EE: Bosses axe pointless character

[faceless]

'EastEnders' chiefs axe Honey Mitchell
April 19 2008
By Daniel Kilkelly

EastEnders star Emma Barton has been axed by the soap's producers. The actress, who joined the BBC One show as Honey Mitchell in September 2005, will now depart later this year. Her on-screen husband Perry Fenwick (Billy) has been told that his job is safe.

An insider told The Sun: "Emma's a lovely actress, but we've just come to the end of her storyline. Honey will go this summer." Emma said: "I'm looking forward to going back to musical theatre."

Honey has been at the centre of a number of high-profile plots during her time on the soap, including giving birth to baby girl Janet, who has Down's Syndrome, in 2006.

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oh no, what will we do now when we want to hear someone mix up words in a funny way?

[SpursFan1902]

And get our fashion tips?

[Skylace]

I am glad to see Honey go. She was very pointless and the only time she was interesting was during Janet's storyline. Poor Billy though, never any luck.

[pirtybirdy]

I agree skylace. I feel so bad for Billy, because obviously she's going to leave him, unless they'd be so cruel as to have her hit by a bus and the kids are left with Billy. Most of the time I'd find that her getting words wrong all the time made her look really dumb. It may have been cute once or twice, but after that, she just looked extremely ignorant. Also, she wasn't swift enough to get the hint about leaving the Mitchell's house. Also, not getting the hint that Billy was skint, or didn't know the financial matters in the house. I'm happy she's going. I wanna see Billy with someone that has half a brain and can be a help to point him in the right direction as well.

[Skylace]

[HandoGod]

Her character has become a bit tiresome. I do hope Billy gets some good storylines soon though as I feel the same thing is happening.

Bring back all the mobsters and have like the good olde days with Steve Owen, etc... That's what I say.

[pirtybirdy]

She was bringing Billy down, like a tick sucking on the blood of the host...LOL!! Give Billy some good storylines, and stop making him out to be a dolt all the time. Remember when he first came on EE? He was taking care of Jamie and supposedly abusing him (physically, not sexually). He was a hardman then.

[eefanincan]

Not the least bit sorry to see her go. I don't find her endearing at all.... actually find her a bit more annoying than anything. She was a bit funny in the beginning but has just become plain annoying now.

[misslisalynn]

I agree Honey is a tiresome character but I still get a chuckle over "epidoodle". I won't be sorry to see her go.

[eefanincan]

[SpursFan1902]

[eefanincan]

[11antoniacourt]

I'll miss her. I liked the story line between Honey's father and Peggy Mitchell. And I'll go to my grave with Epidoodle. I wonder what will become of Billy...will they make him a widower?

[faceless]

UPSTAGED BY A DOG!
says Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell)
By Alice Walker
27th July 2008
The People

Eastenders beauty Emma Barton has spoken of her shock at being axed from the show. Emma, who plays dizzy Honey Mitchell, said: "I was gutted when they told me. I know that's the nature of the job and nothing is forever but I didn't want it to end so soon."

And to add to the actress's heartbreak, her exit next month from the BBC1 soap will be a minor event compared with the departure of an EastEnder veteran - Wellard the DOG. The death of Wellard - played by three different Belgian shepherds since arriving in 1994 - is being billed as one of the show's main stories this summer.

Emma, 29, told The People: "I can't believe I've been upstaged by a dog dying." Producers felt her Honey character had run its course but Emma, who joined the show in 2005, said: "I'm really sad. I didn't want to leave." She will be on screen for another month but finished filming her final scenes a few weeks ago - when she was reduced to tears.

Emma said: "I was crying when I let. Filming those last scenes was really sad. I will miss everyone and I miss going to work every day already and being part of the show. I will definitely keep in touch with everyone but it isn't the same as working there."

Viewers will see Honey flee Albert Square in the back of a black cab with her two young children Janet and William. On-screen hubby Billy Mitchell, played by Perry Fenwick, will be left distraught when his family desert him. Perry, 46, said he was also gutted when bosses revealed in April that Honey would be leaving. Last year the pair were nominated for a British Soap Award for Best Storyline involving their Down's Syndrome daughter Janet.

When it was revealed Emma was leaving, a show insider said: "Emma's a lovely actress, but we've just come to the end of her storyline." Since filming her final scenes Emma has been waiting for the phone to ring with offers of new roles. She has nothing booked apart from playing Snow White in panto in Canterbury, Kent, at Christmas.

She said: "I've always been working so it's strange having nothing to do. I'm just watching daytime telly waiting for my agent to ring. It's funny, when you're working you wake up in the morning and think 'I wish I didn't have to go to work today' and then when you're not working you think 'I wish I had work to go to'. Luckily I've got a great agent so hopefully it won't be too long before something comes up.

"I won't be signing on the dole - things aren't that bad. And I'm not just going to go and get a job in Marks and Spencer. There have been rumours that David Tennant might be quitting as Doctor Who - maybe I could be the first female doctor. Or perhaps I could do Strictly Come Dancing - at least I would get fit at the same time. Basically I'm up for anything."

Luckily there is one bright note in Emma's life - her boyfriend and former EastEnders actor Joel Beckett. Joel, 35, who played rogue Jake Moon, left the show two years ago. He recently starred in ITV1 drama He Kills Coppers and is currently filming for Brit movie The Big I Am. Emma said: "Joel is really busy - he has got a lot of work on which is really great. Since leaving EastEnders he's been permanently working so I really hope things will start happening for me too."

The pair have been dating for a year and Emma says they are happier than ever. They have just returned from a romantic holiday in Portugal and Emmasays they have already talked about moving in together. She said: "He needs to tidy up his house and clean out his cupboards to make room for all my stuff first. And I'm not sure how he'd feel about me moving all my girlie things in."

Before joining EastEnders Emma was a successful musical theatre star in a string of different touring productions including Grease and Love Shack. And she hopes maybe she will be able to get back into that. She said: "I love doing musical theatre - I would love to do a West End show." But Emma adds wistfully: "Honey hasn't been killed off so I guess there is always the possibility of going back.

Perry Fenwick who plays Honey's husband Billy says: They said the character had come to a natural end but what does that mean? It's gutting for Billy and for me. I'll really miss Emma. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy where I am but I do wonder what's next for my character.

Poor Billy, he's just got all he ever wanted - a wife and kids - and now it's being taken away from him. There's only one thing they could do to make him happy again - bring back Honey!

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cheerio cheerio cheerio!

[11antoniacourt]

Getting upstaged by a dog has got to be an insult for her. I will miss her and Janet.