Latest news with #Roly
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
EastEnders' most iconic pets and their tragic ends after axe from BBC soap
As fans remember more than four decades of drama in Albert Square, much has been written about the original 1985 cast - including two non-human stars who played pivotal roles As fans of EastEnders reminisce over four decades of drama in Albert Square, much attention has been given to the original 1985 cast - a group of actors who helped establish what would become one of Britain's most iconic TV shows. The original human stars - many of whom are no longer part of the soap - grounded the programme's gritty, working-class realism, often exploring intricate family struggles and social tensions. However, amidst the soap's intricate web of secrets, betrayals and family feuds, two non-human stars played crucial roles in the earliest episodes: Roly the poodle and Willy the pug, reports Surrey Live. Here's everything you need to know about the iconic EastEnders dogs: Roly Roly was never intended to be in the show. Producers initially sought a German Shepherd named Prince, but when they couldn't find one that blended well with the set's lighting, a seven-month-old standard poodle stepped in. Roly became the cherished pet of Den and Angie Watts, and from the very first episode in 1985, he was a familiar face (or tail?) running around the Queen Vic. While Den and Angie often neglected their daughter Sharon, they confided in Roly. Nonetheless, the poodle was more than just a background prop - he got involved in key storylines, and even saved lives. In 1987, Roly was the first to discover Pat Wicks after she was attacked by the so-called Walford Ripper. A year later, he barked incessantly until someone discovered Eddie Royle after he'd been stabbed and left for dead. Perhaps Roly's most iconic moment came in the show's earliest mystery - the identity of teenage Michelle Fowler's baby's father. After months of secrecy, Michelle arranged to meet the unknown man at a canal for privacy. But as she approached the car, out bounded Roly, revealing that the father was none other than Den Watts - her best mate Sharon's adoptive dad. Roly remained on the show until 1993, when his character was killed off after being run over while chasing a cat. In real life, the dog belonged to EastEnders co-creator Julia Smith, and tragically died in 1995 following surgery to treat breathing problems brought on by a heatwave. He had been retired for two years before his death. Willy Willy, the mischievous pug owned by Ethel Skinner, was cast just a week before filming began - like Roly - and quickly became one of the show's most recognisable animal faces. Originally called Phillip in early scripts, Willy was spoiled, greedy, and frequently got himself into trouble. He once nicked the Fowler family's Christmas turkey and had a habit of ruining pavements, much to the despair of Dr. Legg. Still, Ethel adored him - her love for Willy was so fierce that she turned down two marriage proposals from men who demanded she choose between them and her dog. In one plot twist, Willy ran away and was sold to a new owner by a pet shop who renamed him Rasputin. It was only due to Lou Beale's efforts that Willy was eventually returned to Ethel. Willy stayed in the series until 1992, when his character was put down due to old age. In a twist of fate, the real dog passed away just two weeks later. Before his time in EastEnders, Willy had already made a name for himself, playing William the pug in the 1984 BBC adaptation of Swallows and Amazons Forever! based on the cherished books by Arthur Ransome.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- BBC News
Norwich pub apologises for drink that shared date-rape drug name
A pub has apologised after naming one of its cocktails after date-rape drug Rohypnol. The Catherine Wheel pub on St Augustines Street, Norwich, posted a picture of the drink "Rolyhypnol" on Instagram on Friday to promote it as the establishment's "cocktail of the month" for April. DrinkAware said Rohypnol was one of the most commonly known date-rape drugs used by perpetrators to incapacitate a person in order to commit a physical and sexual attack. In a statement, the pub said: "It was a customer suggestion based on the name Roly, and never intended as a serious acceptance or approval of a drug." Rohypnol is odourless, colourless and tasteless. The pub's drink, which contains Tequila and Peach Snapps, remains on the menu and has been renamed the Lil' Mexican Peach. 'Apologise for offence' The pub has faced backlash on social media since posting the drink's name and said it did not intend to cause offence. "The cocktail has been renamed as a result of the online backlash," it said. "The Catherine Wheel apologise for any offence caused." Dawn Dines, chief executive of the charity Stamp Out Spiking, said: "It is very disappointing to read of this cocktail being named after the date rape drug, Rohyphol. It was obviously meant as a joke, but it is in rather poor taste. "This is why we believe urgent training is needed across the hospitality sector, to educate on the severity and seriousness of these cowardly crimes."We are also very pleased to read that they have now changed the name."Norfolk Police said it was not investigating the incident. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch: CBeebies show Hey Duggee introduce first gender-neutral character
CBeebies' show Hey Duggee has introduced its first gender neutral racoon character. The show, aimed at five-year-olds, introduced the racoon Wren and 'their' siblings when talking about different characters in the episode 'Sibling Badge'. The series, which aired for the first time last year, sees squirrel Roly discover he's going to have a sibling. The squirrels then meet different animals and their siblings. Arlo the Dog is introduced with 'his' siblings, monkey Lucy with 'her' siblings. Wren the racoon is then introduced with 'their' siblings.
Telegraph
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Parents attack CBeebies show over gender-neutral raccoon
Parents have attacked a CBeebies show for featuring a gender-neutral raccoon. In the episode of Hey Duggee, an award-winning show, which is aimed at five-year-olds, a racoon called Wren and 'their' siblings are introduced. The gender-neutral language has been criticised as 'inappropriate' and 'confusing' for children still learning how to speak. Hey Duggee, produced by Studio AKA in association with BBC Studios, features Duggee, a cartoon dog, who runs a clubhouse with five 'squirrels': Bettie, Roly, Tag, Norrie and Happy. In the episode Sibling Badge, first shown last year, Roly discovers he is getting a new brother or sister. The squirrels then meet different animals and their siblings. Dog Arlo is shown with 'his' siblings, monkey Lucy with 'her' siblings, yak Rami appears alongside 'his' siblings. It then adds: 'And this is Wren and their siblings.' The words 'they' and 'their' are commonly used as gender-neutral pronouns, particularly for those who identify as non-binary. The episode by Jo Clegg, the writer behind dozens of episodes as well as popular shows Go Jetters and Pip and Posy, has now come under question. Shelley Charlesworth, researcher for Transgender Trend, a UK-based campaign group, described the episode as 'so inappropriate'. She said she felt the use of the word 'their' for the last animal was subtle but not an error. Ms Charlesworth said: 'Its target audience is still learning to speak and this only confuses. Language skills and accurate grammar take years to learn, most children are still making mistakes up to the age of eight. 'There is no way that a child of three to five can understand non-binary they/them pronouns, and using these neo-pronouns takes no account of child development.' She accused the BBC of breaking its accuracy and impartiality code, adding the language 'stems from adult political activism'. One parent who saw the programme accused the show's language of 'sounding weird', adding: 'The use of their in that particular bit just stuck out to me. There was no reason to use it as all the pronouns before were gendered. 'It just sounded weird. I don't think it was an accident.' A BBC spokesman said: 'We take our responsibility to our young audience and their families very seriously and take great to care that all content is appropriate. Everyone is welcome at CBeebies and in this case Wren the raccoon is not a non-binary character.' Hey Duggee was previously criticised for using the term 'fireman' by the London Fire Brigade after a veteran female firefighter had to explain why the term was wrong to a young relative. The BBC said at the time 'CBeebies strives to avoid stereotyping and looks to celebrate strong female role models'. A spokesman added: 'Within the wider context of the Hey Duggee Dressing Up Badge episode, animated characters are shown dressing up in costumes depicting roles such as a plumber, pirate, knight and farmer but these roles are occupied by girl characters as well as boys, is done without comment and infers these roles are all gender-neutral.' In 2023, the BBC was accused of trying to brainwash children after telling them male fish could become female. CBeebies broadcast a segment about how some species can go from 'being a boy fish to a girl fish'. Campaigners claimed it was trying to normalise sex-swap ideology at a young age. A BBC spokesman said at the time: 'While this segment aired at the start of June, it was not produced specifically for Pride month. 'CBeebies 'Everyone's Welcome' ethos supports inclusivity and we air segments on a range of related topics throughout the year.' Grant Orchard, the series creator, said he ignored gender altogether in a 2017 interview. 'The way we treat characters on the show, we don't think about gender at all,' he said. He added 'It wasn't a conscious decision to make it a gender-neutral show', adding 'kids' personalities are not allocated by their sex'. 'Only when we started talking to distribution and marketing people about the show, and they were discussing what kind of show it was and whether it would be placed in a boys or girls aisle in supermarkets, we became determined to keep the show gender neutral as much as possible.'
