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EastEnders stars reveal show secrets as soap turns 40 with explosive storylines

EastEnders stars including Jessie Wallace, Dianne Parish and Gillian Taylforth have opened up about working on the BBC soap ahead of the big 40th anniversary celebrations

[Jessie Wallace on the cover of Radio Times]

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Jessie Wallace and a host of stars are celebrating as the soap turns 40 this month(Image: RadioTimes / Immediate Media Company London Ltd)

A huge 13 million people watched Albert Square be beamed onto our TV screens for the first time on February 19, 1985.

These days you might be watching EastEnders on your phone, tablet or TV, but the shocks and highs and lows remain as big as ever. Some of the great female actors who have blessed Walford including Jessie Wallace and DIanne Parish reveal have been speaking to Radio Times about what it's really like to work on the BBC's biggest soap....

Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Beale)

How did you get the role of Kathy?

Originally, I went in to read for [caf owner] Sue Osman, but they decided I was more Kathy Beale. They worried that I didnt look old enough to have a son of 16 [Taylforth was 29 when she appeared as Kathy in the very first episode], so I told them Id have a couple of late nights I got called back in with a director, who told me to put my hair up and pull it back, and then I came back again for a read-through with some of the cast. I read, and then at about four oclock they said, You can go now, while everyone else was still there. I thought that was me done. Then my agent rang to congratulate me: Youve got the part of Kathy Beale. So that was that.

Kathy has suffered a lot over the years does that take a psychological toll?

Some storylines do. I remember going home with the scripts [when Kathy was raped by Wilmot Brown in 1988] and feeling very down and sad about it all. Learning those lines was a dark time. And actually, when it all happened in the Dagmar [wine bar], it was quite scary. Then, doing the big scene in the police station, having to go through it all again It was gruelling.

Youve now played Kathy on and off since that first episode 40 years ago how much of Kathy is you and how much of you is Kathy?

Kathys a bit more outspoken than me. Im not very opinionated and I dont like confrontations, unless Im really pushed, but Kathy is very strong, bolshie, and shes not afraid to say what she thinks. I wish I was a bit more like her sometimes. But I protect her and if I think somethings wrong, I will say so. Just recently, Ive had to say, Oh, I dont think so... Because Ive invested in her for 40 years and I love her.

You can read the full interview with Gillian here

[Gillian Taylforth]

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Gillian Taylforth is an EastEnders legend(Image: RadioTimes / Immediate Media Company London Ltd)

[Gillian Taylforth on the RT cover]

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Gillian and her Radio Times cover

Diane Parish (Denise Fox)

When you joined the cast, did you think youd still be here for the 40th anniversary?

No, I thought Id be lucky to see out my first year! Actors always say, Never unpack your bags.I did another year, then had my second daughter and only then did I think, Ill stick around a bit longer. You never assume youll be offered another contract. Im lucky that Ive never thought my character has run her course. I still see all kinds of possibilities for Denise.

How much input do you have in the scripts?

Im not an actor who thinks, My character wouldnt say that Steve McFadden [who plays Phil Mitchell] says we dont know what our characters would say, because we dont know what wed say in real life. Denise wouldnt be who she is without our storyliners creating her life as shes evolved. Nobody plans to end up at a food bank or have a baby with Phil Mitchell!

What do you admire most about Denise?

Shes never heartbroken for long. You dont see her under the duvet watching Bridget Jones and scoffing Milk Tray shes over it! Shes resilient and keeps her zest to keep going. Although I wish shed stop going for younger fellas. She never learns.

Why are these strong women so integral to soaps?

Women were always the silent, tragic heroes, and until recently their stories were told through mens voices. Soap has given women their own voice you see how they run the household and keep everything together. Peggy Mitchell [played by Barbara Windsor] is a big example: the matriarch keeping her family in line and giving her boys a clip round the ear.

[Diane who plays Denise Fox in EE]

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Diane did not expect to be playing her character for so long(Image: RadioTimes / Immediate Media Company London Ltd)

[EastEnders star Kellie Bright ]

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Kellie feared she had flopped after first EastEnders audition(Image: RadioTimes / Immediate Media Company London Ltd)

Kellie Bright (Linda Carter)

When did you get the part of Linda?

As a working actress for over 40 years, Id been up for parts before Linda. The biggest of those was Tanya Branning, when it got down to myself and Jo Joyner [who played Tanya 200613 and briefly again in 2018]. When I auditioned for Linda Carter, I screen-tested with someone I wont name [for the part of Lindas husband Mick], who was primarily known for being a model. I came out and threw my scripts in the bin because I just couldnt see it happening in my opinion, there was zero chemistry between us and he couldnt act! I didnt hear anything for a week and I thought it was gone. But then they called and asked if Id go in to read with other men. I said yes, but then two days later, they rang me back and offered me the job but they wouldnt tell me who theyd cast as Mick. I knew it must be a name. It turned out to be Danny Dyer.

Was it daunting joining EastEnders as the new landlady of the Queen Vic?

I had the easier time of it, because all eyes were on Danny! He had to prove himself, to prove the critics wrong. And even though we didnt read a scene together until we were on set and actually doing it, there was chemistry. I dont know how Dom [producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins] knew that the chemistry would work between all of us not just Danny and me, but Maddy [Hill, who played their daughter Nancy] and Sam [Strike, originally cast as son Johnny] but it did. It really did, and it made such a difference. When you start on a show like this, if you start with other people, you come in as a gang and you look after each other. It would be much harder to start solo, arriving as an individual. It was an exhausting time, because we were so busy that first year, but it was very special.

Are you looking forward to the 40th anniversary and the live episode?

I sent executive producer Chris Clenshaw a text on my first day of filming for that week. It just said, This is so exciting, I think I might wet myself. Because I genuinely was beside myself, as a viewer and as someone who loves the show. I still get excited about it and thats pretty cool after over 11 years.

Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater)

Did you ever think Kat would become so iconic?

I came in as the troublemaker of a new family and didnt know she would become as big as she has. Kat has developed over the years and I love dressing up as her, she makes such a statement with the red lipstick and the mini-skirts. To create a character that stands out, who people love, makes me very proud.

Did you watch EastEnders when it started?

I was drawn in straight away, even as a child. In that first episode a man was found dead in his house, someone punched through a window in the pub, there was so much going on. When I played Pat Phoenix in [2010 BBC drama] The Road to Coronation Street, there was a scene where the cleaning lady watches rehearsals on the monitor and gets really invested and producers realised this was the peoples drama. Everyone can relate to soaps.

Do you relate to your character?

I fall in love with every character I play so I can do them justice. When you play someone for so long, they do become a part of you. I can hear members of my family in Kat sometimes certain things remind me of my nan Iris, who was proper East End, or my cousin.

Would you be friends with Kat?

Definitely. Kat is loyal, funny and sticks to her guns. She has her own beliefs and wont be swayed by anyone. I love that about her.

Do heavy storylines ever take their toll?

I love getting a heavy storyline. It doesnt matter what its about, you grab it, make it work, give the best performance you can to show another side to the character and hope people enjoy it. I love it when a really full-on storyline comes along especially if its been quiet for a while.

[Jessie Wallace on the cover of Radio Times]

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Jessie Wallace graces the cover of Radio Times this week

[Jaime Winstone plays a young Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders]

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Jaime Winstone plays a young Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

* The full interviews are in a special issue of Radio Times celebrating the anniversary of EastEnders, out now. You can read more at www.radiotimes.com EastEnders airs at 7:30pm on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer from 6am

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