Kemp's EastEnders return extended

[Phil_2k5]

Actor Ross Kemp, who recently returned to BBC One soap EastEnders, has signed up to star in the show for another three months from early next year.
Kemp, who plays hard man Grant Mitchell, returned with Steve McFadden who plays his brother Phil.

Their return boosted the soap's flagging ratings to 13 million viewers and a 52.9% audience share on Monday.

Kemp left the show in 1999 to join ITV, and had returned initially on a three-week deal.

The actors are the latest favourites to return to the soap, following Barbara Windsor and Leslie Grantham, whose character Den Watts was killed off in February.

McFadden made a fleeting return to the show in April after a year away and is now back for a longer run.

Mike Reid is lined up to come back as Frank Butcher in December.

EastEnders has been trailing ITV1's Coronation Street in the ratings, just ahead of Emmerdale.

In September, EastEnders drew its lowest audience in more than five years with 6.6 million viewers tuning in to one episode.

However, more than 14 million people watched the demise of Den Watts in February, in an episode marking the programme's 20th anniversary.

[Lee H]

Next Week... they plan to bring back Ethel and her and Dot are going to go on a crime spree around walford, stealing flower baskets and shouting loud in the local bingo hall

Seriously though, its BAD when a show has to revive so-called "Dead" characters to increase the ratings...

[Fatboy40]

Seriously though, its BAD when a show has to revive so-called "Dead" characters to increase the ratings...

I'd definately watch East Enders if it had zombies of Arfur' and Lou Beale roaming the square after 'braaaaains'...

[Lee H]

I'd definately watch East Enders if it had zombies of Arfur' and Lou Beale roaming the square after 'braaaaains'...

Hmmm... a pub, zombies and a ginger main character...

sounds like the basis of shaun of the dead to me

[Fatboy40]

It was worth it to see Iain Beale try his martial arts on Phil.

That was class

That ketchup was a bit runny though, maybe it'll teach him a lesson for not buying Heinz.

[Blackmage]

That was class

That ketchup was a bit runny though, maybe it'll teach him a lesson for not buying Heinz.

lol marketing scheme's

[tim_n]

I don't generally follow these stories, but how did they bring the characters back from the dead? I mean, if it was a dallas type story fair enough, but everyone must have aged a good few years *lol*

[Rave]

Well Tim, soap characters are played by actors, and they tend to age like everybody else.

[Xaneden]

Wait a minute, didn't the Grant guy drown in a river or something?

[Phil_2k5]

It would be even better if Dirty Den was still in it,Damn press:@

[Taz]

What is Skoe? It's the name on the can of lager that they seem to make of point of promoting on Eastenders. It appears that there are no other alcoholic drinks available in the town of Walford!

[tim_n]

wasn't the other brother crushed under a car in his garage or something?