Fun Fact: the late Frances Cuka, was also cast as Peggy Mitchell in 1994. After filming various scenes, Cuka was scraped and thus entered Barbara Windsor into the role
Frances Cuka seems more notable for the jobs she didn’t do rather than the ones she did. She was the original Jo in the stage version of A Taste of Honey but was ditched in favour of Rita Tushingham for the film version.
Physically, Jo Warne (the original Peggy) is a bigger woman than Barbara Windsor and it's not hard to see why the producers selected her to play the Mitchell matriarch. She does look she is Phil, Grant and Sam's mum. Fast forward a few years later, the producers of "Eastenders" found themselves in a pickle. The show had suffered a ratings slump and it was felt that the series needed to have "star pull" to draw back the viewers.... Enter Barbara Winsdor and the rest as they say is history......
I stopped watching when Barbara Windsor arrived I’m sorry but never could stand her it turned from a real drama inti a circus show. ! The original Mitchell mum was better ❤️
I bet this surprises some - that Barbara Windsor was *not* the original Peggy Mitchell! I remember this Peggy when Ricky went round to beg Sam to take him back. This Peggy chucked all his clothes out the bedroom window. Barbara made her first appearance when Phil was hospital after the whole Sharon Gate!
It’s crazy to think Sharon and new Peggy only interacted for a few months before Sharon’s departure in ‘95 (and they were friends in ‘91). When Sharon returned in ‘01 Peggy reacted as though they were lifelong enemies!
Sad seeing such a young beautiful fresh Danniella Westbrook... her addiction has really battered her since! I like the original Pegs btw... very convincing Eastend matriarch. Babs' Peggy has more star quality.
It kind of parallels when US Soap Actress Gillian Spencer "Originated" The Role of Viki Lord on One Life To Live when it debuted in 1968, then was recasted in 1971 by Erika Slezak who played the character until the show's Cancellation in 2012. She would win Six Daytime Emmys the highest US Acting Award. Yet Barbara Winsor made the role her own. In the US there was a Soap Writer named Roy Winsor who wrote for a Show called Search For Tomorrow.
If circumstance were different, Jo Anne Warne could have also played Karen Taylor. I live in Canada and I saw the Episode where Karen goes after Phil after Keanu is Missing. God, she was "Gangsta!" US Soap Ladies don't go on like that. It also parallels Jack Stauffer who from 1970-1972 originated the Role of Chuck Tyler (A Future Doctor) on All My Children yet it was Richard Van Fleet who made the Role His Own.
ahhh if they would have known back then they should have had a shot of peggy staring at the pub from the exterior going: 'now that's a pub' and walking in slowly going around the pub in awe. Then meeting sharon - no change there
I used to like this Peggy as a kid. And her boyfriend at the time. Can't remember his name now though. Then they replaced her with someone who looked and acted nothing like her and she wasn't with her bloke anymore. I was rather disappointed and confused about the whole thing! Lol
I don't go against original casting I really like Jo Warne as Peggy. We know she was established before Barbara Windsor took over and did a great successful 16 years on the show but if you look back now and look at Sam Mitchell Danniella Westbrook was cast (then recast) and came back the same will happen to Peggy. (It's like a trick)
This Actress would have been perfect on Coronation Street for some reason. She looks like she could have been a Member of The Carter Family. Look at Ricky with that Long Hair.
It also reminds me of John Abbott on The Young & The Restless. John #1 was played by The Late Brett Halsey, then Actor Sean Garrison played "Substitute" John but it was Jerry Douglas who made The Role his own that he played from the 1980's until the 2000's.
Toni Kalem originated the role of Angie Perrini on Another World before she left and Maeve Kinkaid replaced her. Toni would later play Angie Bonspiero on The Sopranos and directed The Episode where Carmella is all alone in the house. Maeve Kinkaid is also Sister In Law to Meryl Streep and from 1981-2009 on and off would play Vanessa on Guiding Light.
Thank you for putting this up! I remember this one so well....I know I'm showing my age but I don't care cos at least I know I wasn't just imagining it lol
It makes me laugh how they change actresses and blindly believe that the audiences will either not notice, or not care. Same with Daniella Westbrook and that other one. Not only different actresses, but completely different personalities
You think that's crazy. In The US 15 Actors played Tom Hughes on As The World Turns. The Longest one was Scott Holmes (1985-2010). He was "Born" in 1960. 13 played Jamie Frame on Another World & 13 played Patti on Search For Tomorrow. All were owned by Proctor & Gamble.
@captainhero518 peggy was surpose to be a former beauty and had all the boys after including the mitchell brothers sr (eric and archie) i think babs is more real in the role
Jo Warne was the better Peggy. She was 'ard just like the 2 boys she's brought into the world. Barbara Windsor was the wosrt replacement. Didn't even look like the original and trying to act 'ard just isn't in her league.
If there is one thing that British Men have in common with African American Men is that they are very close to their "Mums'. Many grew up in Single Parent Houses.
She's FAR more convincing than Barbara Windsor.I could believe Jo Warne as Peggy.Barbara Windsor just seems to play herself or her Carry On character,without being much of an actress at all.
@Offsmack1 "Eastenders would not be the programme it is today if wasn't for Barbara Windsor" Oh come now that's hyperbole. Babs is a dreadful ham a lot of the time and the show does fine without her.
It's weird cos she didn't no they should be owning the vic and next week the vic is set on fire and peggy might be killed I hope she doesn't it wouldn't be the same
Jo Warne can't come back because she is DEAD! So can everybody stop saying that Jo should come back as Peggy now that Babs has left! And just for the record, I prefer Babs to Jo...
barara peggy much better, daniella sam is the best. wat i dont get, in this peggy likes sam but not keen on the vic, babs peggy hates sharon and loves the vic.
This is not peggy mitchell, So we're suppose to believe that Peggy Mitchell was Fat and then Suddenly turned into this short little thing known as Babs. I mean obviously this was the original Peggy. I know that but what I mean is The Characters are Extremilly Different. I must switch off 50 seconds in, I can't stand Jo Any longer
