This is just a short piece so people posting on Digital Spy's soap forum as well as Walford Web Security Kindergarten can understand some sophisticated "euphemisms."
By mutual consent: When an actor leaves a programme "by mutual consent," it's a nice way of saying he or she's been sacked. This tag is usually applied to long-established characters who've either (a) reached their sell-by dates or (b) proven to behave too embarrassingly in the public eye to merit being sustained by the programme, itself. This tag is only applied to actors who have achieved either longevity or iconic status in a programme.
Here's a good example: Dean Gaffney's contract wasn't renewed. That's what was said at the time he was told he was surplus to requirements. Even though his character, Robbie Jackson, had been around a long time, he wasn't a major force nor was he particularly popular. However, Todd Carty was sacked at the same time, and it was announced that Carty was leaving "by mutual consent" - ostensibly, because the producers thought his character had gone as far as it could go, and the actor had no choice but to agree.
It's done, basically, to save face and the reputation of certain actors. Cast your mind back to Spring 2005, when Shane Richie announced he was leaving Eastenders. He chose not to renew his contract. However, literally on her first day back filming from an extended storyline, Jessie Wallace was told that Richie was leaving at Christmas and, therefore, her character would be going with him. Quite succinctly, Kat couldn't be sustained as a viable character with no Alfie. So, it was announced that Wallace was leaving "by mutual consent."
Taking a break: This is the current idiomatic expression which means that an actor has chosen not to renew his contract. In short, he's leaving. It's this phrase that denotes the programme is in panic mode and wants to hide the fact should many important actors playing established characters want to fly the coop. First employed, ironically, when Letitia Dean chose to leave she show in 2006, following on the important heels of Leslie Grantham (who left "by mutual consent"), Shane Richie, Jessie Wallace and Tracey-Ann Oberman in order to avoid mass panic amongst the tabloid press. It was announced that Dean was "taking a break" from Eastenders. It was never announced that the break would last six years!
Consequently, when it was announced that Samantha Womack was "taking a break" at the end of the babyswap storyline, culminating in Ronnie's imprisonment for three years. This doesn't mean that Womack will necessarily return at the end of that period, or even before. It's down to the Executive Producer to decide if it's realistic enough or viable enough for Ronnie to return, and then, Womack has to want to do so. She had a life before EastEnders and is having a successful professional life afterward. Birkwood employed this phrase rather than admit that the actress felt this storyline was a step too far and left for her own emotional and professional health.
They've used the same bunker tactic in describing Jo Joyner's departure as her "taking a break." It's a euphemism. She decided not to renew her contract. In employment terms, that means she's gone. When you decide not to sign a new contract of employment offered you by your employer, you aren't "taking a break," you're planning on leaving.
Get a grip.
And, by the way ... message to Sey of Walford Web ... Biffo and Blossom are one person and he is a troll.
By mutual consent: When an actor leaves a programme "by mutual consent," it's a nice way of saying he or she's been sacked. This tag is usually applied to long-established characters who've either (a) reached their sell-by dates or (b) proven to behave too embarrassingly in the public eye to merit being sustained by the programme, itself. This tag is only applied to actors who have achieved either longevity or iconic status in a programme.
Here's a good example: Dean Gaffney's contract wasn't renewed. That's what was said at the time he was told he was surplus to requirements. Even though his character, Robbie Jackson, had been around a long time, he wasn't a major force nor was he particularly popular. However, Todd Carty was sacked at the same time, and it was announced that Carty was leaving "by mutual consent" - ostensibly, because the producers thought his character had gone as far as it could go, and the actor had no choice but to agree.
It's done, basically, to save face and the reputation of certain actors. Cast your mind back to Spring 2005, when Shane Richie announced he was leaving Eastenders. He chose not to renew his contract. However, literally on her first day back filming from an extended storyline, Jessie Wallace was told that Richie was leaving at Christmas and, therefore, her character would be going with him. Quite succinctly, Kat couldn't be sustained as a viable character with no Alfie. So, it was announced that Wallace was leaving "by mutual consent."
Taking a break: This is the current idiomatic expression which means that an actor has chosen not to renew his contract. In short, he's leaving. It's this phrase that denotes the programme is in panic mode and wants to hide the fact should many important actors playing established characters want to fly the coop. First employed, ironically, when Letitia Dean chose to leave she show in 2006, following on the important heels of Leslie Grantham (who left "by mutual consent"), Shane Richie, Jessie Wallace and Tracey-Ann Oberman in order to avoid mass panic amongst the tabloid press. It was announced that Dean was "taking a break" from Eastenders. It was never announced that the break would last six years!
Consequently, when it was announced that Samantha Womack was "taking a break" at the end of the babyswap storyline, culminating in Ronnie's imprisonment for three years. This doesn't mean that Womack will necessarily return at the end of that period, or even before. It's down to the Executive Producer to decide if it's realistic enough or viable enough for Ronnie to return, and then, Womack has to want to do so. She had a life before EastEnders and is having a successful professional life afterward. Birkwood employed this phrase rather than admit that the actress felt this storyline was a step too far and left for her own emotional and professional health.
They've used the same bunker tactic in describing Jo Joyner's departure as her "taking a break." It's a euphemism. She decided not to renew her contract. In employment terms, that means she's gone. When you decide not to sign a new contract of employment offered you by your employer, you aren't "taking a break," you're planning on leaving.
Get a grip.
And, by the way ... message to Sey of Walford Web ... Biffo and Blossom are one person and he is a troll.
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