EastEnders (lost footage of Jean Fennell as Angie Watts; 1984)

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Eastendersangie1.jpg

Jean Fennell (left) as Angie Watts, alongside Sharon (Letitia Dean), Den (Leslie Grantham), and Roly.

Status: Lost

EastEnders is a flagship BBC soap opera that has consistently aired new episodes since 1985. One of its core characters during its inaugural years was Angie Watts, the first landlady of the Queen Victoria. Watts was portrayed by Anita Dobson and featured in some of the most highly-rated storylines in British soap history, primarily surrounding her troubled marriage to "Dirty" Den (Leslie Grantham). However, during the show's extensive production throughout 1984, the part of Angie was originally given to Jean Fennell. However, a series of issues led to a last-minute recasting, with Fennell having only filmed one scene before she was cut from the show.

Background

Angie Watts is described as "Albert Square's drama queen" by the EastEnders Handbook.[1] One of the characters introduced in EastEnders' first episode broadcast on 19th February 1985,[2][3] Watts co-owned the Queen Vic alongside her husband Den.[1] In a 1984 preview, she bragged she truly ran the Queen Vic as its landlady.[4] Though Angie was both energetic and tough on the outside,[5] she suffered from the immense strain of her 17-year marriage to Den,[2] which was crumbling primarily thanks to the latter's frequent infidelity.[6][1] Though they adopted Sharon (Letitia Dean),[7] the move did little to help the situation.[1][6] She was soon consumed by alcoholism, culminating in her suffering kidney failure.[1][6] These storylines subsequently made Angie among the most compelling characters of the show's early years.[6]

EastEnders was conceptualised by Julia Smith and Tony Holland.[8][3] Following the acquisition of the disused ATV Elstree Studios in January 1984,[9] production would commence for an intended launch date in January 1985 (later February 1985).[8] During the pre-production stage, Matthew Robinson became the show's lead director.[10][11] He was tasked by Smith to find suitable, relatively unknown actors to fill the roles of the Watts, as well as Nick and Dot Cotton, and Pauline Fowler.[10][11] His choices were initially met with approval by Smith, with the latter particularly thrilled with the "perfect Den" in Grantham.[10] However, the pair disagreed on who should be cast as Angie.[10][11] Though some hopefuls impressed Robinson during auditions, Smith declared none of them was suitable for the role.[10] The troubles of finding a worthy Angie led to Smith's reluctant approval for the next candidate: Jean Fennell.[12][10][11][5]

Jean Fennell as Angie Watts

Then aged 32, Fennell had mainly settled into a theatre career, having been trained at London's Drama Centre.[11][10] Unlike most of her fellow candidates, Fennell had no previous television experience.[11] But upon a review of her biography, Robinson was intrigued by Fennell's appearance.[10] In a Watford Web post, he described Fennell's look as "wiry, tough yet vulnerable, victimhood hidden in her knowing eyes", which perfectly matched Angie's character.[10][1] The fact she grew up in the East End also helped matters.[11][12] Hence, she was subsequently brought for an audition, where she was able to display the required vulnerable demeanour the role demanded.[10][5] But Smith was not fully convinced;[10] aside from Fennell's lack of television experience, concerns also arose on whether she could deliver a more passionate approach and eliminate the "frailness" within her.[5] Robinson nevertheless backed Fennell, as he believed she would improve over time.[10][5] After Smith initially shortlisted Fennell, the actress was soon given a six-month contract as Robinson and Smith agreed she would work well alongside Grantham.[10][5][11] Additionally, no other suitable candidates were on the horizon.[10][5]

While she missed out on the show's first press call due to ill health,[13] Fennell committed herself to the rehearsals in the weeks leading to planned filming in December, gaining confidence as each day passed.[10][11] Meanwhile, Radio Times were contacted so that some promotional photographs could be taken. Don Smith travelled to Elstree Studios, where he captured the only photographs to feature Fennell as Angie. Among these included a smiling picture just outside the Queen Vic, to her alongside Grantham, Dean and the Watts' dog Roly.[12][11] During a break in rehearsals, the decision was made to capture a test shot. It involved Angie simply walking Roly in Albert Square, in a linking scene that lasted fifteen seconds.[11][10] But although it appeared Fennell's status in EastEnders was secure, cracks were beginning to unfold.[10][12][11] During the rehearsals of the first six episodes, Smith and Holland expressed concerns that Fennell lacked the character and presence demanded of Angie.[10][12] Robinson insisted that Fennell simply needed more time to familiarise herself with the character.[10] Robinson also claimed in his Watford Web post that there was some reluctance on Grantham's part to work with Fennell.[10] However, Grantham insisted in the EastEnders Handbook that he and Fennell got along swimmingly.[14]

However, in an interview with Radio Times, the show's costume designer June Hudson recalled Fennell was very much responsible for what was to come.[12] Hudson had been given a budget of £700 for each character's wardrobe, which she began concocting since the show's conceptualisation.[12] However, Fennell disagreed with the direction Smith and Hudson intended for Angie.[15] Hudson had planned for a flashy costume line that not only met Angie's characterisation as a landlady of a run-down pub but also somewhat covered up Fennell's model looks.[12][15] However, Fennell insisted Angie wear elegant and almost but not quite trendy clothes.[12] Things boiled during a rehearsal, in which Fennell entered with a black dress considered well too glamourous for Smith's liking.[15] This triggered a three-way argument between the two and Hudson, with an incensed Smith having threatened to forcibly removal the dress herself.[15] Additionally, Hudson pointed out that Fennell's demands would exceed the £700 budget.[12] Naturally, this dress was nowhere to be seen when the promotional photographs were taken.[12][11] The incident also prevented filming of a scene where Angie simply exited the Queen Vic from one end and re-entered from another side.[15]

To make matters worse, Hudson recalled Fennell frequently refused to follow the express command of EastEnders' directors and producers.[12] Regardless of whether Fennell's arguments had plausibility, she lacked the credibility which might have given her more sway.[12] Indeed, out of all the cast, only Wendy Richard had found previous stardom.[10][12] Everyone else, as noted by Hudson and Nick Cotton's actor John Altman, needed to be established before they could suggest such radical changes.[16][12] The coup de grace came during one of the final rehearsals, just days before the studio recordings when a nervous Fennell ended up shouting her lines out.[11] At that point, Smith and Holland had had enough, having concluded that although Fennell was talented, she had been miscast.[15][11][10] Smith first informed Hudson that "there's going to be no problem with Jean..."[12] She then booked meetings first with Robinson and then Fennell.[15][10] Robinson's attempts to change Smith's mind were fruitless, as she had already replaced Fennell with Dobson.[10][11][15] Robinson later found out that Smith had always sought Dobson for the role but had to conduct auditions because the actress was previously unavailable.[10] Defeated, Robinson at least managed to convince Smith to honour Fennell's contract and give her a chauffeur-driven ride back home.[10][11][15]

When Fennell visited Smith's office, she was planning to discuss Angie's costume.[10][11] Upon learning of Smith's decision, Fennell became beyond devastated and desperately begged Smith to reconsider.[15][10][11][12] Robinson was outside when this occurred; he was forced to cover his ears because the ordeal was just too much.[10] While Smith did nearly break under the pressure, she ultimately held strong and dismissed Fennell.[15] It was an example of what Grantham described as her "tough reputation".[17] Upon learning of this firing, the other cast members were concerned about their own futures, especially since Fennell was not considered for a different role.[9][16] Particularly, Altman made sure to fully impress the higher-ups to secure his role as Nick.[16] In two different interviews, Grantham believed Fennell was talented but was miscast and that her conflicts with Smith cost her the job.[14][17] Following her firing, Fennell returned home and contacted a partially sympathetic Hudson to discuss the news.[12]

Aftermath

Ultimately, Fennell's television career ended before it truly began.[11][10][12] Indeed, Robinson, Fennell's sister Kay and her future teacher Tom Radcliffe noted the ordeal was tough for her to overcome.[11][10][12] Nevertheless, Kay stated Jean ultimately understood her dismissal.[11] Fennell instead carried on with her theatre career, though her true legacy perhaps arose in the 1990s when she became a drama teacher.[12][11] Having been taught the Meisner technique,[18] Fennell passed on what she learnt to her students, becoming a highly regarded teacher in the process.[12][11] Plans to harness the technique for her own acting career were scuppered because of chronic back pain, so she concentrated on teaching thereafter.[11] In April 2011, Fennell passed away from lung cancer at the age of 59.[12][11]

Though the decision to replace Fennell with Dobson proved difficult, Robinson, Hudson and fellow cast members concluded it was the right choice in the end.[12][11][14] Her first rehearsal received acclaim from the cast;[11] she along with Grantham would quickly become the show's most popular actors thanks to the tumultuous relationship between Angie and Den.[11][6][1][14] It even convinced the producers to create the show's first two-hander episode featuring the couple on 16th October 1986, which saw Angie lie about having only six months to live in a desperate ploy to keep her marriage going.[19][6] The most famous scene in EastEnders history came on Christmas Day 1986 when upon learning of Angie's deceit, Dirty Den finally handed his wife the divorce papers.[20][1][11] The broadcast and its 28th December repeat attracted a 30.15 million aggregate rating.[21][20] This puts it behind only one-off events like the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, the funeral of Princess Diana and the 21st July 1969 airing of the documentary Royal Family.[22] Dobson opted to leave EastEnders in 1988.[23] While she loved portraying Angie, she felt the show was becoming too repetitive and wanted to explore other options.[23] Angie's final appearance was in Episode 343, broadcast on 19th May 1988, where she departs for Spain.[24][1] Dobson has since refused to return, not wanting to tarnish the reputation of her character.[25] Angie has since been killed off-screen in 2002, something that Dobson has no regrets over.[25][23]

Availability

Three decades after the show's first aired episode, Radio Times' Patrick Mulkern explored the rumours of Fennell as Angie, having first learnt about it in a brief 1987 Hudson interview.[12] This led him to initiate contact with Don Smith, who subsequently provided him with the rare photographs.[12] These black and white photos, which feature Angie alone, with Den and alongside her family, were published in the Radio Times magazine and have also been made available online.[12][11][10] While some sources claimed no clips of Fennell in EastEnders were captured, Robinson stated that the aforementioned fifteen-second recording of Angie walking her dog was made and is the only footage to feature the actress.[11][10] This footage has yet to receive a public release.

Gallery

Videos

EastEnders preview featuring Den and Angie Watts.

First scene featuring Angie Watts.

The famous scene where Den hands Angie the divorce papers.

Final scene featuring Angie Watts.

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 EastEnders Handbook description of Angie and a summarisation of Dobson's time on the show (p.g. 108-109). Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Episode 1 featuring Angie's first scenes. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 BBC summarising the first episode of EastEnders. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  4. ↑ 1984 preview featuring Den and Angie Watts. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 EastEnders: The Inside Story summarising the suitability of Fennell as Angie and the challenges she immediately faced. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Radio Times summarising the timeline of Angie and Den's time on the show up to October 1986. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  7. ↑ EastEnders Handbook description of Sharon Watts (p.g. 92-93). Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 EastEnders: The Inside Story noting the show's long production before the first episode aired (p.g. 24). Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wendy Richard...No "S": My Life Story where Wendy detailed when she met Jean and how the latter's firing caused consternation among the other actors (p.g. 114-117). Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 10.28 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 Watford Web where Robinson discussed Fennell being cast as Angie, her firing and her only filmed scene. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.24 11.25 11.26 11.27 11.28 11.29 11.30 11.31 Daily Mail detailing the short-lived time Fennell was involved in EastEnders, from the perspective of Robinson. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.16 12.17 12.18 12.19 12.20 12.21 12.22 12.23 12.24 12.25 12.26 Radio Times documenting the promotional photographs which featured Fennell as Angie, as well as Hudson's comments surrounding Fennell's firing. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  13. ↑ EastEnders: The Inside Story noting Fennell's ill health prevented her from attending the show's first press call. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 EastEnders Handbook where Grantham briefly discussed working with Fennell (p.g. 73). Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  15. ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 EastEnders: The Inside Story detailing the dress incident and Smith and Holland's decision to fire Fennell. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 In the Nick of Time - The Autobiography of John Altman, EastEnders' Nick Cotton summarising Fennell's firing and how it changed his approach by the end of November 1984 (p.g. 162). Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Northern Echo summarising Grantham's comments on Fennell's dismissal. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  18. ↑ Backstage explaining the Meisner technique. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  19. ↑ Archived BBC summarising the 16th October 1986 two-hander episode featuring the Watts. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Television Heaven summarising the Christmas Day 1986 episode and claiming it attracted 30.15 million. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  21. ↑ Archived BARB noting the Christmas Day 1986 broadcast drew an aggregate 30.15 million rating. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  22. ↑ The Week detailing the highest-rated broadcasts in UK television history. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Lancashire Telegraph interview with Dobson where she explains her reasoning for leaving the show. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  24. ↑ Episode 343 where Angie departs Watford. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 BBC News noting Angie was killed off-screen in 2002 upon Dobson's constant refusals to return to the show. Retrieved 28th Feb '24
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