Guest Article: 'Are EastEnders Killing Off The Wrong Characters?'

EastEnders, BBC One

This week's guest article was written by Jody O'Reilly - Enjoy!

If you’re reading this article well it’s a safe bet to say you're a fan of EastEnders. You love the gritty and gripping drama of Albert Square and sit down everyday to witness what story they are going to tell us next.


However we will admit the show is facing some criticism as off late and it is not all bad. The show has a lot riding for it now such as Mel’s return to it’s heart breaking knife crime story that brings plenty of enjoyment (or heartache and sadness in Shaki’s case).

EastEnders, BBC One

Despite this however there is some problems that result in such critical views from fans. While everyone has their own opinions and we all don’t like or hate the same thing it’s safe to say the biggest problem may be it’s choice of character’s demise.


EastEnders has a great selection of characters right now such as Karen, Dot and Shirley but other great characters have faced the rath of a new producer’s axe spree. They’ve written out characters such as Ronnie and Roxy by closing the book on them forever. But why?

EastEnders, BBC One

They’ve taken serious risks of killing off characters that are so popular or have serious connection to the show that when they’ve take them out the show feels different. The risk didn’t pay off.

Ronnie and Roxy are prime examples. The two were extremely popular yet the announcement of their death in September of 2016 sent the media into a frenzy. It shook the fans because whether you love them or hate them you were surprised of their permanent departure.


The death of the Mitchell sisters saw an upside of huge media exposure. Almost all media sites in Britain that cover television had many articles of the sister’s departure in the must read and most popular columns. It even brought it’s highest ratings off they year with an audience peak of just over 8 million people.

EastEnders, BBC One

The media attention was still strong (but not as high) over Abi Branning’s death earlier this year. Another character that had fundamental roots to the show who didn’t deserve to die.

While the media attention is great it proves these deaths are nothing more of a ratings stunt in turn can make the show seem cheap and lazy. Ultimately damaging their reputation in the process. But what are we really achieving from these deaths.


These deaths take things from the shows core. The Mitchell sisters just weakened its most famous clan especially after the loss of Peggy seven months earlier in May of 2016. While Peggy’s death was a damper but Barbra Windsor willingly chose to leave which seems acceptable.

EastEnders, BBC One

The passing of Ronnie and Roxy then parked a huge feel of emptiness in the clan. Making us almost feel Phil is the only left of what was once a huge family adored by the audience years earlier in The Vic a near decade earlier.


They’re not the only ones though. Abi’s death followed by Lauren’s departure has left Max’s character left struggling for relevance as his loved ones have all left. Then baby Abi just makes it feel like they’ve replaced the original for a character that seems like she won’t be living on Walford. So we won’t see her for probably fifteen years, so what’s the point?

EastEnders, BBC One

The people behind the characters don’t support these discussions either. Samantha Womack who plays Ronnie Mitchell has dissed the soap by expressing her feelings to the media on her character’s axe. Even actors such as Martine McCutcheon (Tiffany Butcher) still states her disapproval of her character’s exit today nearly twenty years later.


Martine proves it’s not a recent crime committed by EastEnders. Back in March of 2012 Heather Trott who was adored by the fans was brutally murdered by Ben Mitchell. Ever since it has deeply affected Shirley’s character.

EastEnders, BBC One

Her relationship ended with Phil sending her into a forgettable character until the Carters arrived at Christmas the following year. Yet we still hate the absence of Heather and Shirley’s banter making us still miss the loveable character.


These strong and popular characters are then replaced by not so interesting and hateable characters such as most recently Stuart and Hayley. They are characters the majority of audience don’t like meaning they’re not living up to producers expectation.

EastEnders, BBC One

Although they’re efforts of Hayley’s homeless story and Stuart’s history with paedophiles we still don’t care. They are stale and weak especially in comparison to those they replaced.

The show can’t be perfect and all of these deaths and others not mentioned are still felt thought the show today. These were characters who meant so much to the show that EastEnders are killing off the wrong characters.


Shaki’s death shows the show can take any character even if it’s not the biggest and still produce a death the country can talk about making fascinating television.

So they don’t need to and shouldn’t have much reason to kill huge, long serving characters who are still young for any other reason other than to make a cheap headline that lasts a week.

R.I.P to these unfortunate characters and we hope they stop this frequency sooner than later.

Thanks Jody!

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