Ferreira family

The Ferreiras were conceived as a new major family for EastEnders after the departure of the Kapoor family. Tony Jordan created the group, while executive producer Louise Berridge supervised their introduction. The production sought a large household that could provide multiple interlocking stories and increase the number of prominent male characters in the serial. The family was developed through workshops with the actors, rather than being fully defined before casting. Dan Ferreira arrived in Albert Square with his children Ronny, Ash, Adi and Kareena. Their background was presented as Goan Indian, and the family occupied several different social and professional roles in Walford. Ronny worked as a DJ, Ash was a lecturer whose gambling had caused serious financial and marital problems, and Adi and Kareena operated a market clothing business. Tariq Larousi, Ronny's friend and promoter, was introduced as another important figure. The family initially appeared intended to become a long-term centre of the programme. The story plan changed abruptly in late 2003 when Dalip Tahil, who played Dan, had to leave because of a work-permit problem. Writers had intended Dan's abusive behaviour to culminate in his murder by his children, followed by their attempt to conceal the crime. With the central actor unavailable, the production abandoned the story and rewrote a large number of scripts. The substitute plot involved Ronny being stabbed, losing a kidney and requiring a transplant. Tariq was eventually revealed to be Dan's son and donated his kidney, creating a new family relationship but also prolonging a storyline that was poorly received by many viewers. Other stories involved Dan's deception about his estranged wife Pushpa, Ash's secret relationship with Shirley Benson, Ronny's relationships with Kelly Taylor and Zoe Slater, and Adi's relationship with Sasha Perkins. Dan later disappeared after emptying the family's bank account, leaving the children with mortgage arrears. The family then became involved with Johnny Allen after cars connected with their minicab venture were stolen, leading to pressure to leave Walford. The characters attracted criticism for being perceived as unrealistic, irritating or unlikeable. Berridge later accepted that the initial publicity had overemphasised the family's status as a new Asian family and that the production had relied too heavily on the replacement transplant plot. Additional production difficulties, including the unavailability of other cast members, contributed to the programme's uneven storytelling during this period. After Berridge's departure, Kathleen Hutchison oversaw the decision to remove the remaining Ferreiras. Their final broadcast appearance came in March 2005. Jordan subsequently regarded them as the least successful characters he had created, while also arguing that the disruption surrounding Tahil's departure had prevented the original story arc from being realised.

• 2005

  Final appearance

  [1]Ferreira familyen.wikipedia.org

  The remaining Ferreira characters make their final EastEnders appearance on 22 March 2005.

• 2004

  Attempts to revive audience interest

  [1]Ferreira familyen.wikipedia.org

  Producers plan changes to Kareena's character and bring Sasha Perkins back into the family's story.

• 2003

  The family is created and cast

  [1]Ferreira familyen.wikipedia.org

  Tony Jordan creates the Ferreira family and Louise Berridge leads the casting and introduction project for EastEnders.

• 2003

  First appearance in Albert Square

  [1]Ferreira familyen.wikipedia.org

  The Ferreira family first appears on screen on 3 June 2003.

• 2003

  Dan Ferreira leaves the programme

  [1]Ferreira familyen.wikipedia.org

  Dalip Tahil makes his final appearance as Dan on 30 December 2003 after a work-authorisation problem.

A fictional ensemble family and narrative unit within EastEnders, positioned by the programme's producers as a new large South Asian household intended to become central to Albert Square.

• 2004

  Producers attempt to rework the familyStrategy

  Background

  Audience and critical response to the Ferreiras had weakened, and producers were concerned that the characters were no longer attracting interest.

  Action taken

  The programme considered a new image for Kareena and brought Sasha Perkins back into the household's storyline.

  Aftermath

  The changes did not lead to a long-term continuation of the family, which was subsequently written out.

  Source

• 2004

  The family is scheduled for removalStrategy

  Background

  Producers concluded that they were struggling to find sustainable stories for Dan's children and that the characters had run their course.

  Action taken

  Kathleen Hutchison oversaw the decision to drop the remaining Ferreira characters and Sasha Perkins from the programme.

  Aftermath

  The family remained on screen until its final appearance in March 2005.

  Source

• 2003

  The original Dan Ferreira murder arc is replacedOther

  Background

  Writers had planned for Dan to be killed by his children, but the departure of actor Dalip Tahil made the storyline unusable.

  Action taken

  The production rewrote numerous scripts and substituted a kidney-transplant story involving Ronny and Tariq.

  Aftermath

  The replacement storyline became the family's dominant plot and was criticised as less compelling than the abandoned arc.

  Source

1. 1Ferreira familyen.wikipedia.org