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