Based entirely in the fictional world of Walford the "EastEnders Annual" takes a sparky ... more
gossip- magazine-style approach to the Square focusing less on the public-service remit and more on Roxy's cocktail recipes. Packed with exclusive features we'l...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: entertaining, great length, fab pics Disadvantages: Nothing from its history
...answer? EastEnders.
EastEnders is a BBC show which has been airing continuously on our screens since February 1985. Set in East London (filmed in Herts), it is a soap about the lives of Londoners! There are various families and individuals (who soon make a home for themselves) living in Albert Square, Walford. These families include the Slaters, Mitchells, Brannings, Beales and suchlike. Over the years we have seen many amazing characters ... ...annual!
The EastEnders 2009 annual was released towards the end of 2008, just in time for Christmas. I remember preordering it way back in August to guarantee a copy, paying just under £9 on Amazon.co.uk for it. When it finally arrived a few months later, I was so excited to start reading! Though I had been switching bedrooms at the time and it had gotten muddled up with other books. A few weeks ago I finally stumbled across it again ... more
With a love for media and television, I often get asked what my favourite TV show is. I cannot give a straight reply, but I always do tend to sway to one direction. My answer? EastEnders.
EastEnders is a BBC show which has been airing continuously on our screens since February 1985. Set in East London (filmed in Herts), it is a soap about the lives of Londoners! There are various families and individuals (who soon make a home for themselves) living in Albert Square, Walford. These families include the Slaters, Mitchells, Brannings, Beales and suchlike. Over the years we have seen many amazing characters involved in superb storylines (births, marriages, deaths, affairs...the list is endless). Now you can enjoy the magic of the current happenings in a fantastic annual!
The EastEnders 2009 annual was released towards the end of 2008, just in time for Christmas. I remember preordering it way back in August to guarantee a copy, paying just under £9 on Amazon.co.uk for it. When it finally arrived a few months later, I was so excited to start reading! Though I had been switching bedrooms at the time and it had gotten muddled up with other books. A few weeks ago I finally stumbled across it again after an anxious hunt and settled straight to reading!
The cover of the book itself is quite exciting. It's rimmed with red, its background white. 'EastEnders' is written in its traditional black lettering, standing out above a picture of Bradley and Stacey (Charlie Clements, Lacey Turner). There are various other small images dotted around to lure you in with brief captions too. With that, I opened the hard-back up.
There is a contents page briefly outlining what is in store throughout the 128 pages of the book, split into four headings: Your Favourite Faces, Fun Stuff, Fabulous Fashion and Games & Quizzes. I didn't bother reading this as I wanted to get a surprise and see what was in store for me as and when I reached it. Time to turn the page...
The first eight or so pages are all little stories from episodes that have appeared in the show recently, including Shirley dancing in the Laundrette in Pat's underwear and the explosion at the Miller's house. There is also a little storyboard too.
Love is quite a popular hot topic on the Square, so there was no surprise to find a few pages dedicated to the romantics in Walford, and whether 'we' think they will last or not. Honey and Billy, OFF? Now there's a prediction and a half!
There is a section dedicated to the fashions of Walford, called 'Get The Walford Look'. Now, of course, we would all kill for Pat's earrings, and I am dying to know where Bianca gets that silver puffer jacket from! Following this delightful section there are a few pages for the lads of Walford (Rob Kazinsky & Scott Maslen, wow!), before another hilareous storyboard.
As this is technically a Christmas annual, there are quite a number of pages dedicated to the festive season. This includes various features such as a festive Time Line (remember the horrific death of Dennis Rickman?!), 'crimbo food', and a Queen Vic karaoke song list.
There are a lot of siblings in Walford, and the question of 'Which is better?' is often brought up, so there is no surprise that there is a section to solve this puzzle! Now it's a Harry Hill moment for sure! Ronnie or Roxy, which Mitchell is better? There's only one way to find out...FIIIGHT!
There is a wedding exclusive section, taking us through various weddings from Walford. Then we come to a quite upsetting part of the annual - the cemetery of Walford. We can read about all the deaths that have occurred to our beloved characters. The section about Frank Butcher is quite upsetting. To cheer us up afterwards though, there are a few games and quizzes!
The A-Z of EastEnders is quite an interesting feature, and then a few pages along we find out all about then new girl Danielle. She's one of my most recent favourite characters so this piece is quite interesting to read especially.
Who knew Pat was an agony aunt? There is a feature where residents of Walford have written letters to Pat for her to answer and solve their problems. This is quite fascinating as you have to try and guess which character has written the letters! Following this there is a section called 'Brat Pack', which gives us loads of information about all the youngsters in Walford (only now did I realise that Tiffany's jacket is almost identical to Bianca's!).
After a feature about Janine Butcher and information about all the best places to eat in Walford, we can read about all the 'psychos'. Anything to do with Sean Slater is a pleasure! Then there is a debate page: Cheese V\George Michael. Heather really does crack me up! There are more quizzes and puzzles for you to enjoy, before reaching the Queen Victoria Photo Album. There are some memorable and fantastic snaps in this section, including a photo of Ronnie and Roxy which is full of sisterly love. Shame it doesn't last!
There are a few more features wedged in before we come to a hilareous section where Minty (Cliff Parisi) tries to teach us Cockney Rhyming Slang. There is a little story and wherever there is a space for the use of Cockney, a picture of a celebrity or suchlike has been propped in. Who knew that you could replace 'windscreen wiper' for 'Billie Piper'!
Remember when Lucy Beale thought she was talking to Cindy online? There is a feature dedicated to Lucy's social network page, with a large photo of her page and suchlike. This is actually 'real', and you can check it out via the link at the bottom.
Randomly spread throughout this annual there are various glamorous posters of the cast, including ones of Rob Kazinsky (Sean Slater) and Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell). Now I would not dare to rip these out (!) but they are still very nice to look at! The book is packed with so much exciting features and sections that I could read it over and over and never tire!
This book as a recommended retail price of £12.99. For an annual, I will admit that it is a little expensive! However if you are like me and worship the ground the cast walk on, then it is definitely worth every penny! If you browse, you may even be able to find it as cheap as I did.
The only downside to this annual is that there is nothing in it about the previous years in EastEnders, apart from maybe the deaths time line. Other than that, we cannot learn anything about the history of the show.
This is an amazingly packed book, perfect for any EastEnders fan! Definitely one to add to the collection of 'Enders books!
![Annual 2009, The [Digipak] - Various Artists](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/858/Annual_2009_The_Various_Artists__7005858.jpg)
