{"id":36341,"date":"2023-08-31T18:25:29","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T16:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1881375"},"modified":"2023-09-01T06:48:37","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T04:48:37","slug":"former-eastenders-star-caroline-paterson-makes-emotional-return-to-walford-set","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/former-eastenders-star-caroline-paterson-makes-emotional-return-to-walford-set\/","title":{"rendered":"Former EastEnders star Caroline Paterson makes emotional return to Walford set"},"content":{"rendered":"

The actor-director portrayed Ruth Fowler in the soap from 1994 to 1999. <\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 31 August 2023 at 16:25 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Actress-director Caroline Paterson made an emotional return to the set of EastEnders<\/a> earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Scottish star Paterson memorably appeared in EastEnders in the 1990s as Ruth Aitken, the second wife of long-running character Mark Fowler<\/a> (Todd Carty).<\/p>\n

Now as part of her work in the BBC\u2019s River City Academy training scheme this year, Paterson has made an emotional return to the set of EastEnders to shadow directors there.<\/p>\n

In the video, Paterson is seen stepping onto Albert Square and being overwhelmed with emotion. The show\u2019s original set for Walford was demolished earlier this year as the soap has recreated it on a nearby lot at Elstree to enable greater filming opportunities and further technological advancements.<\/p>\n

In the exclusive clip, we then see Caroline as she heads to the recreation of the old Fowler house where her character used to live with Mark.<\/p>\n

Paterson exclaims: \u201cIt just looks exactly the same, I can\u2019t believe this!\u201d<\/p>

Speaking to RadioTimes.com<\/a> about her return to the show\u2019s set in Elstree and how the soap has changed, Paterson said: \u201cI mean, the way people view it is completely different. You know, they use different cameras \u2013 I think it looks better.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then compared to when I was in it, one of the things that I really noticed was how diverse it is. And I just felt that this is starting to reflect London. Whereas when I was in it, you know, it just wasn\u2019t there. So I\u2019m really over the moon that that has completely changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paterson added that when she visited the set she could see diversity in front of and behind the cameras too, noting that this was \u201call for the better\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Caroline\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Caroline Paterson is delighted as she visits the Elstree set of EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The actor and director made clear that she thought the soap had had to \u201cmove with the times\u201d in the stories it tackled, recalling her own involvement in the powerful story of Mark Fowler\u2019s HIV journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cStories haven\u2019t changed really,\u201d noted Paterson. \u201cThey still do huge stories about what happens in society and I\u2019m just thinking about Mark Fowler\u2019s HIV story, we were doing that and there was a lot of fear in the public. That was such a huge story due to actually what it informed the audience, you know, this fear shouldn\u2019t be there. And I thought it was a great story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paterson revealed that she had seen the recent story about Zack Hudson (James Farrar) being diagnosed with HIV<\/a> and said that it demonstrated how far things had come.<\/p>\n

\"James\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
James Farrar as Zack Hudson in EastEnders<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cI noticed that they had an HIV story with Zack and I was amazed,\u201d commented Paterson. \u201cThank goodness. Then when I was in EastEnders, HIV was this scary thing that could come out, it was kept secret, but it just shows how far society has come so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having directed since age 24 across theatre and film, Paterson revealed that she gets offered much more directing work now than acting.<\/p>\n

However, having never received any formal training in these fields, Paterson has taken the opportunity to upskill her directing further as part of the River City Academy training scheme, which works alongside the beloved Scottish continuing drama River City. Paterson directs the scenes that the trainees in the scheme will work on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first training and I\u2019m loving it and loving learning it because River City works in a completely different way from what I worked,\u201d said the director. \u201cSo I\u2019m really enjoying this training. I\u2019m like, \u2018Let me learn a new skill\u2019. I\u2019m really loving concentrating on directing at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paterson has previously directed episodes of River City and will be doing so in the upcoming series.<\/p>\n

\"Caroline\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Director Caroline Paterson poses for River City Training Academy.<\/span><\/figcaption> Alan Peebles<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Praising the training scheme, Paterson added: \u201cI\u2019m so pleased that the BBC is doing this because it\u2019s for people who want these skills, but also it\u2019s just for people who maybe never get an opportunity to get into the industry or young people I know that can\u2019t get in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, it\u2019s difficult. It\u2019s not easy just trying to get in the industry, so I\u2019m pleased that it\u2019s also for beginners \u2013 people who maybe would be part of the sound team or costumes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen training like it and I hope it continues and it will go down all the continuing dramas \u2013 that they take time to let people learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can apply for the River City Academy to be part of the 2024 cohort<\/a> now.<\/p>\n

Who was Ruth Fowler in EastEnders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Caroline\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Caroline Paterson as Ruth Fowler in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ruth Fowler was the second wife of Mark Fowler<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Introduced in 1994, Ruth Aitken was taking care of her dying friend Anna in a hospice after her friend had contracted HIV, and it was there she met Mark Fowler who had dealt with having tested positive for the virus for a few years.<\/p>\n

The pair grew close and formed a romance, then eventually got married, against her strict parents\u2019 blessing. However, issues arose as Ruth wanted children and so she and Mark pursued fostering a child, but this soon ended in heartache when they were separated from the one they had taken in.<\/p>\n

Ruth also defended Mark from abuse on Albert Square, including against then-bigoted pub landlady Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor).<\/p>\n