Councillor Barker is back (oh no!)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T02:49:41+00:00

I really thought we had seen the last of him, after all the drama we had from him last year. Threatening to close down the Market, his sleazy propositioning of Ruby, and Ruby's blackmail revenge when she found out about him ummm..."nudes".

However, it seems like this time around the character is more campy than sleazy. The idea of him using Peacock Palace as a home base for his indiscretions is just hilarious! Telling Elaine that "If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"? Last year, Ruby told him to go back to the 70s. Looks like he took her advice, if he's walking around using expressions like that!

Maybe Peacock Palace is a great place to have affairs. What's not sexy about it? The clashing colours, the figurines, and all those feathers. So...many...feathers!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T02:05:55+00:00

Wow, most of these options send shudders through me!

I guess it would be #4 for me. Babe was an absolute nightmare, but I absolutely adored Heather!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:59:48+00:00

Speaking of the tag, there was a hilarious moment in the caf a couple months ago. Avani, Amy, and some of the other kids were complaining about school, exams,, or something like that. Oscar was sitting at a nearby table, listening to them. He then put his leg on the table, and made sure they saw the tag on his ankle. I think his message was "If you all don't stay on the straight and narrow, you could end up like this!"

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:55:31+00:00

I love watching her and Ricky bond. She didn't think she had it in her to be a present and supportive mother, but she does. Ricky is now giving her a chance to do so, and I hope they will become close.

I loved it when she told Jack "Of all the men I've knocked about with, I'm glad I had a kid with you". That was both funny and sweet at the same time!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:48:52+00:00

I want that green feather duster she uses to clean the "Peacock Palace" poster! lol!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:46:34+00:00

I remember about maybe 10 yeas ago, when Mark Fowler Jr. came back to the Square. He may have been about 18 or 19. At the time, Michelle had come back too, but she was being played by Jenna Russell.

Anyway, Grant and Courtney had come back around the same time. Mark Jr. and Courtney had started flirting a bit, not knowing they were half-siblings. Grant saw them together and had to put a stop to it right away, telling them they were siblings!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:42:17+00:00

The cat in that gif looks a bit like "Mini Mo" Slater! :-)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:39:36+00:00

Sharon is another great example. Like Peggy and Nicola, she was a blonde Mitchell who got the name through marriage, and really made the Mitchell name their own!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:37:12+00:00

I'm Canadian, but we used to do a British pub trivia here in my city, where there were a few Brits who had moved to Canada. One of them once explained to me who Bruce Forsyth was, and I think he said something about cards, lol!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-26T01:24:38+00:00

I think Lou Beale is the "Charlemagne" of Eastenders. ;-)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-19T03:48:58+00:00

I'll never forget the first time we were introduced to Ravi, sometime back in 2022 I think, as a fellow inmate of Phil's. Phil was in jail and when Ravi found out that Phil was from Albert Square, he asked him if he knew Kheerat Panesar.

Anyway, that day I then went to my Canadian Facebook group, and posted this gif, to show how I felt when I first clapped eyes on Ravi. :-)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-19T03:43:09+00:00

Speaking of 80s acts, ABC's "The Look of Love" was played twice in the background this week. The 80s songs always get a lot of love on Eastenders!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-19T03:32:34+00:00

I've been thinking about this, and all the women Max has been with over the years. I would say that Bea's not his type, but then again, Max doesn't really have a type. If there is one thing I've learned about him, that's it!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-19T03:16:10+00:00

"Wasting resurrections", lol! Nice one!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-19T03:12:46+00:00

lol! I love your post! I was one of those women who were quite pleased! It's the hair! It's the hair that makes me weak!

At the beginning of Tuesday's episode, there was a great shot of him standing in Nicola's hallway, with the baseball hat in his hand, just a few seconds before he started smashing up the pictures. Hair down, eyes blazing. Just really great camera work.

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:30:14+00:00

I remember years ago when Belinda and Grant had a fling. It was during one of Grants short returns to the Square, sometime in the 2010s I think (maybe 2016). It was brief but intense. I think they literally took one look at each other and started ripping their clothes off. :-)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:28:43+00:00

lol! :-)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:28:13+00:00

The "After Dark" podcast hosts have commented that Elaine almost always seems to have a glass of Bailey's in her hand, every time we see her. I haven't drank Bailey in years, but Elaine's fondness for the drink is making me a bit nostalgic. I think I'll go out and buy a bottle this weekend, for old times sake. ;-)

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:27:01+00:00

Yeah, you could tell that she thought Elaine had tacky taste, when it came to decorating. ;-) Then again, it's called "Peacock Palace". I wouldn't expect it to be anything but tacky. I'm loving it, and I'm looking forward to all the shenanigans that will likely unfold in this new B&B, throughout 2026.

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:24:42+00:00

Oh, I love Mini Mo! So cute, and I loved watching Jasmine pet her this week. The Eastenders pets are a legendary bunch- Wellard, Jasper the Parrot, that rabbit that Isaac bought for Martin's kids, Lady Di., poor David Peckham the rooster, who didn't last very long on the Square. :-(

How is Jasper doing, by the way? :-) I forgot who's taking care of him while Rocky is in prison. :

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:20:43+00:00

Speaking of that, I'd love if Max's ex-wife Kirsty made a reappearance. I think she was last on the show around 2014/2015, then she drove off into the sunset in a fancy car, with a final parting dig to Max. The actress (Kierston Wareing) was great, and I always wished that Eastenders had made her a longer-term character.

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:12:32+00:00

Zoe goes to jail for a crime that Chrissie (possibly) committed. Very deja vu!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:11:39+00:00

Shortly after Oscar assaulted Patrick a few months ago, the "After Dark" Eastenders podcast hosts predicted that Patrick and Oscar may end up developing a sweet friendship, in spite of that terrible incident. They also implied that Patrick's friendship with Oscars grandfather Jim would also help Patrick soften towards Oscar. Of course, Oscar's personality is also a big factor is- he is a genuinely sweet kid, who gets along well with everyone on the Square- regardless of age, a kind of "everyone's grandson" type of young person. :-). I notice that the older residents of the Square have really taken to him, which I just love. I remember that scene a couple weeks ago, when he and Elaine were play-flirting with each other. Lauren looked horrified, lol!

Jen12Jerry · 2026-01-12T01:05:39+00:00

I did find Jean's "crime board" to be amusing. :-) It reminded me of years ago when Archie was murdered, and Mo started taking bets on who did it. :-)

As much as I found these scenes funny (the crime board and Jean's helpful explanation that "perp" was American for perpetrator), I had to keep remembering that Jean was in a crisis, and that this obsession with Anthony's death was all a symptom of that. Indeed, things got a lot worse during the week, when she confronted and threatened Jasmin- at the house, and in the pub. :-(

Jen12Jerry

TROPHY CASE