Flaming fight as Fowler bench ignites

EastEnders bosses are seeking to spark a recovery in the show's fortunes when a new family arrives in Albert Square tonight.

11:00 06 September 2004

EastEnders bosses are seeking to spark a recovery in the show's fortunes when a new family arrives in Albert Square tonight.

The Miller clan explode onto our screens with a blazing barbecue that sets Arthur Fowler's memorial bench ablaze.

The introduction of the new family is an attempt to revive the fortunes of the series - at one time the nation's favourite soap.

But in recent months things have gone from bad to worse in Walford.

The Ferreira family failed to find favour with fans, while ratings slumped to record lows - overtaken by Dales drama Emmerdale.

And at the Bafta television awards this year EastEnders was not even on the shortlist for the soap opera category.

This has left Albert Square producer Louise Berridge under considerable pressure.

Speculation in the press this morning claims that she and fellow backroom staff may well face the axe if things do not pick up in the next three months.

"It's been one disaster after the other from losing out on soap awards, low ratings, dull plots and boring characters," an insider told the Daily Star today.

"The Millers will be given time to settle in but they cannot afford to be as big flops as the Ferreiras," the soap source added.

The Miller family move into Albert Square to join their son Mickey.

They arrive tonight and hold their blazing barbecue on Friday - to try and make up for the disruption they have already caused.

Martin Miller - the family patriarch - sees his special sauce explode, tipping the barbecue onto Arthur Fowler's commemorative bench.

As Martin arrives to try and quench the flames threatening his father's bench things get worse when Pauline turns up at the scene.

The burning bench row is set to be just the first in a long line of run-ins between the Fowlers and the Millers as EastEnders' bosses seek to turn their fortunes around.