Remembering when EastEnders stars filmed episodes of the soap opera in Weymouth

For very different reasons the cast of EastEnders took their own UK holiday to sunny Weymouth back in 2008.

Due to BBC budget cuts, storylines planned to be filmed in Spain were instead filmed in Dorset!

So we're casting our minds back to April 2008 when stars including Barbara Windsor brought EastEnders fever to Weymouth over five days of filming. Tourism chiefs in the town welcomed the extra publicity that was generated by the BBC1 soap opera.

Former Carry On film star Ms Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell, was making a return to Weymouth for the first time since her childhood.

She said: "I've been for a walk up and down the seafront and it's lovely.
 "I have been to Weymouth before as a child with my mum and my family."

The actress, who was then 70, had a lot of time for the fans who turned out to see her.

Wally Mills, 64, from Dorchester Road, Weymouth, was excited to have the chance to meet her.
He said: "I asked her if she was having a good time and she told me that she was thoroughly enjoying it here."
Dame Barbara signed autographs and had her photograph taken with the crowd during filming at the harbour.

Also causing a stir was actress Samantha Janus, now Womack, who played Ronnie Mitchell in the soap.

Also involved in the five day shoot was actor Robert Kazinsky, who played Sean Slater.

Val Reynolds, 64, from Granville Road, Weymouth, brought her three visiting granddaughters to the seafront as they all wanted to see Robert.
She said: "They are visiting from London and Bristol and they all wanted to come and see him.
 "It's absolutely great for my grandchildren to be able to come to the beach with me and see this going on."

And a lucky Weymouth cafe owner enjoyed a visit from EastEnder Samantha Janus, who also represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Owner of the Harlequin café, Dave Moore, welcomed Samantha and her family as they stopped by for a fish lunch by the sea. 
He said: "It was very exciting because while she was here we were a little bit busier as everyone was coming over to have a look.
"She was very accommodating and friendly and told us she though it was really lovely down here and that she was having a very nice time.

"I think she seems to be enjoying it and not getting too much hassle."

Also involved in the filming was Samantha Janus's on screen sister Roxy Mitchell, played by Rita Simons.

Filming took place at Weymouth Harbour and on the beach, where a carousel and rifle range were erected by Five Star Beach Rides owner Steve Stokes at the request of the BBC.

He had been kept busy by the crew as filming continued until 2am on the first day with his rides closed to the public during filming.
Mr Stokes said: "They have brought about 60 to 70 extras here with them and the beach is packed with people watching.
"The filming has brought plenty of interest and the locals are out in force."

Some of the crowds spoke to the film crews in the hope of becoming extras on the programme but were informed that they were already prepared with their own.

Robert Kazinsky even took time out from filming to catch up on the latest news in the Dorset Echo. 
The heart-throb, who plays bad boy Sean Slater in the BBC1 soap, read all about the show's seaside excursion as on-location filming wrapped up in Weymouth.
Whilst reading about himself, he told the Echo: "Wow! This is such an ego boost. 
"I'm not so sure about being described as scruffy though."

The 24-year-old signed autographs for fans as he queued up for prawn sandwiches at The Lookout Café during a break from filming at Bowleaze Coveway.

He looked through the menu and admitted to a weakness for some of the county's traditional fare.
He said: "I really like Dorset apple cake. Dorset is a nice place to come to and Weymouth is a pretty town to film in.
"We've had a good time filming today because it's been less busy than filming at the beach."

The actor was joined by co-stars Barbara Windsor and Samantha Janus, who were towed along Bowleaze Coveway in a mocked-up greengrocer's van as the crew shot a scene.
Extras were filmed flying kites and walking along the cliffside while the characters got out of the van

In the storyline - which was screened in July 2008 - Mitchell sisters Ronnie, played by Samantha Janus, and Roxy, played by Rita Simons, take a trip to Weymouth to track down their dad.
Actor Larry Lamb was expected to join the cast as their father Archie, but there was no sign of him on set.
Roxy and Ronnie's aunt Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor, comes along for the ride, as does Roxy's current flame Sean Slater.
In the explosive storyline, Sean has a blazing row with a pregnant Roxy - resulting in her drowning her sorrows on a Weymouth merry-go-round with a bottle of vodka.
She is unsure who the father is after sleeping with Sean and Ronnie's boyfriend Jack Branning within days of each other.
The BBC crew used The Spyglass Inn at Bowleaze Coveway as a base for their trailers and filming equipment.