EE: next week

[carmelina]

Calamity Clare
by Tony Stewart 26/01/2008


Now this is what you call a sensational entrance. A car roars into the Square on Friday, squeals to a halt by the fruit and veg stall with Billy only just jumping clear, the rear door opens and a young girl is thrown into the gutter.
All blonde hair, bosom, long legs in fishnet tights but very little dress that could be where she belongs as she lets out a screech of anger as the car speeds away. With her back bruised, her tights ripped and knees bloodied, she looks like she has suffered a particularly hard day's night.

"Do us a favour and do one, love," Roxy tells her when she comes to the Vic and asks for Peggy.

"If yer lookin' for punters, you might wanna try down the back of George Street."

Dishevelled and penniless, there's an air of desperate mystery about this girl as she tries to find Dot, blags a bacon sandwich out of Garry in the cafe, and then finally calls out to Beale The Squeal as he goes into his house.

'It can't be,' Ian gasps, recognising her.

"Clare. Debbie's little girl."

"Not so little," she laughs.

Well, she's got that right. Nearly ten years after leaving the Square to live in Scotland with stepdad Nigel following the tragic death of her mother, Clare Bates is back. And that sweet teenage schoolgirl has grown up to be a self-possessed and manipulative stunner who'll give the Mitchell sisters a run for their money.

If Clare's just had a bumpy ride, then Walford should buckle up as she's about to return the favour!

Still played by Gemma Bissix, this is yet another reason to watch Enders again. For while she spent five years playing Clare from 93 to 98, it was her brief role as superbitch Clare Cunningham in Hollyoaks that proved Gemma is one of Soapland's rising stars. She was nominated for a raft of best actress gongs during 2007, and won the hotly contested Villain Of The Year at the British Soap Awards. And it's obviously those very same qualities that are going to make her compulsive viewing. For after showering at Ian's, she teasingly lets her towel fall as he gives her one of Jane's dowdy dresses to wear. Having then stolen a handful of £20 notes from his briefcase, she's ready to leave - until surrogate gran Dot turns up and reveals that Ian is now a successful businessman, 'a propah little Howard Hughes'. There's a wicked glint in Clare's eye as she decides to stay.

Pass the spade, there's a new gold digger in town!

The Sun:

A MYSTERY blonde arrives in dramatic fashion as she is hurled out of a moving car! But eagle-eyed soap fans might recognise the sexy newcomer.

That's because it's Clare Bates ­ Nigel's stepdaughter, who lived in Walford from 1993 to 1998.

"She's a minx now," grins Gemma Bissix, who is returning to the role after playing evil Clare Cunningham in Hollyoaks. "She flaunts her assets to get what she wants!"

The drama unfolds as Billy watches a young woman being pushed from a car.

The scantily-clad stranger marches off and eventually tracks down Ian. He can't believe it is Debbie's little girl!

Ian lets her get cleaned up in his house, but when Jane returns to find Clare slipping on one of her dresses, she freaks out.

Ian explains who Clare is, but while his back is turned, she steals cash out of his wallet!

"Clare's a chancer," says Gemma. "She sees Ian as a route to easy money!"

[6ULDV8]

Phwoooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian is now going to get it from both sides....
(Metaphoricaly speaking or maybe not as the case may be)

He's got Janes Bro' making passes to get what he wants, now Debbie....

Poor Jane is in for a rough one, mind you, so is Ian if Jane's bro don't lube up