Gazette Publisher Meets 'Grant'

By Larry Jaffee

LONDON - The goals for my late May trip here were two-fold: meet EastEnders Executive Producer Matthew Robinson (see transcript on page 5 of the latest Gazette), and other BBC executives about the U.S. demand for merchandise, such as videos and t-shirts.

I also broached the possibility of BBC Books publishing a book of the nearly three dozen actors the Gazette has interviewed during the past seven years, to coincide with the series' 15th anniversary next year.

Secondary on my mind while at the studio was the chance to catch an actor or two for an interview. And as it turned out, my encounters with several castmembers were only a few casual introductions due to busy shooting schedules.

I did meet: Shaun Williamson ('Barry'), who has patiently waited for his interview with Tim Wilson to hit print; and Barry's new love interest, who's actually a returning castmember and was interviewed by the Gazette several years ago. I won't ruin the plot for anyone because it'll be some two years before their romance hits American screens, but I must say they make a wonderful couple. I also met briefly Marc Bannerman, who plays newcomer Gianni (pronounced 'Johnny') di Marco, a handsome 20-something who apparently has birds around the square fighting for his attention.

Gianni will probably hit the U.S. , along with the rest of his large family, which opens an Italian restaurant in Walford within the next year.

For about an hour I was sitting in this foyer situated outside one of the internals sets with a BBC publicist, my chaperone for the day.



I couldn't help noticing Ross Kemp ('Grant Mitchell' to you and me) barrelling down the hallway, dressed in a tank top and shorts, speaking intently into a cell phone. Here was a man who definitely looked like he didn't want to be interrupted. But by the fifth time he passed me walking back and forth I just had to stick out my hand and introduce myself: 'LarryJaffee from the Walford Gazette.'

Kemp quickly acknowledged, 'Yeah, right, nice to meet you.' And before I knew it, he was gone, sunning himself outside in the parking lot (it was probably England's hottest and sunniest May 27th in history). I figured that the British tabloids would have loved a photo of EastEnders' bad boy with his shirt off, but I thought better (remembering what he did to Eddie Royal).

In any case, while in Borehamwood, where the studio is shot I stopped into say hello to the local newspaper, whose photographer took my picture on the square for an article about my visit.

The Borehamwood Times' staff has a big chart on the wall, next to the article assignments, documenting EastEnders castmember sitings.

Also in the town at the local used book store I managed to find Anita Dobson's long out-of-print book, My East End, which turned out to be not about the series but rather growing up in London's East End. The store owners keep an EastEnders paperback around for castmembers to sign, and they've snagged quite an impressive assortment of autographs!

While on my trip I stopped to see at her home Gretchen Franklin ('Ethel') - the British gran that I never had. In her late 80s, she still is spry and sharp as ever. Gretchen told of her occasional EastEnders cameos these days, and reminisced about appearing in the Beatles' Help. Paul McCartney was 'the only nice one,' she added.




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