WEEKEND TV: Is there life outside the soap bowl?
Byline: Marion McMullenSAYING goodbye to a TV soap can be a big wrench. There are all the years of hard work and commitment, the fans and, of course, the security of a regular pay cheque. Tamzin Outhwaite and Martin Kemp are planning to leave EastEnders and Brookside's Claire Sweeney is heading for the West End stage. TV writer MARION McMULLEN chats to past and present-day stars to find out their views on soap life.
Edna Dore (Ex-EastEnder Mo Butcher)
They gave me Alzheimer's and invented a daughter who came back and took me way, but I didn't actually die until later on, when Frank got a phone call saying I had passed away. I was at a New Year's Eve party when someone came up to me and said, "Have you seen, you've been killed off?" And I heaved a sigh of relief and had another drink. Still I can't complain. I had a good time at EastEnders and the one advantage of having been in a soap is that I get far better paid for my roles now.
Emmerdale veteran Glenda McKay
When I started it was all wellies and farm work. Now I hardly ever see a sheep. Scenes are now more indoors, especially in the bedroom.
Roy Barraclough (ex-Coronation Street regular Alec Gilroy)
I would not mind appearing in a drama series, but I would not want to get bogged down in another soap for any length of time. A soap is like a treadmill, relentless with no light at the end of the tunnel.
Chris Quinten (ex-Coronation Street regular Brian Tilsley)
Your life is never the same after you have done a soap opera. I loved working in Coronation Street. I loved being famous. I loved signing autographs and I loved being able to go in a restaurant and get a table.
(Sarah White (Bev in Brookside)
When you've played a cheeky Scouser for so long it does get easier than it was at first, but then you get directors who only want to see you for cheeky Scousers.
Jane Gurnett (hotel boss Kate in Crossroads)
I am not a big fan of any of the British soaps, including Crossroads. They're all complete rubbish and don't deserve any awards or praise. The only reason I'm in Crossroads is because of the money.
Gabrielle Drake (ex-Crossroads regular Nicola Freeman)
Crossroads was wonderful. When I joined I never planned to stay more than a few months. I was a rolling stone as far as my career was concerned, but I enjoyed my time there and a lot of people still remember me as Nicola.
Charlie Brooks (Janine Butcher in EastEnders)
Being a celebrity almost seems more important than being an actress, and that annoys me. Don't get me wrong, I'll go to the awards ceremonies and have a great time, but I just smile for the camera and then head straight for the bar.
Anna Friel (ex-Brookside regular Beth Jordache)
I made my name in Brookside. I had a wonderful character and I grew as a person and as an actress. After leaving, I was looking for anything that would stretch me as an actress and to work with good people.
Gabrielle Glaister (ex-Coronation Street regular Debs Brownlow)
Coronation Street was fun and good to be in for a year, but with such a huge cast it is impossible to give everyone great storylines all the time.
Ross Kemp (ex-EastEnder Grant Mitchell)
I would suggest that some people from EastEnders have no acting experience.
Kathy Staff (Crossroads regular Doris Luke)
I never thought Crossroads would return. It was always a very happy series that no-one ever wanted to leave.
Ex-Coronation Street regular Frank Mills
I spent an awful lot of time on my allotment in Coronation Street. One day, after I got married to Betty, I went up to the allotment with my spade and four-pack of brown ale and never came back. A supporting artist said to me "Oh Frank, I was in the Rovers last week - at your funeral wake". What a great way to go. I loved doing Coronation Street. It was great fun. To do what you want to do, have fun and get paid for it can't be bad.
Chloe Newsome (ex-Coronation Street regular Vicky Arden)
Sometimes I regret leaving the Street, but I'm a much saner person for it. I think it's done me good.
Geoffrey Hughes (ex-Coronation Street regular Eddie Yates)
Eddie, Hilda and Stan had some brilliant comic scenes and were very popular, but that only works when you have great solid characters to work alongside.
Jean Alexander (ex-Coronation Street regular Hilda Ogden)
It used to be "Hello Hilda, where are your curlers?" And everyone who said it thought they were the first person who ever thought of it. I've been trying to do things that weren't anything like Hilda.
For the first year after I left, I was getting quite a lot of scripts for parts just like her. I'd done all that for 22 years and didn't want to again.
PS: Are you gone yet?
Prince Charles to Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie, whose character Alma died of cancer.
CAPTION(S):
TWO OF A KIND: But will Tamzin Outhwaite and Martin Kemp still be celebrating after leaving EastEnders?; MOVING ON: Claire Sweeney is leaving the Close in Brookside for the glamorous world of the West End stage; SIGH OF RELIEF: Edna Dore; RELENTLESS TREADMILL: Roy Barraclough IN IT FOR THE MONEY: Jane Gurnett ENJOYABLE TIME: Gabrielle Drake WONDERFUL CHARACTER: Anna Friel CASTING DOUBTS: Ross Kemp OUT OF CURLERS: Jean Alexander
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Coventry Evening Telegraph (England) |
| Date: | Oct 20, 2001 |
| Words: | 933 |
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