Chelsea Buckthorp

Faith, Ava and Donnie, the three new characters in series three of E20

Laura Turner, resident writer at Lincoln-based theatre company Chapterhouse, was commissioned to write for the EastEnders’ spirited spin-off called E20.

Turner is part of a group of young aspiring writers, talented and lucky enough to have been selected to create and write the third series of E20.

“E20 is the younger, naughtier sibling of EastEnders,” Turner explained. “We’ve created three new characters for series three – Faith, Ava and Donnie.

“Set in Albert Square and filled with familiar faces from the main show, E20 explores the lives of three young people as they crash-land in the middle of East London.”

E20 returns on Tuesday, September 20, and will be available to watch on BBC Three and online on iPlayer.

Turner explained that each member of the writers team was also commissioned to write their own episode for the BBC show.

“The series is shown on BBC Three in omnibuses that start this week, and mine will broadcast at 8.30pm on Friday, October 7.

“My episode, episode five, sees the trio adjusting to life and we meet care worker Richard and a mysterious young girl called Riley for the first time, whose story begins to unravel in my episode.

“E20 is all about what it’s really like to be young, struggling to know what to do with your life and finding people you can rely on – whilst giving Walford a run for its money.”

Turner began her EastEnders career when she was one of 15 writers to be accepted onto the E20 workshop after a gruelling process of writing trials and interviews.

She advises that to get into writing you have to be really passionate and just keep writing all the time.

“Actually sitting down to write the script is the end of a very long process of planning and being open to changing your ideas and the process has made me appreciate how much time and effort goes into creating just one episode of a television show.

“It was fantastic to be involved with the series from start to finish as we created the characters ourselves, helped them to grow and now finally get to see them on-screen.”

Photo: BBC

Dozens of Lincoln students have moved in temporary accommodation in the University of Lincoln’s staff car park, dubbed Festival Gardens.

As previously reported, up to 100 double bunk cabins will be used to accommodate a late surge of students without living arrangements.

The 3 by 3 meters cabins started arriving last Thursday and are fully powered, heated, with two single beds, two desks, a flushing toilet and shower.

Sharon Dulidge arrived in Lincoln on Sunday with her daughter, who was told on Friday she would be staying in the temporary accommodation:

“The cabins are hysterical. I have just arrived with my daughter. But genuinely I think they have done very well to get something sorted,” said the 49-year-old mother.

“It’s not ideal for long term, but I think they have done well given the situation they have to work with this year.

“The kids will just have to make the best of it. They’ll all bunch together. My daughter’s fine though, she’s just unpacking now. I’m sure she’ll make the best of it.”

Kristie Jackson also moved in on Sunday in Festival Gardens: “It is small, l but I suppose it is manageable for now. I did apply late, so it is okay I guess.

“I was shocked by the size of it but you have just got to go with the flow,” she commented on the temporary accommodation.

“They have been really nice though; there’s going to be a common room with a TV and snacks, so they are trying to make it as comfortable as possible.”

Student Edward Portal was accommodated in one of the bunk cabins as well: “I’ve just walked into it. It’s small but it is alright.

“They want to have relocated everyone by October 15, but I think they are trying to have everyone out in the next week.

“I think it’s a brilliant solution really, much better than staying in a bed and breakfast. Because we are all in the same place and it is local,” added the 18-year-old.

A University of Lincoln spokesperson told The Lincolnite: “The move into the temporary student village went well this weekend and already a good sense of community seems to have developed among the students.

“This is a temporary solution and work is ongoing to find more suitable long-term accommodation. Rooms are becoming available all the time.

“We are aiming for the cabins in the temporary student village to be single occupancy (rather than twin cabins) by the end of this week.”

In a statement, the university’s Students’ Union said it “fully sympathies with the position of students who have had difficulty in finding accommodation in Lincoln and will do all it can do to support and represent their issues to the university.”

Related Reports: The Linc, Daily Mail, BBC Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Echo