Some New EastEnders Merchandise, Finally
By Larry Jaffee
Well it might not be the official EastEnders t-shirts or the comprehensive DVD boxed set that fans have been long requesting, but in recent months a few new interesting products tied to the show have become available. All of these items are being imported from the U.K. by the Walford Gazette and the prices below are in U.S. dollars.
EastEnders Scripts Book
There have been numerous books written about EastEnders, but Essential EastEnders Scripts: Models for Writing is the first time that dialogues from the show have been offered for purchase. Despite the book’s title, they aren’t actual full scripts but rather pivotal scenes from a half-dozen memorable episodes, such as Den serving Angie divorce papers, and Dot and Ethel reminiscing about Walford’s good old days. The book’s tone is written for aspiring television script writers, and its author Mike Gould does a good job setting up the scenes and context that each Albert Square drama unfolds. Essential EastEnders Scripts costs $20, including shipping.
‘Rosa’ CD Biography
Louise Jameson (Rosa di Marco) is an accomplished actress who inhabited Walford for far too short a time. In this 79-minute audio documentary, Jameson discusses her time on EastEnders, but also her childhood and how she chose acting as a profession. In addition to EastEnders, Jameson is well known among U.K. telly circles for her role as Leela on the classic science fiction series Doctor Who, as well as the BBC TV series Tenko about a group of women in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the 1940s. She also reads several poems, and talks about issues that are important to her, such as dyslexia. The CD, part of a series The Actor Speaks, may be ordered through the Walford Gazette for $20, including shipping.
‘Sam’ Autobiography
EastEnders character Samantha Mitchell has been played by two different actresses. The first, Daniella Westbrook, came in as a precocious teenager always looking to have some fun. As her autobiography The Other Side of Nowhere shows, she lived up to her character both on and off screen.
Westbrook’s cocaine addiction, chronicled in the British tabloids, resulted in her eventually leaving EastEnders. She recounts her troubles, rock bottom was social services taking her son into care, and her subsequent recovery. The hardcover, 291-page book includes numerous photos, including one of her ravaged nose, which has since been reconstructed.
Unlike many of autobiographies from some of the other EastEnders stars, Westbrook’s book devotes many pages to her time on the series, and goes into detail about her close relationships with Ross Kemp (Grant) and Michael Greco (Beppe di Marco).
The book is $32 (inc. S&H).
The Queen Vic Bust
Ever think about owning the same Queen Victoria bust that sits on the Queen Vic bar? Well, a company in the U.K. called Towers Sculptures has produced a replica of the iconic piece in bronze, which measures 16" (height) x 8" (width) x 5" (depth). A brass plate put on the front of the base is inscribed: 'The Queen Vic—East End'.
The Walford Gazette has agreed to serve as a clearing house to take orders for this limited-edition piece, and gauge interest in this pricey item: $167, plus shipping and handling, which can be a considerable additional amount. Due to the statue’s hefty weight of 5 lbs., we’re still trying to figure out a cost-effective way, but the sample that Towers Sculptures provided was extremely well packed and arrived damage-free.
Writes Towers Sculptures’ Hannah Harling, “We are a band of artists from England who specialise in sculpture. We have recently perfected a mould for a bust/sculpture of Queen Victoria, and it has occurred to us that your newspaper might enjoy offering your members a statue such as this as part of the merchandise you offer. It is an elegant piece—its fine detail and high quality patina make it a very tasteful addition to a garden or room.”
Back to Latest Articles