EastEnders boss slams rival Coronation Street over ‘bleak’ crime stories as he asks ‘what’s happened’
AN EASTENDERS story editor has taken a swipe at rival soap Coronation Street, joining legions of fans who believe the soap has got “too dark”.
Lawrie Jordan took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his disappointment in the trajectory of the ITV soap, which is preparing to say goodbye to iconic character Gail (Helen Worth) after a 50 year stint on the show.
But with so many plots currently going on, including the murder of Weatherfield baddie Joel Deering (Callum Lill), fans fear that her goodbye will be lost in the mix.
One fan aired their frustration on X, writing: “What fans want: a Gail and Audrey two-hander before her departure after half a century. What fans get: murder, crime, drugs, violence and characters no-one cares about.”
The comment quickly caught the eye of devout Corrie fans, among them Lawrie, who also shared his disappointment.
“This isn’t easy to say and I’ve bit my tongue for long enough…what happened to the Corrie we used to know? I feel like we are watching a totally different show now,” he wrote.
“I appreciate tonight’s a bit of a break from form but even so the recent shift in the show to crime and police based stories is wreaking havoc with the show’s DNA.
“Where is the community, the warmth, the laughs, the icons, the mix of stories and generations?”
Others were quick to agree, with one responding: “Very true and it’s not even just the abundance of crime.
“They used to be able to do such stories with their own flavour. Now they just emulate others. The entire production has completely lost sight of what the show is.”
“It’s definitely having something of an identity crisis where the people writing seem to think it’s a different show,” said another.
A third said: “Well it’s blatantly turned itself in to a crime show now. Sees itself as The Bill. But darker.”
While the “Who Killed Joel?” storyline came to its conclusion on Friday night, fans are still nonethewiser about what’s going to happen to Gail.
Worth’s exit from the show was confirmed earlier this year, leaving fans on edge as they await to discover her final fate.
In October, the character suffered a heart attack and was rushed to hospital, where she went through cardiac arrest.
In the first time in the soap’s history, her heart rate monitor flatlining as the credits played out.
However, she was brought back from the brink of death, meaning how she exits is still a mystery.
Viewers now believe that her health will take a turn for the worse, with the character dying somewhat peacefully and without drama.