East Enders Off Set Episodes - 1991

1991

• Ricky, Frank and Pat Butcher and Sam, Grant, Phil and Peggy Mitchell and Peggy's boyfriend Kevin Masters in Gretna Green (July 1991). The episodes were written by Debbie Cook. Despite the Scottish setting, the recording of these episodes was done in Hertfordshire.

These episodes followed Sam and Ricky's attempt to elope to Gretna Green, with Frank, Pat, Peggy, Phil, Grant and Kevin all in hot pursuit. These episodes were essentially a "farcical chase", climaxing in a register office wedding of the young lovers, with Frank and Pat in attendance. The Mitchells tried to stop the proceedings, but only succeeded in bursting in on someone else's wedding, as Sam was getting married in an entirely different town.

• In November 1991 Clyde and Kofi Tavernier and Michelle and Vicki Fowler went on the run to Portsmouth. The episode was written by renowned EastEnders scriptwriter Tony Jordan and directed by Mike Dormer.

Clyde was prime suspect for the murder of Eddie Royle. He decided to flee the country with his son Kofi, and his girlfriend Michelle opted to go with him with her daughter Vicki. They went to Portsmouth with the hope of catching a private ferry to France so they could start a new life together, but they were arrested whilst trying to board the boat.

Writer Colin Brake has stated that the episode had a "strong sense of tension" as it built up to Clyde's inevitable arrest and he goes on to describe it as "one of the most exciting thriller episodes of EastEnders".