Unfortunately, in my home, the television is ruled by my darling girlfriend.  Generally this isn’t a problem as I prefer to get on the computer anyway but sometimes I find myself in an unavoidable situation where I have to watch something I wouldn’t normally watch.

Within the list of these programs is the ever faithful Eastenders.  It’s not the worst program in the world for a bloke but that can all change when one particular actress gets some airtime.  Her real name is Melissa Suffield and she plays Lucy Beale.  I’m no acting guru and I really want to keep the floor open on this one and let people make up their own minds as to what they think of the quality and timing of Ian Beales troublesome daughter.

Melissa Suffield aka Lucy Beale

The following Youtube video clearly shows this actress in a demenading scene, requiring facial emotion and expert delivery of the lines.  I’ll leave it to you to see whether you think she’s punching above her weight.

In this scene, Lucy touches on the irksome subject of periods.  Does anyone else get the feeling that a deficated-on, decapitated, burnt rat could deliver the lines more convincingly?

Here’s another equally bland performance while preparing for a party.

Seriously though?  What are the Eastender bosses really thinking of by involving her in yet more demanding storylines?  In researching for this article, I asked a few people for their opinions and they seemed to be shared.  However, while digging through YouTube for some ‘examples’, I found several fan made videos (although these were usually a montage of pictures, no acting - hmmm…) which seem to indicate she does command some popularity.

Unfortunately, I can’t see things getting any better since she’s been in the soap for a few years and I’ve seen no improvement of note.  The amazing thing is, she replaced the original Lucy Beale who was played by Casey Anne Rothery, who I’m fairly sure would have out-acted her in any given scene (although I have never seen her act.)

Casey Anne Rothery

Still, I’m not that bothered, I’m not going to complain to the BBC or the makers of Eastenders, I’ll just continue to watch, in amazement, at how easy it is to get an acting gig on prime time television.