With news that EastEnders is getting a spinoff and that both Alfie Moon and Kat Slater will be visiting our shores in the six-part miniseries, Junior Tourism Minister Michael Ring has spoken out about the show's history of portrayals of Ireland and Irish culture and wants to make sure that they've "learned from their mistakes".
What Ring is talking about is the 1997 series of episodes in which Pauline Fowler came to the Emerald Isle in search of her long-lost sister, in which there were wild animals roaming the streets and loads of drunk people. The BBC were later forced to apologise to the nation after receiving hundreds of complaints.
Speaking to the Indo about the plans to shoot here, Ring said: "The British market is still our number one market for tourism. And, once it is selling Ireland in a positive manner, I would welcome it. I hope they have learned from their mistakes and I hope they will be showing Ireland in a positive light this time."
EastEnders executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins has said that "My team here are very excited about creating a whole new drama that stands apart from EastEnders, while taking our style of storytelling to a place of stories, myth, secrets and immeasurable beauty."
So fingers crossed that means less donkeys and scenes like this.
The miniseries is set to film here in autumn before being broadcast next year.
