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Hey Nostalgiacs! Hope everyone is doing OK after the last few months we've had to endure. Lockdown rules are starting to be relaxed in various parts of the world, and this is being met with mixed reactions. Not to mention confusion! Life as we've known it these last few months is coming to an end... at least we hope it is! Some people have had a terrible time being stuck at home; not being able to visit their families; socialize, or go to work. At some point we've all felt the effects of having to self-isolate, especially for the length of time that we've had to stay at home. So what have you all been doing while in isolation? Me? Getting my nostalgia fix of course! Definitely my way of taking my mind off things and destressing. I'm still watching Thriller which has become my latest addiction. But I've also been indulging in seventies comedies, eighties quiz shows, and nineties dramas... maybe I've just got too much time on my hands (well, I do have too much time on my hands!) but I'm enjoying this stroll down televisual memory lane. And one thing I've been addicted to lately are old episodes of EastEnders . I do keep up with the current goings-on in Albert Square - my family and I have been watching the soap since it first hit our screens - but I won't lie... I much prefer episodes of EastEnders from back in the day. Anything up to about 2010 is more my thing. The characters, the storylines, the dialogue, the writing, the quality of the acting... all so much better and stronger. Right now I'm watching EastEnders episodes from the mid-2000s. A lot of EastEnders fans hail this period as the soap's last great era - and I'm inclined to agree with them. Back then the soap wasn't about educating its audience or pushing some social or moral agenda every other episode. It was purely about entertainment and enjoyment - primarily what soaps used to be about, and just perfect when you want to relax after you get in from work. The EastEnders cast during the 2000s were stellar, and the combination of characters just seemed to work well together. You had your stalwarts and matriarchs (Pat, Peggy, Pauline and Dot) Your Jack-the-lads (Alfie Moon, Julius Smith, and Paul Trueman) the good guys (Anthony Trueman, Gus Smith, and Derek Harkinson) your gobby but good-natured families (the Slaters and the Millers) the hard men and gangsters (the Mitchell brothers, Den Watts, Jack Dalton, Andy Hunter) and not forgetting some beautiful love stories (Sharon and Dennis, Kat and Alfie, Dot and Jim) All of these characters had an interesting story to tell which most of us could relate to - rather than a message that was constantly being rammed down our throats! Despite the fact that I still regularly tune in to EastEnders - and the Christmas episode is still very much a family tradition - watching these old episodes again made me realise that something is missing from modern day EastEnders. And I'm not sure if this era of classic EastEnders can ever be replicated again. Another thing that back-in-the-day EastEnders reminded me of were memories of my family as we all sat down together to watch that night's episode. Back when EastEnders was absolutely unmissable, everything stopped so that we could catch up with the latest goings-on in the lives of the Walford residents, and we would always watch the show together as a family. There was a humour in EastEnders back then that's rarely seen today and a lot of those one-liners had us howling - with my little brother going on to repeat them every opportunity he got! And all this catching up on classic EastEnders has been the inspiration behind a future post regarding one of my favourite Enders ' storyline - one that I think had it all! So watch out for that. Since many of us have been stuck at home as of late, how we look or what we're going to wear every day have been the least of our worries! It's not as though we have anywhere to be or are expecting any visitors. In fact it's well-known that for those attending work meetings via Zoom, it's not uncommon for them to be wearing a smart shirt... over pajama pants! And for those who aren't working from home, well, some of them are just in pajamas! But the pandemic and having to stay at home has made me realize that there's an element of my wardrobe that's been overlooked - loungewear. Since moving to America, I've worked remotely. But still the idea of at-home wear never really occurred to me. But it took a a video on YouTube's Ultimate Fashion History by the fabulous Amanda Hallay to see want a great idea loungewear is, and I'm wondering why I hadn't thought of it sooner. And not just any old loungewear either but vintage or vintage-style. Come on - what else would it be! Hallay explains the appeal of loungewear from the 1920s onwards when at-home wear was taken quite seriously. It would appear that staying at home was not an excuse to dress down - I totally agree! I was also reminded about housecoats. It seemed that lots of women during my childhood years used to own at least one. My mum used to have this very pretty, black and white cotton number with bell sleeves and tiny flowers that could be tied at the waist. She wore that loads back in the early eighties, and I really wish she hadn't had got rid of it. Check out our post on at-home fashion inspiration from the 1960s onwards. For those of us who don't own much loungewear, perhaps it's time we revived this section of our wardrobes... Hester Fields with the housecoat I want so badly! And those of you who were avid fans of eighties sitcom Fresh Fields (thanks for the heads up on this episode, MJ!) will remember that absolutely stunning, slinky, blue housecoat Hester once wore. If I owned something that gorgeous, I'd want to be seen in it so badly it wouldn't just be a housecoat it would be a work-coat, supermarket-coat, cinema-coat, romantic-dinner-for-two-at-the-local-restaurant coat, wear-it-wherever-you-want-coat... And another thing... ...Why doesn't anyone wear a housecoat anymore? In fact when was the last time you heard someone use the word 'housecoat?' I remember the time when Mr. D and I were on our way to work one morning, back when we lived in England, and we spotted a milkman on his milk float doing his rounds. At a risk of sounding like a couple of people who don't get out much - and maybe we'll need to after this - we got all excited! Neither of us could remember the last time we saw a milkman doing the rounds on his milk float, when as kids we used to see them every morning. Furthermore, Mr. D said he didn't think milkmen existed in the States any more (if you're a milkman in America, please feel free to prove us wrong!) The current situation regarding the global pandemic has meant that milkmen have been back doing their rounds on a greater scale than in the last few years and have become the unsung heroes of the hour, delivering milk and other essentials to those who are unable to get out and about. Whereas I once thought that milkmen were extinct or facing extinction, if there are any positives that can come out of this situation, I hope it's that the milk float becomes a regular sight again as it once was. I absolutely loved the segment on This Morning where Phil and Holly interviewed a milkman as he was doing his rounds. His exchange with a rather grumpy customer on live TV was highly amusing but the fact that he kept his cool proved what a pro he is. Long live the milkman! Like most people, we used to get milk delivered to our door until about the late eighties. Unfortunately the reason why we stopped having milk delivered was because our house had been broken into. The neighbours were convinced it was the milk left on the doorstep for too long that gave away the fact that no one was home. This upset Mum a great deal as she had actually cancelled milk orders because at the time, her biggest fear was that the bottles of milk would be nicked off our doorstep while she and Dad were at work. If only she knew! So after a very heated exchange with the milkman, Mum cancelled all orders once and for all, and took herself off down the shops if ever we needed milk. A sad end to many happy years of seeing our cheery milkman. Of course it was never his intention that we became the victims of a burglary but... if only he'd listened! But I have no intention of holding the actions of one incompetent person against an entire occupation, and I still think that that milkmen (and yes, milkwomen too) rock. To get up at that time of the morning, and have to be pleasant and cheery all the time is no mean feat. So yes - let's hope the milkman/woman returns. Check out our post on one of the most nostalgic of sights - a milkman doing his rounds first thing in the morning on a milk float. Happy days! Photos: YouTube Word cloud: Angel Noire

We hope you enjoyed the first part of our post A Thriller of a Series. Here's the second part of our review of the cult classic seventies British mystery and suspense anthology TV show, Thriller , created by the legendary Brian Clemens. Success in America It's not difficult to understand why a quality TV series like Thriller achieved popularity in America - and not just because of the show's American actors and characters! Shortly after originally being aired on British screens, Thriller was imported to the US to be screened late at night as part of ABC’s Wide World of Entertainment . Thriller episodes were then revamped in 1978 for the States as a collection of stand-alone made-for-TV movies. This involved many of the episodes being retitled - for instance Lady Killer was renamed Death Policy . They did away with the opening sequences including the simple but highly effective, signature fish-eye lens opening credits and replaced them with overly-long, garishly-coloured openers that weren't a patch on the original, and were totally unrelated to the rest of the episode. Furthermore, the atmospheric music score was removed, and in its place was music that was unremarkable and forgettable. The reason for these seemingly unnecessary changes is unknown but British audiences got to see these awful, amateurish versions when Thriller was repeated across the ITV regions in the early eighties. Thriller was later broadcast again in the United States as part of The CBS Late Movie , and this time the original opening sequences and music were both restored. And when A&E home video decided to release a Thriller DVD set for the US, they again went for the signature openers and theme tune. And thank goodness for that! The Test-Of-Time Test Whether or not Thriller stands the test of time will probably divide opinion more than the 2016 Referendum! It goes without saying that as the years go by, people's preferences, viewing habits, and TV trends change, and what was once popular may not be so appealing four decades on. In our humble opinion, Thriller is definitely still very watchable - even in the twenty first century. Any quality program that is well-written and sports a cast of great actors will always be worth watching. Plus the mystery and suspense genre, although not as popular as it once was, still appeals to many people today. And let's not forget the bonus of some amazing seventies fashion, décor, and cars that'll have vintage fanatics drooling - all of which contribute to the charm of the series. On the other hand though, we can't deny that there are certain factors that make Thriller seem a little dated (though still very charming and watchable!) For a start, the depiction of Britain is one which many of today's viewers would find unrelatable - one that was staid, traditional and conservative; focusing on affluence, plush living, and idyllic surroundings. Does anyone dress up for a normal weeknight dinner at home with their family anymore? Who elaborately sets the table for a simple supper for one these days? Furthermore, despite the presence of the token American, who in comparison is quite forward-thinking, open and liberated, Thriller depicts a bizarre, stifled class-bound England full of eccentricities and oddities, where nothing is quite what it seems. But then it is entertainment - and not real-life! There's also very little diversity which many would say was typical of 1970s mainstream television. Moreover the attitudes towards women would also not be well-received today: old-fashioned, patronizing and chauvinistic. Some critics have claimed that women were portrayed as weak, helpless and dependent, or as the cunning, femme fatale, but there are definitely a number of strong-willed, feisty, gutsy female characters who quite cleverly manage to turn the tables on the men, as seen in Lady Killer, A Coffin For the Bride, In the Steps of a Dead Man and A Midsummer Nightingale . The rather dated feel of VT might not appeal to many viewers today, and further more the anthology type TV series doesn't appear to have been en vogue for a good number of years now. The anthology format of self-contained episodes had the advantage of providing new faces and unrelated storylines every week, which kept things fresh and interesting. It’s a real pity that this format has virtually disappeared from TV screens today. Even by early eighties standards, Thriller was beginning to look a bit old fashioned. In an age where action dramas and cop shows were all the rage, there were no special effects, huge sets or fast-paced action to be found in Thriller . No vest-clad, muscle-bound macho men; no women in the now obligatory form-fitting, revealing garments; no swearing, and absolutely no sex! Imagine the modern-day viewer's surprise when they tune in to an episode of Thriller , and find a married couple sharing a room as expected but sleeping in two separate beds! This was apparently so because back in the seventies it was rare to show a couple in bed together for fear that it would be deemed inappropriate. Today, it would be deemed ridiculous to not show them in bed together! Dated or not, Thriller is still a great TV show and there are a number of reasons why viewers might still want to watch it: a love of mysteries; an appreciation for Clemens' work; an interest in 1970s TV... or maybe just for pure nostalgia - for those who believe that television today just isn't what it used to be. So if you're tired of being fed a TV diet of reality TV; ten-a-penny soap operas, and trashy celeb-obsessed entertainment programs, a step back into time, where TV was a much simpler affair, might be just what you need... What We Think: All we can say is wow! After watching the very first life-changing Thriller episode, we were hooked! If you have a taste for all things macabre and mysterious - as we clearly do - then Thriller will be right up your street. The stories are brilliantly plotted and well directed with great acting. You probably won't love every episode: you'll have your favourites and not-so-favourites but if you're a big fan of the suspense genre and tales with a twist, then you won't be disappointed. The episodes are very entertaining with plenty of mystery and intrigue, which then leads up to an exciting finale. It's been fascinating not only watching the episodes, but also reading the reviews and comments from Thriller fans, especially those who watched the show the first time around. Fans clearly loved the series and have very fond memories of their favourite episodes; the famous faces; the opening credits and of course that theme tune, which all in all we'd say, were a winning combination. Thriller is a unique show that perfectly conveys feelings of claustrophobia, confinement, isolation, fear and helplessness. But whether or not Thriller  is truly blood-curdlingly terrifying is up to the individual. But we found that although there were episodes that freaked you out a bit, there was nothing that gave you nightmares or cause to sleep with the light on! Thriller  makes for tense, suspenseful and exciting viewing but it's best enjoyed with the intent of being entertained rather than petrified. It's a real pity that despite Thriller achieving considerable critical acclaim and popularity during the seventies, this fantastic series isn't better remembered and has largely vanished into obscurity. But if you get the chance, you really should check out this series. Thriller is a fab piece of television history but... will it ever be repeated on mainstream TV again? Let's hope so! Photos: YouTube Wordcloud: Angel Noire

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom GENRE : Suspense CHANNEL: ITV Produced by: ATV Years: 1973-6 (UK) NUMBER OF SERIES: 6 EPISODES: 43 CREATED BY : Brian Clemens THEME MUSIC BY : Laurie Johnson DIRECTED BY: Robert Knights At Nostalgia Pie, we love our mystery and suspense TV series and movies. Life doesn't feel complete unless there's a whodunnit to solve! If you're a fan of Tales of the Unexpected or Alfred Hitchcock Presents , then you'll love Thriller - the British mystery and suspense anthology series that was first broadcast on UK screens on 14th April 1973. But despite being a hit in Britain and America, it seems Thriller was given just one repeat on British television before it mysteriously faded away, with a lot of people born after the seventies not knowing much about this amazing show. But Thriller still has a legion of fans and has become something of a cult classic. Want to find out more? Read on! What's this Thriller all about then? There was once an American anthology series back in the sixties called Thriller which featured Boris Karloff. But that is not the TV series we're talking about! This is a different Thriller . The two shows may have the same name and are both mystery-themed anthology series - confusing, we know - but our Thriller was a British TV series created by Brian Clemens, originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976 which went on to be shown in America. As it's an anthology series, each of the episodes are stand-alone episodes with individual, completely unrelated storylines, with themes ranging from psychological suspense; murder mystery; supernatural horror, and other sinister escapades. Each episode featured a cast of some very well-known names that were either already well established in the entertainment world, or got their big break since their Thriller appearance and went on to become household names. The creator Thriller was the brainchild of the late British writer Brian Horace Clemen s, who wrote for a great many well-known TV programs: The Avengers; The Champions; The New Avengers; Bergerac, Alfred Hitchcock Presents; Remington Steel; Father Dowling Mysteries , and Perry Mason . As well as Thriller, Clemens also created The Professionals , CI5: The New Professionals, and Bugs. And that's not even a fraction of the shows he's worked on! Clemens' name is closely linked with sixties and seventies action-adventure and the TV crime genre. But with his venture into the mystery and suspense genre, Clemens really kept the British viewing public on the edge of their seats with each weekly installment of Thriller . A huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock's work, Clemens realized that there was nothing similar on British television, and decided to fill that void. And because Thriller was an anthology series, this allowed Clemens a great amount of flexibility in terms of style and story-writing. As each episode featured different characters and plots that were totally unrelated, Clemens' storytelling could go in any direction he wished, without his decisions impacting on future episodes. He created the Thriller series; outlined the plots for each installment, and wrote most of the episodes. Clemens produced highly intriguing and unsettling stories, and knew how to trigger a sinister and creepy atmosphere, worthy of a big-budget movie which explains one of the reasons for why Thriller was such a success. Episodes Forty three Thriller episodes; plenty of plot twists, and great performances from some very well known names at the time. With unrelated stories, different characters, and a different set of actors, no two episodes were alike, - although sometimes the same actor may have appeared in more than one episode playing a different character. Thriller obviously centered around mystery and suspense, but the actual crimes differed from week to week. Although murder was the prevalent theme, there were tales of espionage, terrorism, stalking, disappearances, psychopathic behavior and swindling. Sometimes there was a combination of different crimes per episode. There were also episodes which featured the supernatural; stories about witchcraft, devil worshipping, and sorcery. However the supernatural episodes proved to be quite unpopular and these were eventually dropped for crime stories that were firmly based in reality. There is something very Hitchcockian about these short little dramas - the 'red herrings' and tales-with-a-twist that the master of suspense was so famous for. Part of the er, thrill, of watching Thriller , was that the viewer was often kept in the dark about what was happening, and they never quite knew how the episode was going to end, which made it all the more enjoyable. There was always the belief that events would turn around, so just when you thought you knew what was happening, the story would take on a new twist, and the conclusion occurred in an unexpected - and rather clever - way. It's been argued that the plots for these episodes are somewhat derivative: the smooth-talking charmer who manipulates the naïve young woman; the femme fatale who plays on a man's weaknesses and seduces him; the serial killer on the loose, attacking women; the model/actress stalked by an obsessed fan... Although the Thriller plots are not necessarily highly original, Clemens, being the genius that he was, managed to make seen-before plot ideas seem refreshingly new and entertaining. If ever you needed proof of this, all you need to do is watch A Coffin For the Bride , starring Helen Mirren, in what is said to be Clemens favourite episode and an absolute hit among viewers. How's that for originality! A Host of Famous Faces With a predominantly British cast, some of the most famous faces on British television back in the seventies had roles in Thriller. Among them were Helen Mirren, John Le Mesurier, Maureen Lipman, Jan Francis, Robert Powell, Diana Dors, Norman Eshley, Rose Hill, Georgina Melville, Dennis Waterman, Sinead Cusack, Hayley Mills, Jenny Agutter, Christopher Cazenove, Francesca Annis, Josephine Tewson, Tom Conti, Peter Bowles, Denholm Elliott, Keith Barron, Nigel Havers, Ralph Bates, John Challis, Susan Hampshire, Gabrielle Drake, Brian Blessed, and Bob Hoskins. And that's just some of them! KEY RECURRING ELEMENTS Despite being an anthology series with stand-alone episodes, and without recurring characters or situations, there were several elements which tied all of these episodes together quite neatly and gave it that ' Thriller ' sense of identity. I) Unusual length Thriller episodes had an unusual length of sixty five minutes (seventy-five minutes with ad breaks.) This longer viewing time allowed for multiple plot twists, as well as more opportunity to explore characters and develop plotlines to great effect, with the feeling of suspense being allowed to brew slowly. The downside, however, was that it also created TV scheduling problems and might explain why further further repeats of the show could prove to be difficult. II) The Theme Tune The chilling and unnerving - music score was supplied by Laurie Johnson - a regular collaborator of Clemens who had composed music for The Avengers . If we had to sum up The theme tune in particular for Thriller using one adjective, it would be startling! Johnson did an excellent job in cranking up feelings of fear and tension with the combination of the creepy woodwind and loud, discordant harpsichord. The creepy music score was certainly ideal; not just for the opening credits- which certainly set the tone for what to expect - but also during the eerie moments when you were expecting something sinister to happen. III) The opening/closing credits Perhaps the first thing that springs to mind whenever someone mentions Thriller are the eerily distinctive opening and closing credits , perfectly accompanied by the fear-inducing theme tune. These credits consisted of fish-eye lens shots - a distorted circular central image ringed with a blood-red surround. The result was something sinister and disturbing - just perfect for the collection of macabre stories. But eagle-eyed viewers would have noticed something interesting about the opening credits. They may have all looked the same at first glance but there were subtle changes each week: the central red-bordered image was actually of the locations used in that episode's story, devoid of any faces. Furthermore, Thriller was also remembered for its pre-credits: the start-of-show “grabbers,” that were meant to reel in the viewer before they'd even watched the opening credits. These short scenes were intended to intrigue and tantalize the audience right from the start, as well as to give an indication of what was coming up in the rest of the episode. iv) The Token American Viewers will have noticed that despite having a predominantly British cast, many Thriller episodes featured an American character played by a real-life American actor (as opposed to a British actor with a dodgy American accent!) This was in a bid to appeal to the American market, and it was said that ABC insisted on American actors being given prominent roles. Some of the American actors who appeared in Thriller were Gary Collins, Donna Mills, Barbara Feldon, Carroll Baker, George Chakiris, Edd Brynes, Susan Flannery, Lynda Day George, Christopher George, George Maharis, and Darlene Carr. Pamela Franklin, Joanna Pettet and Bradford Dillman. v) Lack of blood and gore! Despite the nature of the show, there is surprisingly very little blood and gore shown, and no gratuitous violence - well aside from the violence that's necessary to the plot! Much of the gruesome and violent actions are often hinted at rather than directly shown which is ideal for viewers who appreciate the lack of graphic, over the top blood, guts and violence. Instead of shocking the audience with unsettlingly violent scenes, Thriller focuses on tension and unique storytelling. Viewers have to use their imaginations to explore possibilities, making for more enjoyable viewing. vi) Blissful settings, Baffling situations The stories are set in various locations, usually in and around the London commuter belt, and take place in seemingly harmless settings: country manors; coastal cottages; office buildings; city apartments; plush hotel suites... Although the settings appear ordinary and tranquil, they're scene of much tension and terror: Serene country cottages become a place of isolation with no-one to help you or hear you scream. A quaint library is terrifying when you're trying to escape a psychopath. 'Don't be fooled by appearances' would be a very apt apothegm where Thriller is concerned! vii) The VT Experience Much of the show was shot on video tape which was typical of seventies TV production values. While the interior scenes were shot on video, exteriors were shot on film. Critics have felt that the inconsistency of the visuals can feel a bit odd. But the use of video adds great artistic value as it makes the action, darker, more claustrophobic and sinister. viii) In the Studio How cool were those sets? Thriller was known for having episodes where much of the action took place in just one set. For some people, the plush studio-bound sets didn't pose too much a problem. While some viewers may have found this boring and rigid, others thoroughly enjoyed it as they felt as though they were watching a theatre production. Furthermore it heightened the feelings of confinement and claustrophobia. Plus they were great to look at. Some of us even wanted to live in them and are great examples of retro design inspiration! Check out part two of our Thriller review. Photos: DVD screenshots Wordcloud: Angel Noire

Unless you've been holidaying on another planet, you'll know that the world has been plunged into crisis as Covid 19 continues to wreak havoc and upheaval. 'Social distancing' and 'self-isolating' are two key phrases that are on everyone's lips at the moment, and we've all been ordered to stay at home and keep off the streets - unless absolutely necessary of course. Unfortunately, staying indoors; not being able to go to work or socialize; not being able to see family and friends; the constant barrage of alarming news reports, and worry over our loved ones has not been good for our stress levels. Far from it. So in an effort to improve their emotional well-being, people are working out; practicing yoga; creating works of art, meditating, doing online courses to learn new skills, and a lot more in order to practicing self-care. But for nostalgiacs like us, there are other ways of practising self-care that incorporates an element of nostalgia. Everyone knows that things that trigger memories of happy, carefree days and simpler times increases feelings of contentment and reduces levels of stress and anxiety. So we've compiled a list of activities that you can do in the comfort of your own home either by yourself or with those you've 'bubbled up' with (another phrase we'll remember for years to come!) These suggestions should hopefully take your mind of these difficult times and make our time in isolation go that much faster. 1. Create a Nook, Read a Book! For many people, reading books are so nineties! And if they do choose to read, it's usually on a device of some kind. We have to admit, those tablets and eReaders are indeed very handy but most of us nostalgiacs agree that there is nothing like an actual book in our hands with pages, a cover and a spine, and to breathe in that woody-inked aroma of a book. Aah! But whether you use a book or a device, we all have a novel in mind that we've promised ourselves we'll get around to reading but it never seems to happen! With all this extra time that most of us have, now is the perfect time to get around to picking up that novel. And if you can create yourself a cosy little reading nook somewhere in your house, it'll motivate you even more. In fact with the weather getting warmer, if you're lucky enough to have a garden, you could find a reading spot out there. Oh and the addition of a pot of tea and a slice of cake are practically essential! 2. Get Crafty Do you remember when we were at school and we had wet play? Sure we'd rather have been tearing around the playground with the dinnerladies on playground duty shouting at us for running too fast, but wet play - where we had to be indoors while it poured down with rain outside - was also pretty cool. We used to have paints, pencils, craft papers, plasticine and all sorts of creative bits and pieces brought out to us which enabled us to get crafty and imaginative. And most of us are still big on our crafts. It's just the crafting activities we choose to do now are a lot more sophisticated than the plasticine food we used to make when we were kids! Those who have children are bound to have all sorts of crafty bits that you can use to make things with your kids (which should hopefully stop the cries of "I'm so bored") Many of us are have some kind of creative interest whether it's knitting, soapmaking, painting, sewing, woodworking etc. And all too often with the hustle and bustle of daily life we don't have enough time to devote to our artistic endeavours. The time we're stuck indoors during lockdown gives us a chance to put our artistic skills to good use. Furthermore, getting creative is an excellent stress buster and a great way to relax - which probably explains why crafting is such big business during the stresses and strains of modern day life - plus you feel that sense of achievement when you complete a project. 3. Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Mary Berry! Could there be anything more nostalgic than home baking? We all remember the aroma that filled the kitchen whenever there were baked goodies in the oven. And what about teatime with all the family complete with freshly baked scones, a homemade cake and limitless cups of tea? Well tea with all the family might not be the order of the day right now, but you can still get your Mary-Berry on by indulging in the highly relaxing pastime of baking. Plus you get something delicious to scoff at the end of it all. And if the recipe has come from a vintage recipe book, then that's even better. For those of you whom baking is not your strongest point but you'd like to improve - well this is your chance to get some practice in... Starting with some banana bread! 4. (Binge) Watch a TV show from your childhood We all have shows we loved as a kid. And when we watch them again, it takes us right back to our childhoods and all those happy memories come flooding back. And dare we say it - shows from back in the day just seem so much better! Luckily for us, a lot of these programmes are still available for us to watch either on video sharing platforms or boxed DVD sets. 5. Play lots of old school tunes Every generation seems the think that the music of 'their time' was far superior than the 'awful noise' that's currently around. Well we think the same! It's amazing the happy memories that hearing an old song can bring: posters on our wall; school dances; dodgy hairdos; first year of secondary school; first concert, first kiss... So play those feel good anthems all day long. And if you're able to watch old videos of your fave bands in action, that's even better! 6. Movie marathon We all have a collection of movies that we absolutely love and even if we've seen them a million times, it still never gets old. And a lot of these films are probably ones that we've seen during our childhood and teen years which makes them extra special. Like an old song, films can also bring back memories of people, places and happy moments in the past. No talking is usually required when watching a film but ironically it tends to be a real social activity and something we do with other people either at the cinema or at movie nights at a friend's house. So it might seem a bit odd having to watch a bunch of films on your own. But look at it this way: you have the whole couch to yourself; you can watch whatever movies you like without any complaints, and you don't have to share the popcorn! Though you might have to save the horror flicks for later! 7. Board games to stop you getting bored! Who didn't play a board - or card - game when they were kids? It was something a lot of us did with our families on a Sunday afternoon or at Christmas. Of course unless you're playing solitaire, the classic traditional board games will be difficult to play because they're usually meant for multiple players. But that's where you'd have to get a little less old school and use the online version of the board game to play against the computer. And lose! 8. Back to School! There are things we excelled at in school which we didn't really bother with once we left. Perhaps you were the star pupil in French class? Or your art teacher always gave you A+ for your still-life drawings? 'Miss' always read your poems out to the class and your music teacher thought you had what it took to be the next Elton John or Brian May. If you had a love for these things but you gradually gave up because life got in the way as it so often does, perhaps now is the time to give these things a go again. You might be a bit rusty at first but with time you'll soon get into the swing of things. And if you're having trouble motivating yourself, there's lots of online classes and courses to guide and inspire you. 9. Phone a friend Do you remember a period of your life when you were never off the phone? It might have been your teen years when you loved a good goss with your mates (even though you'd spent six hours at school with them that day!) Or maybe when you first moved away from home and you called home for some much needed advice from your mum. But then email and texting came along, which were quicker and more convenient and somewhere along the way, many of us lost the art of having a natter on the old dog and bone! Even though there are millions of ways to keep in touch with people, we're all so busy that we often forget or simply don't have the time to keep in regular contact with people. As a result a lot of friendships fall by the wayside, and we go years without contacting people who are still quite dear to us. But perhaps now is the time to do just that. Not just because we have so much time on our hands but because now more than ever, we need to reach out to others - in a self-isolating kind of way! So give them a bell. If you've lost touch with them completely, we're lucky enough to live in an age where most people can be tracked down quite easily. But be sure to make an effort to stay in touch once this crisis is over. 10. Follow your dreams From the time we were children we all had dreams and ambitions - even if it was becoming He-Man or Supergirl! But for those of us who had more attainable goals, now might be a good time to work on those, especially if you've been harboring those ambitions for years. Write the first draft of that novel; compose those song lyrics; design that range of fashion accessories... who says it's not possible? Remember when we were kids? Absolutely nothing seemed impossible back then. If this pandemic has taught us anything at all, it's that life is short and we really have to make the most of it. Now is a time for self-reflection, to decide what we want to do with the next stage of our lives. The things that we'd like to do may require further training which might not be possible right now, but there's nothing to stop you from looking into it and seeing what your options are. So go for it and realise those long-held ambitions. As we said at school: Don't dream it - be it! Stay safe, healthy and well everyone. Photos from Pixabay Word Cloud by Angel Noire

We are living in very peculiar times indeed. Who would have thought that there could ever be a virus that would bring the entire world to its knees? And who would have thought that during these times, one of the best things we could do for ourselves and for others; for our health, safety and wellbeing is not to set foot outside our homes unless absolutely necessary? I always tell people that this situation is like one of those futuristic sci-fi movies The Fella watches. The words 'referendum;' 'Brexit;' 'leave;' and 'remain' will always be synonymous with the year 2016. And likewise, the phrases 'self-isolation;' 'quarantine;' 'social-distancing;' 'coronavirus;' and of course 'Covid 19' will always be wonderful little reminders of the year that was 2020 when people look back at this in fifty years time. Who could have guessed that the new decade would start out like this? This horrendous virus and it's effects have spread right around the world faster than the popularity of the latest boy band. At best, people have been stranded at airports, or been unable to visit their mums on Mothers' Day. At worst... well let's not get into that. We hear enough about that on the news as it is, and of course it's terribly upsetting. This is a very fearful and worrying time for all of us. And with cases soaring all over the world, and health professionals stretched to breaking point, we've all be told to follow government guidelines with regards to staying safe and minimizing the risks of spreading the disease. People all around the world have to deal with being stuck indoors; keeping a safe distance from everyone especially those who are considered high risk; avoiding mass gatherings of any kind, and only venturing out if it's absolutely necessary. People are really feeling the loss of their freedom, causing feelings of loneliness, boredom and tension. But feeling stressed and getting upset isn't going to help anyone - especially if we have others depending on us. So it's no surprise that people are practicing various kinds of self-care and are doing whatever they can to alleviate these negative feelings, and doing whatever they can to feel calmer and less anxious. As a result, people are focusing on other things to occupy themselves and take their minds off the current situation. Some people are using this time to get their houses in immaculate order; work out more; meditate, or are going online to learn a new skill. Like most people, I'm also feeling the stress of these very troubling times. Plus being so far away from my family and friends adds to the worry. One thing that always helps me to feel better during times of tension and anxiety is to retreat into my own little nostalgic paradise which shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody! Binge watching a show from the seventies; laughing along with a sitcom I remember from my childhood; becoming immersed in my vintage magazine collection, or dancing around the house to some eighties pop is my coping mechanism and always makes me feel a lot better and less stressed. So if you're someone like me who agrees that nostalgia can indeed be very effective in putting a big, fat smile on your face, then check out our post on activities you can do while in isolation that should hopefully leave you feeling less stressed and anxious. It's basically self-care with a nostalgic twist! I was trying to think of something morale boosting to say but nobody, and I do mean, nobody , could have put it any better than my dear friend HB, so I will leave you with her wise words. Believe me, it's not every day she imparts such pearls of wisdom so let's enjoy it while it lasts. But well said, H, well said! "There's a lot of things we can do in our natural means to stay healthy. So if you follow the advice and guidelines, I'm sure that everything will be fine, and you'll be helping others around you and the health service... We just got to pull together, we can work together - and we're going to ride through this. Ride through this together as a team... a nation... the world. Because there's no space for any wars, violence, aggression. We're all in this together now. The whole world. So stay safe. Stay indoors. And let's ride through this together as a team." Good on ya girl! I would so loved to have shown you all the video of this um, address to the nation, to show you the enthusiasm, earnestness, and emotion that went into those words - but she's threatened to kill me if I do! So much for there not being any space for violence or aggression, eh! #hbforprimeminister But on a more serious note, we've all seen examples of selfish behavior and sheer stupidity with regards to this crisis. But we've also seen examples of humanity at it's best. I couldn't end this post without mentioning the healthcare professionals, carers, volunteers, janitors, emergency responders, law enforcement officers, supermarket staff, charity workers, delivery drivers and all those people out there who are doing their bit in whatever way possible to make things easier, better and safer for everybody else - all those people who restore your faith in humanity. I hope everybody is staying safe, calm, healthy and well. Stay safe everybody and take care x Word cloud: Angel Noire

And no, we're not talking about the Michael Jackson classic - as awesome as that is. Instead I'm talking about my latest addiction, Thriller: a British TV anthology series from the seventies created by Brian Clemens, which is all about, er, thrillers. Don't you just love it when a television show does exactly what it says on the tin? (Or in this case, screen!) I love anthologies, whether it's in the form of a book or a TV series. There's a lot to be said about getting a story into a short piece of writing or a single thirty to sixty-minute long episode, and it really showcases the talents of the writers. I own copies of a few short-story collections, and I thought I'd seen - or at least heard of - pretty much all the TV anthologies out there. But that was until I recently stumbled across this TV series called Thriller ; a collection of self-contained episodes where - as the title of the show suggests - each story revolves around themes of murder, suspense or the supernatural. Not too disimilar to Tales of the Unexpected - but definitely longer! Everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love the suspense genre, so a TV series that showed individual suspense-filled stories, brimming with mystery and intrigue was right up my street. I watched the first episode - Lady Killer (known in America as Death Policy ) and I was hooked! Since then, every night has pretty much been Thriller night for me as I settle down after a long day with yet another thrilling episode. It really is gripping stuff - so well written and the acting is superb. Well OK, according to some of the reviews, the acting has been described as 'wooden' or 'over the top,' but each to their own and all that. And in any case, the slightly wooden acting fits in well with the seventies thriller genre, I think! Furthermore there's not much in the way of blood and gore - ironic considering the grisly subject matter - so it's perfect for me! Plus there's no sex or swearing which is great for my mum! And if you're someone who enjoys playing spot the celeb, you won't be disappointed as there are many big name actors from the seventies in Thriller , and you'll even see some acting legends who appeared in the series before they got their big breaks. Among the who's who of famous faces, there's Robert Powell (who will always be Jesus of Nazareth to me) Maureen you-got-an-ology Lipman; Jan Francis before she became Just Good Friends with Paul Nicholas; future soap vixen Donna Mills, Sinead Cusak, Dennis Waterman, Diana Dors, Brian Blessed, Hayley Mills, Bob Hoskins, Tom Conti, Denholm Elliott and Dame Helen Mirren before she got all regal on us! And that's just a fraction of the well-know faces you'll come across in Thriller. I'm still working my way through the episodes and have already seen a good number of them. I have my favourites, and I have my 'that was just all right' episodes, but I'd have to say that so far my favourite seems to be episode eight of the first series, entitled File it Under Fear starring Lipman as a librarian who becomes obsessed with trying to discover the identity of a serial killer, especially after her friend becomes one of his victims. And fans have raved about Coffin For the Bride starring Helen Mirren (before she became Dame Helen!) and claim it's a stand-out episode so I can't wait to see it. Sign It Death was also pretty good. Judging by the comments from viewers, the episodes which have a supernatural theme seem to be everyone's least favourite episodes. I personally don't mind them but I have to say that I do prefer the classic crimes and murder mysteries. So far though, the episode entitled If It's a Man, Hang Up - although not a bad episode - has been my least favourite episode which is a shame because I was so looking forward to watching that one: an episode in which viewers saw a model receiving menacing, anonymous phone calls. I like a few twists and turns in a story but when there's more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride at Alton Towers then it gets a bit too much, even for me! Those who were around in 1970s Britain are likely to have either vague or very fond memories of the show. I have neither! As it's my first time watching Thriller , I obviously don't have any memories of watching it 'back in the day'-in any case it was a bit before my time when it was first broadcast ('before my time'-I love saying that! :) ) But I know a lot of people did watch it the first time round in the seventies and it still has quite a cult following. It's been fascinating reading the many reviews from people who used to watch the show with their families on a Saturday night, which I believe was its regular viewing spot back then (in Britain.) And of course, I cannot talk about Thriller without giving a mention to the intriguing opening/closing credits - which consisted of blood-red ringed, fish-eye lens shots - and of course that memorably haunting music score; both of which added to the sinister theme of the show and the macabre atmosphere of each individual episode. And that theme tune is never out of my head; I've even found myself humming it out loud! I thought the theme to Tales of the Unexpected was eerie but Thriller 's - which features a harpsichord and flute - would waken, not to mention frighten, the dead! If the array of fantastic stories don't freak you out, then that theme tune most definitely will, so don't watch any episodes while you're alone with the lights off! I've introduced my mate Pancakes to it because she does love her mysteries. And I tried to introduce my mate MJ to Thriller as he loves old TV shows but what do you know? He only went and had the box set, didn't he! I told him off for not telling me about this amazing show much sooner but well... he's forgiven now! I don't mind admitting that I don't watch much in the way of 'modern' TV shows these days, so well-written, well-acted, quality TV shows from back in the day are a real treat for someone like me who loves a bit of vintage telly. I e ven enjoyed the sight and sounds of the ATV ident right before Thriller 's opening credits. Pure old school! Loved the quaint cottage in File It Under Fear (1973) Thriller makes for tense, edge-of-your seat viewing (and OK, some have said humorous viewing!) But one of the things that I like about this series - especially the episodes that are almost exclusively filmed within the confines of a studio set - is that it gives you that feeling of watching a play at your local theatre, something that I've found with a lot of 1970s television. I marvelled at the plush sets; the idyllic surroundings; the decor, and even the fab seventies fashion and hairdos - even if some people do find them a bit kitsch! The seventies generation might just appreciate this wander down memory lane and enjoy the simplicity of television from way back when. As I've said many times before - they don't make 'em like that anymore! Photos from YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire

Name: Mr. D Age: Not 21 anymore! From: The Great American Midwest! Lives: New England Occupation: Civil Servant Fave Pastime: Gamer extraordinaire! It's been a little while since we last had a slice of pie with anyone who wasn't Angel Noire, so today it's the turn of Angel's husband Mr. D. Angel felt as they have to be in isolation today, he may as well be put to good use! Mr. D is every bit as nostalgic as Angel but they definitely fit on different areas on the nostalgia spectrum. Whereas Angel is all about seventies' TV shows; eighties pop music; things your gran had, and cakes your mum used to bake, Mr. D could be described as a 'nostalgia geek' and is very much into old school gadgets; comic books; video and card games; superhero movies, and would go to Comicon every year if he could drag Angel along with him (Fat chance! - Angel.) Mr. D grew up in Midwestern America but moved to the Pacific North-West, a place he intended to call home... until he met Angel! So he made the leap across the pond and lived in London for four years before settling in jolly New England! So settle down with a plate of pie and a cup of whatever while Mr. D gets all nostalgic on us! What flavour pie and what's your beverage? Chicken pot pie - I really don't like sweet pies. And a coke. No ice! What was your favourite thing to do as a child? That would be visiting both sets of grandparents. My maternal grandparents lived in Michigan on a farm, and whenever we stayed there, we would have strawberries, fresh corn on the cob, and maple syrup that they'd collected from their trees, and we'd always have that with our pancakes for breakfast. I learnt a lot about the process and it is pretty time-consuming - but so worth it! How many people get to drench their pancakes with maple syrup that didn't come from the supermarket??? My paternal grandparents retired to Arizona, and I have lots of great memories of going to visit them there. My grandfather was an artist and when he retired, he devoted himself to various local art projects, and it was great to go out there and see what he was working on. I still have many of his paintings around my house. My paternal grandparents were of Italian descent and whenever I went out to Arizona, my grandmother would make huge Italian meals. She made the best gnocchi - it would take pretty much all day to make - and today gnocchi is still one of my favourite dishes. What was the best thing about growing up in the Midwest? I loved being in the boys scouts and doing the kind of outdoorsy activities - hiking, camping etc. - that living in a place like the rural Midwest would enable you to do. What did you want to do when you left school? Because I loved animals and nature, I did think about becoming a park ranger or a veterinarian. Or maybe a job that involved a lot of travel so I could see a bit of the world. I'm very lucky that the job I currently have enables me to travel. I've seen quite a bit of the US and hopefully I'll be making more international trips. I know someone who'd love that! You love comic books. Which were your favourite ones and do you still have any? I loved the Marvel comic books but sadly I no longer have any. I also liked Dragonball Z which is more manga, and I still binge watch the show! Tell us a bit about your passion for gaming. I've been playing video games since I was very young - I can't even remember how old I was. It's just something that I've always done. We had a Nintendo and a Sega, but I much preferred the Nintendo. The kind of games I love are strategy games as well as fantasy ones. I definitely enjoy the social element of playing games, whether it's online with fellow gamers all over the world, or when your friends come over to your house. It was my favourite thing to do with friends and family when I was a child, and even now as an adult, when my friends come over, you can bet your life there'll be some kind of game being played. I'm very lucky that where I live there are a few game stores that I like to visit, and one in particular has Magic the Gathering tournaments that my friends and I like to check out. And get free cards! . What kind of toys and games were you into as a kid? I really liked Lego and still collect them (yes, he does!- Angel) I was also really into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and collected a lot of the merch, which I still have back at my parents' house. I was a big Michaelangelo fan! Also being a huge fan of Star Trek and Star Wars, I collected quite a few of those bits and pieces too. As for games, I played a lot of Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons , and Lord of the Realm II. When I got older, I really got into World of Warcraft . Now I play a whole variety of games depending on what I feel like. Who was your favourite superhero and why? That's a good question! Let me see (thinks for a bit) OK, I think Gambit from X Men was one of my favourites when I was a kid. But now, I would have to say that my fave superhero is Deadpool. Why? Er, I just think they're cool! It's a myth that superheroes are just for kids. There are many adults who are still big superhero fans. Why do you think that is? Well what's not to like about superheroes? They're just the coolest! There's also that concept of good versus evil, and light overcoming darkness. Kids grow up feeling that the good guy always wins - although when we get to adulthood, we soon learn that that isn't always true! I think the reason why so many adults are still into superheroes is down to the whole nostalgia factor. People are usually drawn to the good parts of their childhood and for many of us, we love those superhero characters because we grow up with them. And in any case - superheroes aren't just for kids ! Quite right! Your favourite children's author is Brian Jacques. Tell people who are unfamiliar with this author a little bit about him and his work. I'm really amazed that more people in Britain don't know about Brian Jacques - pronounced Jakes - because he's British! He's a great storyteller from Liverpool. He wrote the Redwall series of books which is my absolute favourite series in the world. It's about a mouse called Redwall and all his animal friends. There were about twenty two or twenty three books in that series and I loved reading about Redwall. I've always loved animals but I think I loved them even more because of Redwall. Kids can't wait to grow up. What was your reason for wanting to be an adult the next day? So I could go out on dates! This or That? Thanksgiving or Christmas? Christmas Root beer or cream soda? Root beer of course! Dr. Seuss or Dr. Who? Don't really care for either of them! Sega or Nintendo? I have to say Sega because they make my Total War games. Drive-in or Movie theatre? (Cinema to us Brits!) Drive-in Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl? Neither - Brian Jacques Football or Soccer? (Think about it!) Soccer DC or Marvel? Marvel Frasier or Friends? Neither. Big Bang Theory. Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars And finally... You're going to the movies. What type of film would you like to see? Sci-Fi or fantasy All photos and word cloud by Angel Noire

It's so hard to believe that this week, Australian soap opera Neighbours turned thirty five years old. Or perhaps that should be thirty five years young, seeing as compared to me, it's still only a bubba! Hot on the heels of it's British counterpart, EastEnders who turned thirty five in February, Neighbours has now also reached this milestone occasion, as it first graced screens in Australia on 18th March 1985. It was almost another eighteen months or so before it was launched in the UK. It took British audiences a little while to warm to this new soap but before the eighties were out, we fell madly in love with this TV show from down under - and I have Neighbours to thank for me wanting to move to Australia long before I ever wanted to move to New England (that was thanks to New Kids on the Block, and what do you know - I live there now!) Just some of the Neighbours cast appearing on Wogan with Sue Lawley in 1988 Those of us who lived through the late eighties and early nineties will remember the soap in its heyday when we were all nutty about Neighbours . The TV show turned the Neighbours cast into household names and instantly recognisable faces, in Britain and Ireland where Neighbours was said to be more popular than in its native Australia (no way!) The stars were always jetting over to the UK to appear on TV shows such as Wogan or Saturday morning TV programs, and Christmas just wasn't Christmas unless we had some of the Ramsay Street cast in panto! And who could forget their outstanding appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in 1988? The Royal Variety Performance in 1988... A sign that Des and Jane would be together? It was around this time that a lot of womens' magazines like Woman or Woman's Own used to feature Neighbours (and Home and Away !) actors on the covers more so than they did with actors from British soaps. I remember this well because, despite being a huge Easties fan, I would only ever buy a magazine if it had someone from one of the Aussie soaps on the cover - and I bought a lot of magazines with an Australian soap star as the cover girl or boy! And don't get me started on when Neighbours brought out a couple of sticker collections. My sis and I insisted on getting a sticker album each, and the playground went Neighbours -sticker crazy, as we'd show off our ever growing collection and would trade our doubles. And even though it was probably Anita Dobson - EastEnders' Angie Watts - who started the whole soap-star-turned-pop-star phenomenon - that credit goes to a little lady, who until she hit our screens as Ramsay Street's resident mechanic, was a virtual unknown in Britain (though already very established in Oz) but her successful pop career paved the way for other budding musicians who saw that you could do both TV and music. But nobody did it quite like she did, and while many a soap star or pop singer has faded away, this lady's star just continued to shine until Kylie Minogue became the absolute legend that she is today. Kylie's co-star and on-screen husband, Jason Donovan, came hot on the heels of Kylie's musical success, and also enjoyed a very successful pop career. Kylie and Jason were most definitely the pop stars du jour, and this further heightened the popularity of the characters they played on Neighbours (or could it be the other way round???) And when they released their duet, Especially For You, pop fans went gaga. What then followed was a bunch of soap stars from both sides of the hemisphere aiming for the same level of pop stardom. Some did well, some did fairly well, and some did not so well! But we have Neighbours to thank - in part at least - for seeing so many soap actors have a stab at pop success. Since Neighbours started thirty five years ago, there have been many memorable moments and characters. There was Scott and Charlene's iconic wedding; Daphne Clarke giving birth to son Jamie with her dungarees firmly strapped on; teenager Todd Landers' tragic death, and Brad Willis and Lauren Carpenter's will-they-won't-they relationship which took place over a period of twenty years; three spouses and eight kids! Neighbours ' fans hoped that Mike and Jane would follow their friends Scott and Charlene to the altar (well I did anyway!) that Gail would return to Ramsay Street with the triplets (we had to wait a long time for that!) and that Bea and Elly's mum Liz would realise that Therese Willis used to be her foster daughter in a past life! ;) Who didn't love the double act that was Eileen Clarke and Mrs. Mangle? Or look forward to another slanging match between Madge Bishop and Mrs. Mangle? And whenever handymen Joe Mangle and Henry Ramsay worked on a job, you could always guarantee that some hilarious calamity would ensue! So what's the secret of Neighbours' thirty five years of success? Well it could be that in a world where most of us consider our five thousand social media followers 'friends;' don't visit our nans as often as we should, and haven't the foggiest who's living next door to us, the residents of Ramsay Street give us some very important lessons in true friendship; community spirit; banding together in a crisis; stepping up to help someone in need; lending an ear... qualities missing in modern day society that we wouldn't mind bringing back, perhaps??? Neighbours saw its thirty fifth anniversary commemorated by the wedding of Paige and Mark which have made 'Park' fans very happy. But despite the five weddings that have taken place this week - loved Des and Jane's - there's one wedding that has stood the test of time; one that has gone down in soap history as the most memorable wedding ever, and one that's still being talked about even today. That's right - we're talking about Bouncer and Rosies's wedding. With Scott and Charlene's a close second! Happy thirty fifth anniversary Neighbours ! P.S. - Did Ned Willis's mention of his mum always singing Torn make anyone else smile? And loved the old Neighbours theme tune as Des Clarke rocked up on the street! Photos from YouTube Wordcloud by Angel Noire

A kiss is just a kiss as the song goes. But sometimes one little kiss that leads to nothing else can still cause a whole load of grief as Neighbours Shane Rebecchi has since discovered when he was taken by surprise with an unexpected kiss from friend and colleague, Roxy Willis. Well Roxy's a very brave lady because no one wants to get on the wrong side of Shane's wife, Dipi, so Miss Willis is very lucky to have escaped with her face and life intact! Dipi walked out on Shane and went to stay with the Cannings; Roxy wandering around shane- sorry - shamefaced, and Shane was terrified that his marriage was over for good. Thankfully all was well in the end, and Dipi and Shane put that whole episode behind them and reconciled. But over the years, we've seen how a single kiss can go horribly wrong and have unpleasant consequences for the Ramsay Street residents involved. We take a look at times when Neighbours residents have puckered up... and soon wished that they hadn't! 1. Scott Robinson and Jane Harris "No!" screamed Neighbours viewers the world over when Scott Robinson leant forward to kiss his wife's best friend, Jane Harris in what was an absolute corker of an episode. For Scott was one half of the iconic, unbreakable 'Scott and Charlene' duo. Neighbours fans couldn't believe what they were seeing. Was this really the end of Scott and Charlene? Was Scott really going to betray Charlene with the woman who had been one of her bridesmaids just a few months earlier? It sounds like an article from Take A Break magazine but it wasn't - this was Ramsay Street! When Scott needed maths tuition in order to pass his exams, his old friend 'Superbrain' Jane stepped in to help. The fact that Scott and Jane were spending so much time together didn't worry anyone at first, but without realizing it, the two of them grew very close. Then Scott's wife and Jane's on-off boyfriend, Mike Young, read some of Jane's old diary entries revealing that she had once had a crush on Scott. Charlene had found some of Scott's sketches of Jane and remembered when Scott used to draw pictures of her. Mike and Charlene shared their concerns and Charlene felt she needed to confront the pair to find out what was really going on. But unbeknownst to Charlene, Scott and Jane and just shared a kiss by Lassiter's lake. They broke away feeling guilty and ashamed. Worse still, Charlene's brother Henry had been working nearby, and worried that he may have witnessed their kiss, a horrified Jane fled the scene, leaving behind the framed sketch of her that Scott had given her as a gift. So when Jane was confronted by an angry and suspicious Charlene, she wrongly believed that Henry had spilled the beans, and inadvertently let slip what had happened by the lake, which really caused Charlene to lose it. The very hurt and upset Mrs. Robinson marched home for a furious showdown with her husband, who admitted that he was attracted Jane. In a fit of anger, Charlene threw Jane's sketch across the room; whacked Scott in the face, and forbade Scott from ever seeing Jane again - something he refused to do. So throwing a few belongings into a bag, Scott headed over to the Robinson family home, despite an ultimatum from Charlene that if he walked out of the house, then he walked out for good. Was it really all over for the Ramsay Street sweethearts? A difficult few weeks followed for Scott and Charlene. A guilty Jane decided to take a modelling job abroad in order to give everyone space and a chance to cool off. But upon her return she saw that the Robinsons' still hadn't reconciled, so she resorted to shock tactics in order to get them to do so. It worked and Neighbours fans breathed a sigh of relief when their favourite couple got back together again. 2. Paul Robinson and Caroline Alessi This wasn't the first time Paul had snogged his wife Christina's twin, Caroline. The first time was a drunken mistake when he and Chrissie had first started dating and a sozzled Paul had mistaken Caroline for Christina. The second time was also a mistake when a sleepy Paul, who had been banished to the sofa by his wife, woke up and saw Christina rearranging his blankets and moved in for a kiss - and realised when it was too late that in the dark, he'd mistaken his sister-in-law for his wife yet again. Well they are near identical! Paul kisses Caroline after drinking one too many. Or is that Christina??? (YouTube) Paul and Caroline had always got on well as colleagues and, when Paul married Christina, in-laws. Caroline was even living with Paul and Christina! But their bond deepened when they got lost in the bush together a few months earlier, although viewers were convinced that they saw a spark between the two even before then. That kiss in the dark ignited feelings between Paul and Caroline that they couldn't ignore. They gave into their feelings and shared another kiss and it was only the cries of Paul and Christina's baby son, Andrew that brought the pair to their senses before things went any further. Realizing that it was never going to work with them all living in the same house, and knowing that something had to be done before Christina got hurt, Caroline fled Erinsborough and headed for Italy. Christina was distraught at her twin leaving, and although Paul was also very sad to see her go, he knew it was for the best. But it looked as though Caroline had left at the right time because just a few days later, Christina made the shocking discovery about the liaison between Paul and Caroline in that now infamous scene where she overheard a conversation over the baby monitor between Paul and his grandmother, Helen. Fireworks ensued with Paul being thrown out of the marital home, and Chrissie threatening to divorce him and never letting him see their son again. And while things were ugly for a while, Christina's anger eventually died down and she and Paul decided to give their marriage another go by moving to Hawaii for a fresh start. Sadly the marriage didn't last thanks to Paul's infidelities, and it was only when Christina returned last year to cause havoc for Paul and Therese that viewers saw the full extent of what marriage to Paul had done to her: turned her into a very angry and vengeful woman. But by the time she left, Christina had made her peace with Paul, and more importantly with her twin, and was finally able to move on with her life. 3. Mike Young and Jessie Ross Who would have thought that sensible Mike Young would become embroiled in any kind of scandal but that's exactly what happened when he became closer than he should have with a year ten student at Erinsborough High. After deciding to embark on a teaching career, Mike ended up working at his old haunt, Erinsborough High, which is where he met student Jessie Ross, who he agreed to privately tutor. But Mike became concerned after Jessie started arriving to their study sessions with bruises, and was led to believe that her father, Ted, was responsible for them. Reminded of his own violent father, Mike decided to confront Ted, but was shocked to discover that the person responsible for hurting Jessie was her own mother, Adele. After getting over the shock, Mike talked to the family and urged them to seek professional help, giving them the number for a counsellor. The whole incident brought Mike and Jessie closer together, and it wasn't long before they started to develop feelings for each other. Then during a tutoring session after school one day, Mike and Jessie gave into temptation and shared a kiss - just as Erinsborough High's principal, a furious Kenneth Muir, had walked in on them. But his anger was nothing compared to Ted's who angrily told Mike that he would see to it that Mike would never teach in a school ever again. Mr. Muir suspended Mike, who felt it was best to get out of Erinsborough for a while. But before he left he was visited by Jessie who was being sent to live with her grandparents. She tearfully told Mike that she loved him, but Mike not wanting to be part of Jessie's problems anymore, angrily rebuffed her, leaving Jessie to flee, sobbing. 4. Darren Stark and Catherine O'Brien When Catherine O'Brien needed driving lessons, she didn't think she could go wrong with Darren Stark helping her. Darren's girlfriend was Libby Kennedy - the sister of Catherine's boyfriend, Mal. It should have all gone well. Except it didn't due to Darren and Catherine's non-stop arguing. But it soon dawned on them that the arguing had nothing to do with differences in personality or Catherine being a lousy learner driver, and everything to do with the growing attraction between them. So Darren decided to stop giving Catherine driving lessons and the two did their best to avoid each other. But fate had other ideas and while doing a spot of DIY at the home of Catherine's sister, Sarah, the two found themselves alone together. The inevitable happened and they started to kiss - and were seen by Darren's grandmother, Marlene. Feeling horribly guilty, Catherine felt it best to confess all to her boyfriend, so she did - and all hell broke loose! Mal punched Darren in the face and ran off, not to be seen until the following day. Libby, who had heard what had happened from Sarah, dumped Darren and rejected all his attempts to make it up to her. It was only after Mal announced his plans to leave Erinsborough and head over to Europe, that Catherine realised how much she loved him and that everything that happened with Darren had been a stupid mistake. Desperate to reconcile with Mal, Catherine surprised him by booking herself a ticket for the same flight. The two patched things up and started a new life in England where they eventually got married and started a family. Libby and Darren didn't fare so well. After they broke up, Darren started seeing his ex-girlfriend and neighbour, Debbie Martin. But their relationship couldn't survive Debbie's jealousy over Libby, and the two broke up. This paved the way for Darren and Libby to be together again. But those two kept doing what they did best - making up and breaking up. Libby eventually went on to marry Drew Kirk, but after Drew's tragic death, Libby and Darren found their way back to each other - before finally breaking up for good. 5. Karl Kennedy and Sarah Beaumont Anything Catherine could do, her sister Sarah could go one better. In fact, she went a whole lot better because her kiss with Dr. Karl Kennedy has gone down in Neighbours history as one of the most memorable storylines ever! But we're still trying to decide which was the defining moment in this storyline: the kiss between Dr. Karl and Sarah... or the wallop his wife Susan gave him when she found out what had happened! Susan couldn't help teasing Karl when he hired their neighbour, glamourous, former model Sarah to be his new receptionist. Feeling secure in her marriage, Susan didn't think she had anything to worry about. And in any case, Sarah was in a relationship with handsome police officer, Matt Compton. But it was when Matt called time on their long-distance relationship that the problems began. Hurt and upset over the end of her relationship, Sarah broke down while at work, and Dr. Karl was on hand to provide a shoulder. But what started as a comfort hug soon turned into a passionate kiss. The pair broke away feeling guilty, and agreed to put the kiss behind them. That was easier said than done, as the encounter had stirred something up in them both. And Susan, totally oblivious to the tension between them, encouraged Karl to tutor Sarah with her nurse's aide course and even got them to play golf regularly. It was months before the truth came out, and everyone remembers that famous episode where Susan belted Karl across the face and threw him out of the house. It took a great deal of time and effort but Susan eventually forgave Karl and took him back. The Kennedy family breathed a sigh of relief when Sarah married Dr. Hannay and left the Street. But the ghost of Sarah Beaumont continued to cast a shadow over the Kennedy marriage for years, until Sarah made a shock return to Erinsborough years later and revealed to Susan that she and Karl had slept together all those years ago - something even viewers didn't know about. Far from leaving Susan devastated, she had long suspected that Karl and Sarah's liaison had involved a lot more than just a kiss, and strangely enough, this revelation gave her the push she needed to move on and try harder in her marriage to Karl. Photos from YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire

Last month marked a whopping thirty years since the wedding of Home and Away 's Frank Morgan and Bobby Simpson was shown on British screens. It was the wedding Home and Away fans were waiting for. In fact they had waited long enough just for Frank and Bobby to get together! Frank and Bobby: Before, during and after the wedding (Dailymotion) Bobby was a very popular, well-loved character, and fans really wanted to see her get her fairytale ending, so they cheered when Frank proposed and not long after that, they were exchanging vows. Every time a young couple get hitched in an Australian soap, they're always hailed as the 'new Scott and Charlene.' And indeed Frank and Bobby had the potential to be just that had their marriage lasted as long as Mr. and Mrs. Robinson's... Sadly it was not to be and just as quickly as they made it to the altar, they soon parted ways. Pippa with her girls plus the first glimpse of Bobby in her wedding gown (Dailymotion) Bobby (Nicolle Dickson) loved her foster brother Frank (Alex Papps) but Frank was besotted with Roo Stewart (Justine Clarke.) Frank eventually realised that Roo was not the woman for him and finally fell for Bobby - and Home And Away fans were ecstatic. But then Bobby had an accident and lost her memory and thought that Frank was still Roo's boyfriend. But Frank wasn't giving up on Bobby that easily and proposed. She rejected his proposal at first but then as her memory returned, she accepted and began to count down the days until she became Mrs. Frank Morgan! It was a very moving ceremony and the love between Frank and Bobby was clearly evident. The most memorable moment was when Frank and Bobby - having written their own vows, - decided to discard what they had previously written and just speak from the heart. And Bobby, who was known for being a tomboy and hardly ever wore a frock, really rocked that wedding gown! It was as unconventional and unprincessy as she was: strapless; tea-length; with a black underskirt and wrap, without a veil or tiara look! It wouldn't be such an unusual look today - even if it was thirty years ago - but back then it was a style that was ahead of its time. Frank unable to take his eyes off Bobby (Dailymotion) Sadly, they'd barely finished writing the thank you cards before Frank decided that he really was in love with Roo after all, and he had married Bobby on the rebound. Roo admitted that she was still in love with Frank too, and a heartbroken Bobby felt that she had no choice but to give Frank and Roo her blessing and move on with her own life. The newly reunited couple left for a new life in New York where they eventually got married. But that didn't last either, and fickle Frank proved he had a real inability to make up his mind. He returned to Summer Bay to win Bobby back just as she was starting a relationship with single dad Greg Marshall. Although confused by her feelings for Frank at first, Bobby, feisty girl that she was, told Frank just where to go. So he did! Frank and Bobby's marriage may not have lasted but soap fans still remember their wedding. We take a look at some of Summer Bay's most memorable weddings. 1. FRANK MORGAN and ROO STEWART (1988) When scheming teenager Roo Stewart discovered that she was pregnant, she immediately told the baby's father - spoilt rich kid, Brett Macklin, who wasted no time in telling her that he wanted nothing to do with the baby and if she went ahead with the pregnancy, then she was on her own. So Roo moved on to plan B - Frank Morgan, her former boyfriend and only the hottest guy in Summer Bay! Roo set about rekindling their relationship, and it wasn't long before she announced that she was expecting 'their' child, and the happy-parents-to-be started planning their wedding. But it was Frank's foster sister, Bobby Simpson, who detected a rat, and after doing the maths, she worked out that Frank couldn't be the baby's father. However Bobby also had another reason for wanting to stop the wedding - she was secretly in love with Frank; a fact that Roo was all too aware of and she loved taking every opportunity to rub Bobby's nose in it. It was well-known that Bobby was jealous of Roo, so when she started spreading the word that Roo was expecting someone else's baby, the residents of Summer Bay put it down to the green-eyed monster. Not only did everyone think Bobby was stirring up trouble but she also incurred the wrath of Frank who furiously told her to stay away from Roo - and him. But Roo's aunt, Morag Bellingham, knew the truth and persuaded Roo not to go through with a marriage based on lies and to come clean before it was too late. Roo wasn't willing to do this but as she stood at the altar with Frank, she heard Morag's words ringing in her ears, and she realised that her aunt was right. So she ran out of the church with Frank in hot pursuit. It was only when they were outside that Roo tearfully told Frank that the baby wasn't his but that she truly loved him. Hurt and angry, Frank jumped into his car and furiously drove off - and met with an accident after swerving to avoid Bobby. It was touch and go for a while but he pulled through. Roo visited Frank in hospital and begged him for another chance, but while he admitted that he still loved her, Frank refused to give their relationship another go. Of course, I'm upset! Do you see what I have on my head? (YouTube) 2. BOBBY SIMPSON and GREG MARSHALL (1992) When Greg and Bobby first met, it was hate at first sight. Greg was the father of Bobby's foster son, Sam, and he wanted his son back. Bobby, feeling that Greg was a neglectful dad, didn't want him taking custody of Sam. We are ABSOLUTELY getting married today. No way is this barnet going to waste! (Dailymotion) But they called a truce for Sam's sake - and ended up falling in love much to Sam's delight. Then Greg decided he wanted to make their family unit more official and decided to propose to Bobby. So along with Sam, he filmed a proposal on the beach, and planned to surprise Bobby by playing her the video that evening. Unfortunately it didn't go to plan, as Bobby fell asleep before they got to the part where Greg proposed. Knowing that Bobby didn't get to see Greg propose to her, Sam played the video for her the next day - and a delighted Bobby accepted Greg's proposal. However on the morning of the wedding, things got off to a bad start when Sam got his fingers stuck down the bath's plug hole, and had to be freed by the fire brigade - causing Greg and Bobby to miss their own ceremony. But then the couple decided to see if there were any celebrants available to perform the ceremony outdoors. And what do you know - there was! The beautiful ceremony (Dailymotion) So the wedding finally went ahead and surrounded by their family and friends, Greg and Bobby made their vows and became man and wife. And while Bobby was a traditional-with-a-twist bride the first time round, she rocked a sixties vibe this time with a mini dress, bobbed hair and alice band. Although their short marriage had more ups and downs than a merry-go-round, Greg and Bobby remained married until her tragic death in a boating accident. 3. SHANE PARRISH and ANGEL BROOKS (1995) What's that they say, that when a boy is mean to a girl it's because he secretly likes her? Well we don't know how true that is, but it certainly was the case for Shane (Dieter Brummer) and Angel (Melissa George.) If ever there was a twosome who could steal the soap couple crown from Neighbours Scott and Charlene, it would be Shane and Angel. The bride and groom with their support acts (Dailymotion) Despite the animosity between them - initially caused by Angel selling Shane fake concert tickets when they first met - Shane and Angel had feelings for each other, which took them a while to admit. But when they finally admitted the truth to each other, they got together and became one of Summer Bay's most memorable couples. Angel determined to take her last steps as Miss Brookes (Dailymotion) There were many ups and downs in this relationship with the teen couple forever breaking up and making up. But Shane knew that Angel was the girl for him and proposed. Plans were soon underway for another Summer Bay wedding. However, in the run up to their wedding, Angel was knocked over by Alf Stewart and was unable to walk. First kiss as Mr. and Mrs (Dailymotion) But come the big day, Angel was determined that she wasn't going to be wheeled down the aisle in her wheelchair and insisted on walking towards her groom. And supported by Donald Fisher who had agreed to walk her down the aisle, Angel did just that and - despite one heart-stopping moment when she stumbled - viewers were moved. Angel wore a glamourous, vintage style satin gown with lace overcoat to become Mrs. Parrish, which Melissa George described as 'very thirties, very Angel.' 4. TRAVIS NASH and REBECCA FISHER (1997) Travis was all set to marry his fiancée, Dr. Kelly Watson, but Kelly decided that she couldn't go through with the wedding and left the Bay, breaking poor Travis's heart. But Travis eventually found love again with their mutual friend, Rebecca Fisher, daughter of Summer Bay High headmaster, Donald. They moved in together, and inspired by a story that they heard from an elderly couple who had been married a long time, Travis and Rebecca decided that they too wanted to get hitched. They both decided on a very low-key ceremony on the beach with family and close friends, with Rebecca's father, Donald, presiding as the celebrant. They also decided not to tell any of the guests that they were being invited to a wedding and planned to surprise everyone when they got there - but smart Irene Roberts had already twigged... But the surprises weren't just for the guests. The happy couple had promised each other they wouldn't buy each other gifts. But Travis couldn't resist buying an anklet for Rebecca, and Rebecca's gift for Travis? SIA (YouTube) A performance by Travis's favourite band, SIA on the beach right after the ceremony. The newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Nash settled into married life after moving into the former Fletcher home, though they eventually left the Bay to start work on a tall ship before setting up home in Canada and having a son. 5. JAMES FRASER and CHLOE RICHARDS (1999) Chloe Richards should have got her fairytale ending when she fell in love with Lachlan Fraser and baby Olivia soon came along. But their happiness was short-lived when Lachlan started experiencing headaches and was later diagnosed with a brain tumour. After surgery, Lachlan needed to go to America for further treatment. But what was only supposed to be a temporary move became more permanent when Lachlan met and fell in love with another woman who he eventually married. Chloe with the real love of her life - Lachlan Fraser (YouTube) Naturally Chloe was left feeling devastated. But it was during this time that Lachlan's brother, James, came to see Chloe and Olivia. Gradually Chloe and James started to fall in love and it was during this whirlwind romance that James proposed - and Chloe accepted. But in the run up to the wedding, James started having doubts and felt that Chloe still loved Lachlan. On the day of the wedding, James was dismayed to see that Chloe was wearing the locket that contained photos of her and Lachlan as she approached the altar, so he turned and fled and Chloe went after him. Once outside, James told Chloe that he knew that she still had feelings for his brother and told her how hurt he was that she was wearing the locket on their wedding day. So Chloe opened the locket and showed James that she had replaced Lachlan's photo with his. Convinced that Chloe had moved on from Lachlan, James went ahead with the wedding and the two became Mr. and Mrs. James Fraser. But the marriage wasn't without problems causing James and Chloe to separate for a while. And it was during this separation that Chloe and James heard that Lachlan had died of a hemorrhage. Chloe realised that she could never love James the way that she loved Lachlan, and with a heavy heart she ended their short marriage and left Summer Bay with little Olivia - although she agreed to stay friends with James. Years later when Chloe was killed in a car crash, James was given custody of his niece as stipulated by the conditions of Chloe's will. What was your favourite Home and Away wedding? Photos from YouTube and Dailymotion Wordcloud by Angel Noire

EastEnders? Turned thirty five? How is that even possible? Compared to me, Britain's top soap is still in nappies - and that's not something I like to admit to! But I feel as though the soap that depicts the lives of a bunch of residents in an East London district began only yesterday... I still remember all those BBC trailers that were shown in the run-up to the first episode being aired in which we met the characters of this new British soap, who introduced themselves and their families. It was all quite intriguing and I don't recall the BBC ever doing promos like those for a new show (though I could be wrong!) Back then, we didn't know just how huge the show was going to be, or that the cast of little-known - and in some cases unknown - actors were well on their way to becoming household names. Though one face that I did recognize back then was the lady from "Are You Being Served?" thanks to my dad's love of the sitcom. And that lady was of course better known as Wendy Richard. EastEnders was first broadcast on 19th February 1985 and was set in the fictitious London borough of Walford (a combination of Walthamstow and Stratford.) It centered around the lives of a group of residents who lived on Albert Square, focusing in on particular, the Watts, Fowler, and Beale clans. Yep, this was long before the Mitchells, Slaters and Brannings made their mark in Walford! From what I remember, it didn't take long for the show to grow on us and within a matter of weeks, we were hooked. It was compulsive viewing and we knew we couldn't go to school or work the next day without watching the current episode for fear of being a social outcast! 'Appy Christmas, Ange! Until the early nineties, EastEnders was only shown twice a week - Tuesdays and Thursdays with the omnibus episode shown on Sundays. I soon learned that there were two kinds of days: EastEnders days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Wogan days (Monday, Wednesday,and Friday.) I didn't mind Wogan depending on who the guests were, but I could not wait for Tuesday and Thursday nights - it was like the weekend had arrived early! Furthermore, the Sunday afternoon omnibus episode was something of a novelty because I'd never known of a show to have a catch-up episode like that before. And you can bet your life that whether we'd seen that week's episodes or not, my siblings and I were almost guaranteed to be watching the omnibus which definitely livened up a quite often dull Sunday afternoon, TV-wise. This kind of irked my dad a little bit because back in the days before each house had fifty devices and a million channels, my dad would want to watch something on one of the three other existing channels on the only TV set we had in the house. And there we were watching something we'd "already bloody seen a million times before." Er, not quite, Dad, but it was so good that we just had to see those scenes again! Of course once iPlayer came along, there was no need to screen the omnibus anymore which is a pity because as us kids of the eighties and nineties know, the EastEnders' omnibus (or 'onlybus' as my siblings used to say - sometimes even lonely bus!) is a much-missed Sunday afternoon ritual. And then there were the Christmas episodes where you'd either get an hour long episode or two thirty minute ones on Christmas Day. Ever since Den Watts uttered those immortal words "'appy Christmas, Ange," Christmas EastEnders has been unmissable and a real family tradition in households all over the country during the festive season. It definitely has been in our house where everything stops when EastEnders is on. We'd all cram ourselves onto the couch; grab the tin of Quality Street, and chomp down on those toffee penny chews as we find out who's murdering/stealing from/having an affair with/the father of whom. And they say it's all doom and gloom on Albert Square! Over the years, we've met countless iconic characters: Den and Angie; Frank Butcher; Peggy Mitchell. Dot Cotton... We've watched many memorable storylines: Sharongate; Tiffany Mitchell's death; Phil Mitchell's shooting; Den Watts' return... We've all asked ourselves the same questions: Why does no one lock their back door? Why have they never found an actor to play Mr. Popodopolous? Can Linda please ditch that ridiculous doughnut on her head? Right now EastEnders is going all out with their current storyline to mark the thirty fifth anniversary in which the Queen Vic boat party ends in disaster and we know one person is set to lose their life. Which leads us to another question... …When do we get to see Walford celebrations that don't end in tragedy and disaster? But we know whatever happens, sorry, 'appens - we'll keep watching! Happy thirty fifth EastEnders! Photos from YouTube Word Cloud by Angel Noire

If there's a storyline that EastEnders has kept knocking out throughout it's thirty four year history, it's the 'who's the daddy?' storyline. Not so much 'how's your father,' as 'who's your father?' When a sixteen year old Michelle Fowler got pregnant in the early days of EastEnders, viewers were on the edge of their seats as they waited to see who the father of Michelle's baby was. There were a few suspects in the frame but it turned out to be Den Watts, the father of Michelle's best friend, Sharon. Proving that such storylines were a ratings winner, the 'who's the father' saga has been done time and time again in Albert Square. It seems that Walford is the one place in soapland where a child's paternity is often in question! In a place where Maury could dedicate an entire series of his show to dubious dads and unsure mums, Arjun Kapoor; Tiffany Butcher; Lilly Slater; George Trott; Jade Green; Ollie Carter, and Arthur Fowler are just some of Walford's tiny residents who have had viewers and/or other Albert Square residents scratching their heads as they tried to work out who the child's father was. Well lo and behold, EastEnders' favourite storyline made a reappearance last year as Sharon Mitchell agonized over the paternity of her unborn child. A test she took proved that her undercover lover, Keanu Taylor, was the baby's father and not her husband, Phil. And this storyline took centre stage on Christmas Day 2019 when Phil discovered the truth and all hell broke loose. We take a look at some other Walford births where a paternity test was required to determine who the child's father. All we have to say is that, judging by this list, if you're part of the Beale or Mitchell clans, you've got yourself a problem! 1. STEVEN BEALE (1989) Steven's step-grandmother, Kathy Beale said it best after Steven's death in 2017 when everyone discovered the extent of Steven's lies. "He was Cindy's son. Simple as that. He was born in lies... Came back in lies... Lived and died in lies..." And she wasn't wrong. The lies started for Steven before he was even born, when his mum Cindy became pregnant after a one-night stand with Simon Wicks - the stepbrother of her fiancé, Ian Beale. Simon didn't want a bar of Cindy when she told him she was pregnant with his child, so she continued to pretend that Ian was the baby's father and went through with the wedding. Ian was besotted with his baby son Steven when he was born, but his happiness was not to last... Realizing that he did love Cindy after all and wanting to be a dad to his son, Simon decided to claim back his family - and Cindy was only too happy to go running back into Simon's arms, leaving poor Ian devastated. Refusing to believe that Steven wasn't his son, Ian had a test done but all this did was confirm that Cindy was indeed telling the truth - for once! So Cindy and Simon sailed off into the sunset with little Steven to make a fresh start away from the gossips of Walford. But Simon, unreliable as ever, found the demands of fatherhood to be too much and walked out on Cindy and Steven - paving the way for Cindy and Ian to be reunited (but not for long!) Unfortunately with Cindy, Ian, and Simon as parents, Steven's upbringing was far from stable and he never really felt loved by either father or that he belonged anywhere. As a result he grew up to be a very troubled young man whose brief moment of happiness came when his girlfriend Abi announced that she was expecting his baby - just moments before he died. 2. COURTNEY MITCHELL (1997) When Tiffany Raymond discovered she was pregnant, she was confused. She didn't know if she wanted to keep the baby, or even stay with her boyfriend, Tony Hills. But there was another reason for her confusion - she didn't know if Tony was the baby's father... or one-night stand, Grant Mitchell. But when Tiffany decided to keep the baby, she pushed all doubts to the back of her mind and focused on a future with Tony - even though Grant had his suspicions that the child might be his. But when Tiffany found Tony kissing her brother, Simon, she ran straight to Grant and told him that she had been lying all along and that the baby was indeed his. This of course was yet another lie because the truth was that Tiffany didn't know at all. Not that Grant was going to waste any time questioning it. He quickly moved Tiffany into The Vic before whisking her away on a break - where they secretly got married. Tiffany enjoyed her new roles as wife and mother-to-be, but unfortunately trusting her new friend, Lorraine Wicks with her secret cost her dearly. Lorraine had had a fling with Grant, and although she didn't do so out of malice, it was Lorraine who told Grant that the baby might not be his. This was great news for Tony who thought he might just have a shot at fatherhood after all, but not so great for Simon, and it was disastrous for Tiffany and Grant. Tiffany was promptly thrown out of The Vic with Grant demanding a paternity test after the baby was born. After little Courtney was born, Tiffany, Tony and Grant all had an anxious wait for the test results to come through. And in what was one of soap's worst kept secrets (the press had already let slip who the father was going to be!) Grant turned out to be Courtney's father after all. It was great news for Tiffany and the Mitchells but devastating for Tony and also for Lorraine who by then was in a relationship with Grant. But Grant insisted he didn't want his wife back - he was just happy to co-parent with her. Tiffany did eventually win her husband back but the marriage was anything but smooth sailing. Tragically little Courtney lost her mum when she was only a toddler, after Tiffany was killed in a road accident. Grant raised Courtney alone in Rio, although they now live in Portugal. 3. BOBBY BEALE (2003) A very rare case where the 'father' knew he wasn't the father before the mother did! The third Mrs. Ian Beale, Laura, was over the moon when she discovered that she was pregnant with her much longed-for baby. Ian, not wanting to have any more kids, wasn't. But he was feeling much more than just general disappointment. He was absolutely seething! Ian had secretly had a vasectomy so he knew that he couldn't be the baby's father, and after his stepson Steven had decided that he was going to live with his biological father in New Zealand, Ian was determined that he wouldn't be raising another man's child again. In true Ian Beale style, he plotted revenge against Laura and tricked her into signing all assets over to him, before throwing her out on Christmas Day - very conveniently forgetting how Laura had stood by him when he was declared bankrupt. That and the fact that Laura was the only woman willing to put up with him! Laura was adament that ian was the baby's father. But then she recalled a very drunken encounter with a mystery man. Viewers soon discovered who the father of her baby was - Gary Hobbs. But in a bizarre plot twist, it was later discovered that Gary wasn't baby Bobby's dad after all... In the Ian -Laura -Gary love triangle, there was no official paternity test to determine who Bobby's dad was. It probably didn't occur to the trio to have one as they were all so sure that Gary was Bobby's dad. But little Bobby needing a blood transfusion led to Laura discovering that Gary couldn't be Bobby's father after all as the two blood types were incompatible. Realizing that Ian was indeed the baby's father, Laura named him as the father on Bobby's birth certificate and tried to get him involved in Bobby's life but Ian wanted nothing to do with the baby. So Laura carried on pretending that Gary was Bobby's dad as she didn't want her son to grow up without a father. However, it was after Laura's tragic death that the truth came out. And once he was over the shock, Ian wasted no time in claiming his son back from a distraught Gary. Although looking at the way Bobby's life panned out - a delinquent with anger issues who accidentally killed his sister - perhaps things would have been better had Gary been his real father! 4. AMY MITCHELL (2008) Mitchell siblings are all about faa-mily but when it comes to partners they take things a little too far! Everyone knows about the Grant-Sharon-Phil love triangle, but the Mitchell sisters Ronnie and Roxy have also been known to enjoy the odd encounter with the other's partner... which led to uncertainty over the paternity of Roxy's daughter Amy... When Roxy discovered she was pregnant, she knew the father could either be bad boy Sean Slater who she hadn't been seeing for very long, or Jack Branning after a drunken encounter. The problem was that Jack was Ronnie's on-off boyfriend, so Roxy figured it would be best for everyone if she said that Sean was the father. And as it happened, Sean and Roxy ended up falling in love and went on to marry before baby Amy was born. Sean was absolutely besotted with his new daughter. But Jack was beginning to have doubts and believed that there was a possibility that he might be the father and insisted on a paternity test. And it was on Christmas Day (surprise, surprise!) that Sean discovered that he was not baby Amy's father via paternity test results planted inside a Christmas cracker by Jack's vindictive sister, Susie. And there was further heartbreak in store for both him and Ronnie when they discovered that Amy's father was none other than Jack Branning, who Ronnie had just reunited with. Hurt and angry, Sean tried to kill Roxy, Amy and himself but thankfully all three survived, and Sean soon left the Square. Jack now raises Amy - who is a real daddy's girl - as a single parent after Roxy tragically drowned alongside her big sister on the night of Ronnie and Jack's wedding. Earlier this year viewers saw Sean Slater make a very brief return back to the Square, and seeing how he has never forgotten Amy or Roxy and still has a lot of love for them both was very touching. 5. RICKY MITCHELL (2010) When Sam Mitchell returned to the Square in 2009, not only did she restart her feud with Bianca Butcher, but she also became romantically involved with two men in Bianca's life: her uncle, Jack Branning, and estranged husband, Ricky - who also happened to be Sam's first husband. Sam had always held a torch for Ricky and wanted them to get back together again. So Sam and Ricky got engaged again, much to Bianca's despair - but that didn't stop Sam from having a fling with Jack. And when she got pregnant, Sam had a tough time working out which one of the two men was the father. After giving birth to a baby boy, Sam considered having him adopted. But then she realized that this baby could mean a possible reconciliation with Ricky who she was convinced was the baby's father, so Sam named the baby Richard after his 'dad'. But both men put pressure on Sam to agree to a paternity test, and eventually she did. When the results came through, Sam claimed that Ricky was Richard's father, which devastated Bianca who had just got back together with Ricky. But Bianca began to suspect that something wasn't quite right and discovered the true results for herself, forcing Sam to confess that she had in fact lied. Ronnie Mitchell, Sam's cousin and Jack's girlfriend, had got Sam to lie about Richard's true paternity. Wanting Sam and the baby out of the Square and away from Jack, Ronnie gave Sam money to leave Walford, and she did just that, moving to Portugal to live with Grant. But six years later, Sam returned to Walford with Richard, now going by the name Ricky, in June 2016, for Peggy's funeral. What everyone didn't know was that Sam was finding motherhood tough, and was struggling to look after Ricky. Feeling that Ricky would be better off with his father, Sam abandoned her son at Jack's and left in the back of a taxi. Jack, the man, who has a penchant for women in the Mitchell family, has been raising his two kids as a single dad ever since. Wonder what the future has in store for Sharon's baby... Photos from YouTube Word Cloud by Angel Noire

First things first, a belated happy new year to you all. I hope that the new year has got off to a good start for everyone. Forget new year, who can believe we're three weeks into a new decade??? The roaring twenties mark two are here and it'll be interesting to see what this new decade brings... I can't believe Christmas is over! Where did it go? Last Christmas was especially blink and you'll miss it for me as we went away just before Christmas which meant I missed out on all the usual jigging away to Christmas tunes; baking festive goodies; watching the new selection of Hallmark and Lifetime seasonal movies; visiting Christmas markets... But last year was different because the husband and I were in... Arizona! I won't lie - I was not amused when Mr. D told me that he had accepted a work project in Arizona that would see us arrive home just before Christmas, as I really like pottering around the house being all Christmassy during the festive period. But then I thought "How often do I get to do something different during the month of December?" Answer: Never! So I stopped behaving like a diva and there we were! And I'm so glad we went. It was my first time in Arizona; my first time in the south-western part of America, and I can now say I've added the twenty-first state to my list of states visited. Go me! This trip has been very nostalgic for Mr. D as it brought back memories of summers he spent visiting his grandparents in Arizona, and we've spent a good few days visiting old haunts and taking a trip down memory lane. And I cannot believe I've waited my entire life to visit the Grand Canyon. I'm so glad I went. The scenery was truly breathtaking, and as with most things on this trip, phone kept coming out every five seconds and I just kept snapping away- we just didn't want to miss anything! And we have to give a special shout-out to The Rim Country Museum - a place that is closely associated with Mr. D's late grandfather, a local artist, who lent his creative talents to various endeavours at the museum thus leaving a lasting and beautiful legacy. The ladies who work at the Rim Country Museum were lovely and gave us a tour of the museum. Unfortunately photos are not permitted at the museum so I can't show you the delightful exhibits, especially the gorgeous pioneer kitchen, so if ever you're in Payson, Arizona, and you have an interest in local history, then I suggest you pay a visit to the Rim Country Museum. You won't be disappointed. But there was indeed an element of nostalgia for me too even though it was my first time in Arizona. Growing up in East London with my mum's siblings, my aunts and uncles were nuts about America. But whereas my vision of America was all Disneyland and the Hollywood Hills, for my aunts and uncles it was all about cowboy boots and Stetsons; cattle ranches and rodeos; country music bars and line dancing, vast areas of grassland and mountains. Everywhere I went in Arizona, I saw my family's vision of what they believed America to be about. I knew they would have loved it and I've told them they have to get out there and see it for themselves. 'Til next time, Arizona... Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you... cherry cake! No, not an exotic entertainer but well, a cake with cherries in it! This is a very late post as it should have been posted before Christmas and would have been had Arizona and a horrid cold not got in the way! Admittedly it's a bit of an odd choice for me because (drum roll please)... I'm not the world's biggest cherry cake fan! Don't get me wrong, I love cake (who doesn't!) and I love cherries, but I'm not a fan of the traditional cherry cake because I really don't like the glacè cherries in it. I've tried very hard to like them but at this stage of my life, I've now finally made peace with the fact that I will never be a glacè cherry fan - and that's OK. So why a cherry cake post in that case? Well aside from the fact that I know that cherry cake is very popular with lots of other people, it does bring back memories for me of childhood Christmases back in the 1980s. When my sister and I were younger - before we were joined by our two other siblings - Mum used to make an array of baked goodies every Christmas. In fact she used to bake so much, there must have been more than enough for the entire neighbourhood! Of course one of these bakes included cherry cake which was one of Mum's favourites. Even though I've disliked glacè cherries since I was a very young child, I did like Mum's cakes, so I would always have a slice - and just picked out the cherries. But what was most memorable about these cakes was that, we always had a slice of cherry cake after we got home from midnight mass. So cherry cake - offending glacè cherries or not - is a very memorable part of my childhood and evokes memories of Christmases gone by, our midnight mass tradition, and Mum's large-scale baking! Word Cloud by Angel Noire Photos by Angel Noire unless stated otherwise

When a totally legendary character is written out of EastEnders, you can bet your life that they'll be given a very big and very dramatic exit, whether that involves going on the run, going to prison, or going missing. Very rarely are they seen leaving in a black cab. Well OK, Angie did. As did Sharon the first time. And Michelle Flower mark one. But the storylines that saw them leaving Albert Square were pretty huge - they didn't leave in a cab to start a training course in Basingstoke! But one things fans hope for after a big-name character exits, is for them to one day make a reappearance. So when the decision is made to kill off a fan favourite, it's like... 'Did that just happen'??? Followed by 'WHY'? Melanie then and now: This is what living in Walford does to you! When it was announced that actress Tamzin Outhwaite would be reprising the role that made her a household name in the UK, Melanie Owen, viewers were super excited. Yes Mel, of the glamour girl looks, dodgy taste in men, and joint record-holder for the shortest marriage in Walford history (Ian Beale is the other joint holder!) EastEnders' fans eagerly awaited her return, wanting to know her story and what she had been up to in the intervening years. Compared to other more long-running characters, Mel had been in the soap for a relatively short amount of time but she still had legendary status and was a reminder of the days when EastEnders was absolutely unmissable. And when actress Tamzin Outhwaite revealed that she was leaving the soap, viewers expected her final scenes as Mel to be nothing short of dramatic. This was Mel Owen after all, who had been popular with viewers since she waltzed into Walford back in 1997 - there was no way she was going to be given such a low key exit a la Robbie Jackson! And while Mel's final scenes were nothing short of explosive drama - literally - viewers were not expecting Mel to be killed off, and fans are still reeling from the shock death of Mel Owen in what was a very unforeseen exit. 'Enders fans were looking forward to Mel sweeping back into the Square one day which will obviously not be happening now. The decision to kill off a big name character is always quite a controversial one, and there's this notion, from a fan's point of view, that a big name character shouldn't be killed off when they leave. But from the show's perspective, killing off an iconic character is the perfect way to boost ratings. In Mel's case it might have been the right thing to do because even though long-time viewers were excited to see her back, there were a lot of people who felt quite underwhelmed by her reappearance. No one can expect a person to be the same after seventeen years, but it seemed as though Mel had lost her sparkle, and whereas she was once fun, flirty and liked a giggle, she was now stomping around the Square like a long-lost Mitchell and a face like a kicked backside. Mel was never a pushover and could give as good as she got, but this bullish demeanour really wasn't her. Perhaps it's just as well she went out on a high when she did. We take a look at some iconic EastEnders characters for whom when it was time to leave Walford, they were given a one-way ticket out of there much to the amazement - and sometimes dismay - of viewers. 1. DEN WATTS An original character, a true Walford legend, and the best landlord The Queen Vic ever had, Den Watts is most definitely an iconic EastEnder. Even viewers who were born long after the 'Den n' Ange' years are familiar with the name Den Watts. And so legendary was Mr. Watts that he got a great exit not once but twice! The first time was back in 1989 when the actor who played Den to perfection, the late Leslie Grantham, wanted to leave the show. And leave he did - via a pistol hidden among a bunch of daffodils! As the screen went blank and a shot rang out followed by the sound of a splash, viewers were led to believe that Den had been assassinated by the underworld and had taken a tumble into the canal. And when a decomposed body was dredged up from the canal, it was safe to assume that Den really was dead. Only... he wasn't! Fourteen years later EastEnders fans rejoiced when they found out that Dirty Den was alive and well and living in Spain, and it wasn't long before he was back where he belonged in Walford. But it wasn't to last long... Exit two occurred when Den's second wife Chrissie, who he married while living in Spain, decided that she wasn't going to end up the same way as the first Mrs. Watts. So when Den pushed Chrissie too far, she enlisted the help of Zoe Slater and Sam Mitchell - two other women who Den had wronged - in order to exact revenge against Den. For Chrissie, revenge also meant destroying Den's relationship with his daughter, Sharon. That was all too much for Den and in a fit of rage, he flew at Chrissie in front of a terrified Sam and Zoe. But a bang on the head with a doggy doorstop put an end to Den's attack on Chrissie - and his life! Fans were shocked that Den Watts was being written out of EastEnders a second time - especially as it hadn't been long since he returned. But what shocked viewers most was that Den's exit meant that he could never return. Surely he could have just gone on the run again! Sadly Grantham passed away two years ago which means that even if Den had sailed off into the sunset, he still couldn't return, as no one could play that role as well as he could. EastEnders' executive producer, Louise Berridge claimed that Den Watts was arguably the most iconic EastEnders' character. Lou, there's no argument about it! 2. TIFFANY MITCHELL When 'that girl from Milan' (and that's the pop trio, not the Italian city!) first appeared in EastEnders as Bianca Jackson's friend, it was only supposed to be for a handful of episodes. But Martine McCutcheon proved to be such a hit as Tiffany Raymond that the character became not only a regular Walford fixture but also a part of the iconic Mitchell clan when she went on to marry Grant and become the second Mrs. Mitchell. Tiffany was considered a bit of a party girl who liked nothing more than to have fun and attract male attention. But deep down she was a young woman who desperately wanted to be loved and craved a stable family life. And once she'd married Grant and had their daughter, Courtney, Tiffany thought she'd found it - but you don't become a Mitchell if it's stability you're looking for! And indeed Tiffany found that life as a Mitchell wasn't always a barrel of laughs and put up with a lot from Grant. But discovering that Grant had slept with her mum, Louise, was the last straw for a devastated Tiffany who made plans to flee Walford with Courtney. So after a tearful goodbye to best friend Bianca, Tiffany returned to the Vic to pick up Courtney - and found her with Grant who had cottoned on to the fact that Tiffany was going to leave and take his daughter without telling him. Well he wasn't having that, so while everyone in The Vic was seeing in the new year, Grant ran out onto the Square with Courtney. Tiffany frantically raced after them - and was knocked over by Frank Butcher. The sight of Tiffany's tear-stained face as she lay dying has got to be one of the most haunting scenes ever. But what we want to know is... why, out of all the people gathered around her as she lay on the road, did no one think to call an ambulance??? Most people know the story behind Martine McCutcheon's departure from the soap. Wanting to take some time out for other acting roles, Martine asked the show's bosses for some time off which they agreed to. But one morning as Martine drove to work, she heard it announced on the radio that Tiffany was to be killed off. Nice of them to tell her in person! No one knows why things turned out the way they did and why the decision was made to kill the character off. Naturally fans believe it was the wrong decision. It would have been great for such a well-remembered character to pop back up in Walford from time to time - and imagine how fab it would have been for Tiffany to have been reunited with Bianca when she made a return back to Walford. During Bianca's second stint on the show, she became very pally with Kat Slater - but no way were they anything like B and Tiff! 3. NICK COTTON Hurricane Nick breezed in and out of Walford for thirty years. You never knew when he was going to hit but he arrived with his trademark "Ello Ma" greeting to his mother, Dot, and was guaranteed to be leaving a trail of destruction by the time he breezed out of The Square again. And Nasty Nick really was as nasty as they came. Every time he turned up like the proverbial bad penny, you could be certain it wasn't because he was doing missionary work - although there was that one time he turned up claiming he'd 'found Jesus'. And while Dot always tried to see the best in her son, everyone else saw Nick for exactly what he was: an evil, lying, manipulative sociopath who took advantage of his mother's good nature and Christian values, and would hurt anyone without a second thought. Theft, blackmail, attempted murder, murder, pretending to be at death's door... there's nothing Nick wouldn't try his hand at. Even his daughter, Potty Dotty, who wouldn't have looked out of place in The Shining , proved to be a chip off the old block when she tried to scam and kill Grandma Dot. Is anyone surprised that a now grown-up Dotty a.k.a Kirsty has been welcomed into Grandma Dot's home? Of course not! Nick Cotton was more infamous than iconic but still viewers were stunned by the decision to kill him off as part of a subplot for EastEnders' thirtieth anniversary. For thirty years, we'd watched Nick waltz in and out of Walford, wreaking all kinds of havoc and we just took it for granted that he'd continue to do so for another thirty years. The scene in which Nick's body was found after he'd died from an overdose was a reenactment of the very first EastEnders' scene where Reg Cox's body was found... …after he'd been murdered by Nick Cotton. 4. CINDY BEALE Cindy was known for having affairs the way Dot is known for quoting chapter and verse. Had Cindy been alive and living on the Square it would have been interesting to see who she'd have set her sights on. Kush? Mick? Definitely one or both of the Branning brothers. Probably not Billy though! But she'd have had a field day, that's for sure! Like Tiffany, Cindy was known for being fun-loving, flighty, and flirty. But deep down Cindy was very insecure and just wanted to be happy, loved and have a man to worship her. And she had that in husband, Ian. Except he wasn't really her cup of tea. The Wicks Brothers were more her type - but they both bailed on her whenever the going got tough. But did Cindy ever learn? Of course not! She went on to repeat the same mistake with Nick Holland, who dumped her after she was arresting for trying to have Ian killed. And it was while she was in prison that Cindy died - off-screen - shortly after giving birth to Nick's daughter, who Ian named Cindy in her memory. Killing off such a ratings-grabbing character did come as a bit of a shock to viewers. When Michelle Collins had been asked about the decision to kill off Cindy, she responded that it was probably a case of out with the old and in with the new. While Adam Woodyatt who plays Ian Beale felt that she couldn't possibly return yet again. Why not? Nasty Nick had been doing that for years! 5. ROLY Roly did for poodles what Lassie did for Collies - except Roly didn't experience the glamour of Hollywood. Instead he went one better - Walford! The beloved, pampered poodle who belonged to the Watts family and was probably the only one who Den truly loved and never let down, EastEnders ' fans loved watching Roly onscreen along with his other doggy colleague, Ethel's little Willy! And when Den died, sorry 'died', Roly was all that Sharon had left of her dad (well, him and her half-sister Vicki!) A firm favourite right back to when the show started, viewers were shocked by Roly's sudden death. Not wanting to walk Roly, Sharon's husband Grant paid conniving Mandy Salter to do it. But Mandy also couldn't be bothered and just let Roly roam freely. And roam freely he did - right into the path of an oncoming lorry. Mandy then returned back to the Square minus Roly, to explain what had happened to Grant and a devastated Sharon, without revealing her role in it all. And Sharon wasn't the only one who was distraught - viewers were too. But because the incident took place off-screen, there was hope that this was just another one of Mandy's tricks, and that Roly was hidden somewhere, alive and well. But alas it was not to be. Roly really had been killed off as the doggy actor who played him was getting on a bit. It was a sad day for canines... Photos from YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire

"I can't believe, it's overrrrr... I can't belieeeeve, you're breaking my hear-ar-art," sang New Kid's Jordan Knight. Well how did he think us Blockheads felt! One minute our fave boy band was back on the block. The next minute, they'd disappeared from the block. Where did they go? No one knew. I remember the autumn of 1994 when I finally had to accept that my favourite pop band in the whole world had left the building, breaking my little teenage heart. January 2019 marked twenty five years since New Kids On The Block - or NKOTB as they were called at the time of their comeback - released Face The Music , their fifth studio album. Unfortunately this autumn also marks twenty five years since us blockheads had to face the music that our idols had decided to call it a day. After arriving back on the pop scene with an almighty bang, the New Kids left without so much as a fizzle. The group disbanded and walked out of our lives - seemingly for good - and Donnie, Danny, Jon, Jordan and Joey broke the hearts of millions of Blockheads around the world. What we didn't know was that fifteen years later they would do what no one expected them to do and return to rock our worlds once again - and this time the comeback would be a huge success, even seeing them get their own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Since 2008, the New Kids have been back where they belong thus marking the end of their wandering around in the pop musical wilderness. And every Blockhead will agree, pop really wasn't the same without them. Thank goodness they came back when they did! It goes without saying that New Kids fans are thrilled to have them back and still going strong eleven years after their return. But we still ask the question of what went wrong all those years ago? Why was it the comeback that never was??? THE HIATUS After years of being on the road and touring solidly, the group wanted to take a break from being New Kids and just wanted to be regular kids for a while. So at the end of 1991, they took a break. No one could begrudge the hardest working kids in showbiz the chance to relax and take it easy for a while after the huge success they enjoyed and hysteria that followed them, even though us Blockheads did have a little cry (and that's putting it mildly!) But this was expected to be a break - not a break up, and fans were expecting to see the group performing again. So while the New Kids were catching up with family and friends, enjoying a bit of home cooking and sleeping in their own beds instead of hotel rooms for a change, the fans were eagerly awaiting their return. It's just a good job we didn't know how long it was going to take! BEFORE THE COMEBACK... There was talk that the five bad brothers from the beantown land were hard at work in the studio, working on their latest musical offerings which Blockheads, knew, just knew , even without listening to a single note, that it was going to be nothing short of awesome. But there was no release date for the new album, and we kept hearing about recording hitches, though we weren't worried - we knew it was a question of when and not if. Then towards the end of 1993, the New Kids brought a smile to fans' faces by doing their first interview in over two years with Smash Hits magazine. This was then followed by the announcement that the group were going to perform at that year's Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. We. Could. Not. Wait! But there was disappointment in store for the Blockheads when the Poll Winners' Party began and ended and there was no sign of the New Kids. What on earth had happened? Had they got on the wrong bus? Had the Northern Line broken down again? The New Kids didn't know London that well and it was in the days before Google Maps - they had to have got lost... right??? "Why do you think the New Kids didn't show?" I asked my bestie at school the next day where the only topic of conversation was the Poll Winners' Party (while we struggled to finish our maths homework that should have been completed over the weekend! And by 'struggled', I mean we went around the class looking for someone who would let us copy from them.) "Oh it's because their song was too dirty, so they wouldn't let them perform," she replied very knowledgably. Looking back, what I want to know is how she was able to find out so quickly in the pre-Google age. MW, you should have been a private detective! And she was right. Dirty Dawg was considered way too raunchy to be performed at the Poll Winners' party where the average age was probably something like fourteen. Joey McIntyre confirmed that the band had been asked to change some of the lyrics to Dirty Dawg - but they refused to do so. And good for them, I say! But as disappointing as that was, we were relieved to find out that the New Kids were releasing their new album in early 1994. We. Could. Not. Wait! The boys were back. Nothing could go wrong now... right??? THE COMEBACK It was all going so well. It was January 1994, and Face the Music , was due for release shortly. Blockheads were doing cartwheels up and down the street. The New Kids were back! Fans were delighted to get their first glimpse of the boys. And furthermore, we were glad to see that New Kids mania was still alive and well. Fast Forward magazine reported that a recent record signing in their hometown of Boston, saw the New Kids leave at 3am thanks to all the fans who had turned up. And when they arrived in London, it was exactly as it had been three years earlier with hoards of screaming fans. The boys did a press conference in London; a radio interview with Clive Warren at Capital Radio, and countless other interviews. A nationwide tour was in the pipeline. And there was critical acclaim for Face the Music which insiders felt was their strongest album musically. And it was great news for fans of hip-hop and RnB as urban stations played tracks from the album that had been produced by legendary RnB producer Teddy Riley. I still remember when MW excitedly phoned me and demanded that I turn the radio on immediately - I soon found out why! I still remember how excited I was that the boys were back. I'd watch every TV show they were due to appear on, and I'd buy teen mags by the bucket load and cut out anything that so much as mentioned 'NKOTB'. It was fantastic to see my idols back where they belonged. I had high hopes for them - as did all Blockheads. And when Face the Music was finally released in the UK and available to buy - guess who also bagged herself a CD? And trust me, I listened to it morning, noon and night! THE HATERS! But sadly it wasn't all good news. Despite a promising start, problems started to arise. Then there was the backlash. Oh dear, the backlash! Critics had panned the group even when they were the biggest act in music. But back then, the New Kids had the full support of their fans. It soon became apparent, sadly, that not everyone was going to give the boys the welcome they had been hoping for. Piers Morgan declared that NKOTB were never going to be as big as they once were. Even before I'd had a chance to listen to Face The Music , there was talk that their new sound and image was drastically different - they'd apparently gone all gangsta rap. I was worried that I would hate it, and I was concerned that the change was so dramatic that they'd lost that New Kids vibe; the thing that made them so unique and special. As it happens I was worrying for nothing. I loved their new image and sound but I can see how all this talk about the New Kids undergoing a personality transplant could be daunting for fans. And after the Smash Hits interview in which the boys declared that they were going to 'kick Take That's ass', the Mancunian pop band got all shook and hit back that if the New Kids thought they were going to kick Take That's ass, they had another thing coming. Take That's lead singer Gary Barlow took things further by saying that the New Kids could open up for them at Take That's next tour. A bit rich coming from a band who only got lucky because the New Kids had taken a break. Had it not been for that, Take That would still be prancing around like low budget Village People, smearing jelly all over each other. That's right people - I was NEVER a Thatter! And Joey, when asked what he thought about Take That's comments, he refused to say anything except that he didn't think they'd be opening their gobs if they were all in the same room. Take That take on Donnie Wahlberg? Never! Then there was that very ill-fated appearance on BBC's Live and Kicking in which the presenter behaved like an annoying little twerp. NKOTB retaliated by acting like they couldn't be a*sed and that they would rather be anywhere doing anything that was a lot more fun - like trimming the lawn with a pair of nail scissors! But worse was to come when the same annoying little twerp, when presenting a BBC awards show, took great pleasure in belittling and humiliating the New Kids. Blockheads were NOT pleased! NKOTB had hoped to reconnect with members of their fanbase, and simultaneously appeal to a wider audience with their new mature sound and image. And while many of the Blockheads had grown up and grown up with the New Kids, during NKOTB's hiatus, many of their fans had gone grown up and grown out of teenybop tunes to a more 'credible' genre such as grunge, hip-hop, or dance.  And those who were still into mainstream chart music, preferred the new pop bands du jour such as Take That, Let Loose or East 17. Therefore when NKOTB released Face the Music, the fanbase they left behind had rapidly disintegrated - although of course the die-hard Blockheads remained - and still do! Then some people got their battyriders in a twist because Dirty Dawg was said to have vulgar lyrics and was 'against all women' (we had yet to learn the term 'misogynistic'!) The promotional tour for Face the Music involved NKOTB not only publicizing their return and promoting the new album, but also defending themselves against accusations that they were 'anti-women.' Anti-women? Seriously? Did people not know who the majority of their fan base were??? Even when NKOTB explained that the song was about women who had cheated on them and not against all women, their explanations fell on deaf ears. It was almost as though media and the public were looking for an excuse to attack the New Kids. Because of the outcry, a lot of radio stations wouldn't play the song, and music channels refused to show the video before the watershed, despite the New Kids vehemently denying that the song and the accompanying video were violent, misogynistic, and degrading to women. It was no surprise then that Dirty Dawg debuted at number twenty seven in the UK charts. Their follow up single, Never Let You Go , didn't even make it into the UK Top Forty. And the tour did go ahead, but whereas NKOTB once sold out stadiums and arenas, they were now playing in much smaller music venues. We knew in our hearts that all the signs were pointing to the end being nigh, but we didn't want to admit to that. We still had some hope that by some miracle, the New Kids would be as huge as they once were. I mean they were the New Kids On The Block, right? What could possible go wrong??? THE END... FOR NOW... The final nail in the coffin came when Jonathan Knight wanted out. He'd started to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and dropped out of the tour. The word on the block was that Jon had suffered an injury after falling off a horse and was recuperating. From what I can remember, initial press articles claimed that the tour would continue and Jon would join the group again once his injury had healed. This was then followed by reports that the tour had been postponed while they were waiting for Jon. So we waited... and waited.. and waited... The rest of the tour had been cancelled long ago. That was in the summer of '94. The band broke up and quietly left the spotlight. There hadn't been an official announcement - if there was, I'd clearly missed it. By autumn we knew that we were never going to see the New Kids perform again. And for fifteen years, we were right! MUSICAL WILDERNESS And so began the descent into the musical wilderness that was to last until 2008 when the New Kids reunited. For me personally, chart music just wasn't the same. After the New Kids spilt, there was a plethora of boy bands who the girls got crazy over, but I didn't feel that any of them matched up to New Kids on the Block, even though I did like East 17, Bad Boys Inc. and Backstreet Boys. But I found most of the others to be bland and unappealing. There may have been Blockheads who never gave up hope of a reunion but I wasn't one of them. It seemed unlikely as the New Kids had all moved on to other things: Jordan and Joe began solo careers, while Donnie and Danny got into writing and producing for other musical acts. In addition to music, Joe and Donnie also started acting careers. Only Jon turned his back on fame, opting for a quiet life on his ranch and got involved in real estate. Each of the New Kids also began settling down and starting families. So no, it didn't look as though the band would ever get back together again. WE'LL BE LOVING THEM FOREVER But even though the band had split up for good, I wasn't ready to stop being a Blockhead (and I'm glad to say, I never have!) Unfortunately it was considered 'uncool' to be a New Kids' fan, so while I never pretended to not like them, I didn't exactly shout it from the rooftops either. At that age it's all about fitting in and being accepted. Teen years can be daunting but the New Kids on the Block were my happy place – a fuzzy, warm, place of comfort and innocence and they brought back memories of a time when things were so much simpler. I so didn't want to leave that behind. When things were bad - as they could be during these years - I'd often dig out an old VHS or cassette tape (really showing my age here!) and all was right with the world again. We obviously didn't have the internet the way we do now but I did manage to connect with other Blockheads via Teletext ( Teletext! I'm really showing my age now) Like me, they were also saddened by the split; had a hard time dealing with the ridicule and teasing about their musical preferences, and didn't feel as though music was quite the same now that the boys from the band were gone. Chart music had pretty much lost it's appeal for me, and while I eventually became a huge fan of urban and rock music, the New Kids ALWAYS had a special place in my heart... And as every Blockhead now knows, that was NOT the end of the New Kids story... But we had to wait until 2008. Photos and word cloud by Angel Noire