EASTENDERS

Every so often, the soaps give us a ‘special’ and it’s worth reminding ourselves why. Live episodes reveal how TV was before recording and editing, and separate the acting wheat from the chaff. There have been two-handers, with just two characters engaging, and in 2008 Eastenders broadcast a one-hander featuring only Dot (June Brown), reminiscing about her life with husband Jim.

Increasingly, though, longer stretches of dialogue are creeping into the main narrative. At this year’s British Soap Awards, Best Scene went to Gail’s monologue about Aidan’s suicide in Corrie. Written by Jonathan Harvey, it was masterful and confirmed this writer as one of the finest today. A few weeks back, he penned an extraordinary heart-to-heart between Paul and Billy, and Sinead’s monologue last week was as great a piece of writing as you’ll ever see.

Such moments remind us that far from being the poor relation of drama, soaps deliver week-on-week incredible writing, created by the hardest-working people in the business. Mr Harvey: make room on your mantelpiece; there’ll be another award coming.

BEST TO SHUT MOMENT IT

‘I need to tell ’er the truth.’ Daniel to Ken, about Sinead, Corrie HOW LONG HAVE YOU GOT? ‘Woss ’appened?’ Peter (to everyone), returning from holiday, Corrie

■ THE CORE OF IT

Anything that prevents Mick from opening his mouth is always good news, so we must be grateful for Halloween at the Vic, which will see a whacking great apple between his teeth (pictured, inset). I suppose it’s too much to hope that he swallows it whole and is shut up for good?

In the absence of fruit, Honey decides to put her mouth to better use in a major snogfest with Adam (pictured with Honey) – there’s way too much lip-locking this week. One can’t help wondering what she’s consumed, though, as she asks Mick for relationship

advice (Henry VIII would be a better choice, to be honest). It’s a big night for Whitney, too, when sparks fly between her and Leo (give the woman some bromide; is any man safe?). At the end of the night, they share a passionate kiss (I told you), but what is he not telling her? Boy, she can really pick ’em.

There’s a mystery looming when the Panesar brothers arrive in Walford, but who and what are they there for? It’s certainly not for the nightclub scene.

And will everyone shut up about flamin’ Portugal. Go, why don’t you all! Or just get blotto on the great Portuguese Mateus Rosé.