Slater household and in the square. She’s been neither here nor there.
Whilst she has had some comedic moments, there have not been huge memorable scenes. EastEnders has always been known for its supreme matriarchal characters. I would love to see the head of the Slaters get involved in some scheme or another.
If bosses do not sort this out soon, the character will simply become excess deadweight. And Laila frankly deserves better than that.
Freddie Slater
Since Freddie’s second return after Bobby finished his commitments to Strictly Come Dancing, we have had a few notable storylines including the dreaded love triangle with Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell) and Anna Knight (Mollie Rainford).
His seeming (and completely random) passion for recording and listening to birds meant that he had the smallest of hands in exposing Cindy’s misdemeanours.
However, now that he’s got the girl of his dreams in Anna Knight and his former BFF has left he square for good to go live with mum Jane (Laurie Brett)
So there currently doesn’t seem to be much more of a point to Freddie except as a glorified extra in either the Market or The Vic.
I would love to see his relationship with Anna properly tested, why doesn’t another old rival from his childhood come back to haunt him. Or there could be some sort of issue-based storyline where bosses team up with a charity.
If something like this doesn’t happen, Freddie could very well become the next Tracey.
Lily Slater
I have previously written about how fans have been utterly baffled by Lily Slater. Lillia Turner, 15, plays the daughter of Stacey Slater who is also a teenage mother.
Following a one night stand, viewers tuned in to see the 13-year-old fall pregnant and then give birth to her daughter, Charli.
However, after the initial birth, viewers saw very little of the character since then, and I regret to say that I share their questioning.
When a baby arrives into the family, that young tot becomes the centre of everyone’s world. Yet despite the fact that the Slater household is supposed to be fuller than ever with Stacey, Jean, Mo, Freddie, Harvey, Lily and the three kids in Arthur, Hope and now Charli.
Yet, apart from Christmas time, the abode seems less busy than before Lily fell pregnant. How can a life-changing event simply disappear for months on end?
Plot holes provide places to slip. I hope bosses do not fall down the rabbit hole on this one.
Harvey Monroe
In 2022, Ross Boatman, 60, won the best newcomer award at the British Soap Awards, but unfortunately, it all went downhill from there.
Apart from his relationship with Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), which seems to be entirely controlled by her (naturally), the character seems to lack any proper purpose.
During her pension scam storyline, she was at the centre of attention whilst he felt like an almost useless spare part.
Even in his career the character has become totally stale. He previously helped Rocky (Brian Conley) with his gambling problems, and I would love to see him get involved in a story like that himself.
I don’t know, just give him ANYTHING!
The Danes Family
I hate to say it, but I almost completely forgot about The Danes in recent months.
Howie (Delroy Atkinson), was initially brought in as the ex-boyfriend of Kim Fox (Tameeka Empson).
He then introduced her to his son Danzel (Jaden Ladega) who got involved in steroid abuse with Davinder ‘Nugget’ Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury).
Since then I feel they have mostly faded into the background to become the most prominent extras.
Again bosses need to give these characters substantial storylines, not just one liners for Kim to take over like she always does.
EastEnders continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.