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Patsy Palmer: EastEnders made big mistake airing 4 times a week

Patsy Palmer thinks ‘EastEnders’ made a "big mistake" by increasing episode output to four per week.

The 48-year-old actress has played Bianca Jackson on and off since 1993, but she believes the BBC One soap should only air twice a week with "really solid, good stories that last for quite some time" rather than "chopping and changing".

She said: "When I was on set I was talking to one of the writers and I said they should never have had ‘EastEnders’ go three or four times a week. It was a big mistake in my book.

"They should have kept it at two times a week, not followed what all the other soap operas did.

"They should have stayed at two times a week and written really solid, good stories that lasted for quite some time instead of chopping and changing.

"Now you go away from it for a week, come back and don’t know what’s going on."

‘EastEnders’ is currently airing just twice a week due to the coronavirus pandemic, as bosses cut back the weekly output to avoid running out of episodes during lockdown.

But Patsy doesn’t watch the soap anymore, and admitted when she returns to reprise her role as Bianca she has "no idea" who her co-stars are.

She added to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "I haven’t watched ‘EastEnders’ for six years, so when I go back I have no idea who anyone is. There’s all new people there."

In February, it was reported Patsy is to return to ‘EastEnders’ again later this year.

A source said at the time: "Bianca is a legendary character and the writers are always delighted to be able to invite Patsy back to play her.

"Whitney’s admission will lead to some tough times for her, so her adoptive mum comes back to help her out. Although it remains to be seen how helpful Bianca back will be for her."

‘EastEnders’ is to resume filming next month with strict social distancing measures in place.