Episode 4466
Episode 4466 | |
---|---|
Olympic Torch. | |
Episode no. | Episode 4466 |
Directed by | Clive Arnold |
Written by | Matt Evans |
Produced by | Lorraine Newman |
Original air date | 23 July 2012 |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Episode 4466 of the
Plot
Selected as a torch bearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) is stuck on the London Underground with members of his local football team because someone pulled the emergency stop when an argument broke out. The train starts but police are waiting at the tube station and will not let them through. Billy manages to escape, and frantically tries to get ready for the torch. Meanwhile, Billy's granddaughter, Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), is in labour in a local fast food restaurant, refusing an ambulance, and refusing to give birth until she knows Billy has carried the torch and can be there. After some delays, Billy is able to carry the torch, watched by his friends and neighbours. He then hears that Lola is in labour, so rushes to the restaurant, where Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell) delivers the baby.
Cast
- Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell
- Tameka Empson as Kim Fox
- Danielle Harold as Lola Pearce
- Ann Mitchell as Cora Cross
- Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman
- Joshua Pascoe as Ben Mitchell
- Jamie Borthwick as Jay Mitchell
- Ricky Norwood as Arthur "Fatboy" Chubb
- Nico Papadopoulos
- Shane Richie as Alfie Moon
- Jamie Foreman as Derek Branning
- Scott Maslen as Jack Branning
- Jake Wood as Max Branning
- Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell
- Linda Henry as Shirley Carter
- Hetti Bywater as Lucy Beale
- Charlie Brooks as Janine Butcher
- Jessie Wallace as Kat Moon
- Gillian Wright as Jean Slater
- Chucky Venn as Ray Dixon
- Tony Discipline as Tyler Moon
- Steve John Shepherd as Michael Moon
- Nina Wadia as Zainab Khan
- Nitin Ganatra as Masood Ahmed
- Jo Joyner as Tanya Cross
- Matt Lapinskas as Anthony Moon
- Rita Simons as Roxy Mitchell
- Himesh Patel as Tamwar Masood
- James Forde as Liam Butcher
- Danny Brown as Harry
- Diane Parish as Denise Fox
Announcement
In November 2011, storylines show Billy selected as a torch bearer for the
On 15 July 2012, it was announced that a seven-minute live segment at the end of episode would show Billy taking part in the relay, followed by Lola giving birth to her daughter, while Billy rushes to be there. Harold would become only the second actress to act out a birth during a live episode of a soap opera, following Coronation Street's Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape) in the live 50th anniversary episode broadcast in December 2010.[5] An insider from the show stated, "No one has tried anything like this on EastEnders live before so it is a real challenge to get the emotion of the situation right. It will be the toughest thing Danielle has done in her acting career."[5]
Production
Carl Doran, the creative head of the Torch coverage across the BBC, revealed in a blog on BBC Online, that the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and EastEnders production team had worked for two years to organise the flame being shown live on EastEnders, saying "We've been looking into the practicalities and many challenges of getting the torch to Walford in time for an EastEnders slot while it makes a whistle-stop tour through London's 32 boroughs in the final week of the 70-day journey around the UK. We also discussed the idea of trying to record it on tape like a traditional EastEnders episode as well, but we always wanted it to be as authentic as possible and so it will be the real torch and flame and it will happen live. It's very exciting, and even more so because live broadcasting adds an extra set of challenges to a top drama."[6]
Rehearsals for the live section of the episode started on 21 July 2012 and full dress rehearsals on 22 July,[7][8] though there was some tentative rehearsal time before that when they were also busy filming other episodes.[3] Fenwick said of his rehearsals, "Summer arrives just in time for me to complete my 24th circuit of Albert Square and I'm sweltering. On the plus side, I'm starting to see abs, have buns of steel and the show is looking good too!"[7][8] He had to check the route for potholes beforehand, as well as making sure he knew his lines, and said he was looking forward to it being over.[3] He was worried about carrying the torch during the live broadcast, as he may have dropped it or it could have gone out. He stated that he, as an actor, was feeling more nervous than his character.[3]
Harold said of the rehearsals, "I have known about this live episode for such a long time but all of a sudden it has crept up on us. I am really nervous but now we have started rehearsing, I am feeling equally excited. It will definitely be an experience and I hope Perry runs smoothly!"[8] She also said she was "terrified" of acting out the birth, saying she would prefer to give birth in real life. She said that filming the pre-recorded labour scenes meant she "was knackered after screaming and crying and pretending to push all day."[9] In an interview with Digital Spy, she said that she was "really, really nervous" and that the prospect of acting the birth was "very scary", but added, "I really appreciate that they've given me the opportunity, especially considering that I haven't been here at EastEnders for that long. It's really nice that they've trusted me with it, so hopefully I'll do it justice! It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it'll go well."[10] To help prepare, she asked several women for advice, including her mother, and was told "It's the worst pain you can ever imagine!"[10] She found it "quite difficult" to imagine what it would be like to act out as she has no children, but had watched Channel 4 show One Born Every Minute to help, as she did not want to "overdo the scene or make it look really fake."[10]
The episode was part of the official torch relay, and Fenwick ran with the real torch protection team[11] dressed as an official torch bearer.[12] The torch made a special detour from London[13] to the EastEnders set in the BBC Elstree Centre, Borehamwood.[14] Fenwick's route saw him carry the torch from the fictional location of Bridge Street, past The Queen Victoria public house and around Albert Square.[15]
The majority of the episode was filmed in advance[16] and the whole episode was directed by Clive Arnold, who said, "As the only drama asked to be involved with the Olympic Torch Relay, it is a huge honour for EastEnders and for everyone involved—a truly once in a lifetime opportunity. I was so excited and thrilled when I was asked to be part of the episode and I know that every member of cast and crew feel exactly the same way."[8] The live scenes used 19 cameras, along with the 31 regular cast members, plus 11 child cast members and at least 450 extras.[7] As the programme switched from pre-recorded to live scenes, Fenwick, in character, winked at the camera and said "Here we go!"[17] Part of the relay was shown on BBC News.[18]
"Billy's Olympic Nightmare"
"Billy's Olympic Nightmare" is a one-off spin-off episode of EastEnders, broadcast via the
Billy is set to carry the Olympic Torch through Walford and has 30 minutes before he has to collect the torch. Billy takes a taxicab to the BBC be interviewed on The One Show but discovers that the other torchbearers have already been interviewed. He is chased out of the studio by a security guard. Billy's next stop is Wembley Stadium and again he discovers the torchbearers have already left. Billy then goes to West Ham United F.C. and catches up with the other torchbearers but unfortunately Billy has lost his pass and is not allowed in. His taxi driver, Hercules, appears with Billy's pass and he takes part in the celebrations. Billy then wakes up in the hair and beauty salon in Walford and it turns out he was dreaming.
Reception
Pre-broadcast
Jane Rackham from the Radio Times called the episode "highly topical",[23] while Tony Stewart from the Daily Mirror said: "With London hosting the Games, this is an appropriate and ambitious story for [East]Enders to tackle", and called both Fenwick and Harold "superb".[24] Boyd Hilton from Heat said Billy carrying the Olympic torch was a "gimmick", and said the entire episode should have been live,[25] whilst Heat's Karen Edwards said Harold acting out a live birth would be "amazing", adding, "much respect goes out to Danielle who will be working hard to make the episode a success."[26]
Post-broadcast
Talking about Billy being stuck on the train, the Elstree & Borehamwood Times wrote: "Viewers sat biting their nails on tenterhooks, waiting to see if he would make it back to Walford in time."
Ratings
Overnight ratings showed that the episode was watched by 7.32 million people, a 31% share of the total viewing audience for that time, and the live section peaked at 7.9 million (32.6%). A repeat on
Award nominations
In February 2013, the episode was nominated for an All About Soap award for Best Episode, under the title "Billy and the Olympic Torch".[34] In April 2013, the episode was nominated for "Spectacular Scene of the Year" at The British Soap Awards, for Billy carrying the torch.[35]
See also
References
- ^ "EastEnders Episode 4466". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- ^ "The Olympic flame comes to Walford!". BBC. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: BBC launches Olympic programmes". BBC News. BBC Online. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ Mosey, Roger; Doran, Carl (15 November 2011). "Olympic Torch coming to Walford". BBC Online. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ a b c Press Association (23 July 2012). "EastEnders to glimpse Olympic flame as torch relay reaches Walford". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- IPC Media. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- Newsround. BBC Online. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ "Olympic torch: Reality and fiction blur in London". BBC News. BBC Online. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ a b Slater, Anna (24 July 2012). "Olympic torch comes to Borehamwood during EastEnders live show". Elstree & Borehamwood Times. Newsquest. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ Rajani, Deepika (24 July 2012). "EastEnders' Billy Mitchell Does Nation Proud As He Carries Olympic Torch Through Walford". Entertainmentwise. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ "Olympic torch relay to visit EastEnders' Walford". BBC. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- Independent News & Media. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "EastEnders: Olympic flame carried through Square". ATV Today UK. ATV Network. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ a b Francis, Rob (22 June 2012). "Billy's Olympic Nightmare". EastEnders. BBC Online. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ Director: Lance Kneeshaw; Executive Producer: Lorraine Newman; Writer: Daisy Coulam (16 July 2012). "Billy's Olympic Nightmare". EastEnders. BBC. BBC Red Button.
- ^ R, Katy (8 July 2012). "Photo spoilers: Billy's running the show!". EastEnders. BBC Online. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ Presented by Kate Thornton and John Barrowman (20 July 2012). "This Morning episode dated 20 July 2012". This Morning. ITV.
- ^ Rackham, Jane. "EastEnders episode 4465 (review)". Radio Times. Exponent. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ Hilton, Boyd (21–27 July 2012). "Boyd-O-Vision: Going live is always the best option". Heat (689). Bauer Media Group: 101.
- ^ Edwards, Karen (17 July 2012). "Soap news: Eastenders to celebrate Olympics with live birth episode". Heat. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Edwards, Karen (24 July 2012). "Eastenders live episode: Did you see Billy Mitchell wink at the camera?". Heat. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- Comedy Central UK. Archived from the originalon 3 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- Hearst Magazines UK: 62.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ F, Rob (11 February 2013). "All About Soap Awards 2013". EastEnders. BBC Online. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
External links
- "Episode 4466" at BBC Online
- "Episode 4466" at IMDb