Stacey Dooley has hit back after it was questioned why she asked who ‘EastEnders’ co-creator Julia Smith was while presenting spin-off show ‘Secrets from the Square’.
The 33-year-old TV presenter insisted she did know who Julia – who co-created the BBC One soap with Tony Holland – was, but asked the question because the director had prompted her in case others watching the programme were unaware of the late producer.
The ‘Thunder Girls’ novelist Melanie Blake wrote on Twitter: "Introducing Adam Woodyatt BEFORE Garbo like Letitia Dean, who never does any interviews or press and they give her second billing in the one they’ve got her to agree to? #Madness
"And Stacey Dooley not even knowing who Julia Smith – who co – created #Eastenders was. Not even researching the show you presenting is one thing, not even bothering to read the research material someone else has probably handed to you is another – terrible. (sic)"
But Stacey replied: "I did know who Julia was Melanie.
"The director (quite rightly) asked me to pick it up, as you can’t assume everyone watching knows this.
"It’s my job to ask the questions, not display my in depth knowledge of a soap opera.
"Ta for your feedback tho (sic)"
Melanie then wrote: "Well then the edit made it look like you didn’t know – happy to give you the feedback – it came accross on screen really badly – so there we are."
Stacey quote retweeted her message, and wrote: "Twitter 2020"
The documentary-maker was interviewing Letitia Dean (Sharon Mitchell) and Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) for the show’s second-ever episode.
The BBC introduced the programme – which is airing every Monday – earlier this month after the soap ran out of episodes, due to the enforced break in filming as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.
‘EastEnders’ classic episodes are also airing every Tuesday.