Barbara Windsor leaving UK soap Eastenders

Actress Barbara Windsor, a 15 year stalwart of the long running UK soap series Eastenders is to leave the BBC One soap next year. 72 year old Barbera Windsor has played the feisty Mitchell family matriarch character Peggy Mitchell in the soap series since 1994.

Windsor won a lifetime achievement award at the 2009 British Soap Awards.

Barbara Windsor claims that she is leaving because she wants to spend more time with her husband although her agent has said that she will not be retiring from show business completely.
"I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago. I'm looking forward to the future and I suppose when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man, as he's not getting any younger." she said.

More Strictly Come Dancing Phone grief

TV viewer voting shows have been plagued by problems in the last year or so and the BBC flagship program Strictly Come Dancing seems to be unable to shake of problems with it's own voting. Not only did the voting system result in an unexpected three couples in the final show but thousands of viewers have now been complaining that they were unable to cast votes for some of the couples in the final voting stage.

Holby City actor Tom Chambers and his dance partner won the final vote and there was no doubt that their final show dance was a masterpiece of performance. But it is not good when a program which is meant to draw viewers in and make them feel engaged simply leaves them feeling frustrated and angry.

TV shows really must get their act together on the viewer voting arrangements. If viewers are left feeling that their votes are ignored, miscounted or that they are prevented from voting for certain contestants then they will rapidly turn away from these currently popular TV formats.