[247] According to a Radio Times article for 212 episodes it works out at 141,000 per episode or 3.5p per viewer hour. ", "Exclusive: Leon, Zsa Zsa to leave 'EastEnders', "Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale: Which soap had the best live special? [7], When developing EastEnders, both Smith and Holland looked at influential models like Coronation Street, but they found that it offered a rather outdated and nostalgic view of working-class life. [128] There is also a market close to Fassett Square at Ridley Road. "[197], In the 1980s, EastEnders featured "gritty" storylines involving drugs and crime, representing the issues faced by working-class Britain under Thatcherism. Conversely there are female characters who handle tragedy less well, depicted as eternal victims and endless sufferers, who include Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack), Little Mo Mitchell (Kacey Ainsworth), Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman), Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff), Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin), Mel Owen (Tamzin Outhwaite) and Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks). Ofcom also took into account the programme's role in presenting sometimes challenging or distressing social issues. [135] In 2016, the Fowlers were revived and merged with the Slaters, with Martin Fowler (James Bye) marrying Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). [368], In 2003, cast member Shaun Williamson, who was in the final months of his role of Barry Evans, said that the programme had become much grittier over the past 10 to 15 years, and found it "frightening" that parents let their young children watch. EastEnders received its second lowest ratings on 17th May 2007, when 4.0 million viewers tuned in. The early 2000s saw a shift in attention towards the newly introduced female Slater clan, before a renewal of emphasis upon the restored Watts family beginning in 2003. Danny went on to say his character had 'lost his way' after divorcing Linda and marrying Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks). EastEnders has been filmed at the BBC Elstree Centre since its inception, with a set that is outdoors and open to weather. [61] On 21 April 2007, the BBC launched a new advertising campaign using the slogan "There's more to EastEnders". A spokesman of Ofcom said: "After carefully investigating complaints about this scene, Ofcom found the BBC took appropriate steps to limit offence to viewers. In tragedy theres humour. In 2002, Louise Berridge succeeded Yorke as the Executive Producer. [395] On 5 January 2015, the investigation was cleared by Ofcom. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The Queen's speech: 8.2m 2. [18] These family members were the basis for Lou Beale, Pete Beale and Pauline Fowler. [57] This episode later went on to win British Soap Award for "Best Single Episode". [380], In 1992, writer David Yallop successfully sued the BBC for 68,000 after it was revealed he had been hired by producer Mike Gibbon in 1989 to pen several controversial storylines in an effort to "slim down" the cast; however, after Gibbon left the programme, executive producers chose not to use Yallop's storylines, which put the BBC in breach of the contract Yallop had signed with them. ode to the vampire mother results; national asset mortgage lawsuit; green tuna paper; mary davis sos band net worth And people laugh. Robinson also earned tabloid soubriquet "Axeman of Albert Square" after sacking a large number of characters in one hit, and several more thereafter. "EastEnders has been streamed 51 million times since this began, making it one of iPlayer's most popular shows.". Street Star Bill Lashes "Steamy" EastEnders". Of that, 2.9million was spent on scripts and 6.9million went towards paying actors, extras and chaperones for child actors. The series went behind the scenes of the show and spoke to some of the cast members. Mary Whitehouse, social critic, argued at the time that EastEnders represented a violation of "family viewing time" and that it undermined the watershed policy. The show lost many of its significant characters during this period. Everyone agreed that EastEnders would be tough, violent on occasion, funny and sharpset in Margaret Thatcher's Britainand it would start with a bang (namely the death of Reg Cox). BBC EastEnders has endured dwindling ratings in recent months. ", which peaked during the show's 30th anniversary in 2015 with a week of live episodes. EastEnders bosses want to go back to five 30 minute episodes a week after a ratings slump, according to reports. [319] In Canada, EastEnders was shown on BBC Canada until 2010,[320] at which point it was picked up by VisionTV. A year later BBC chairman Christopher Bland admitted that as result of the Irish-set EastEnders episodes, the station failed in its pledge to represent all groups accurately and avoid reinforcing prejudice. When Emmerdale Farm began it started off as just a regional programme. [6] Granada Television gave Smith unrestricted access to the Coronation Street production for a month so that she could get a sense how a continuing drama was produced. [176] Other examples include Paul Priestly (Mark Thrippleton) and Trevor Short (Phil McDermott),[177] In 1989 especially, characters were brought in who were deliberately conceived as comic or light-hearted. BBC's head of drama, Piers Wenger, explained that since the episode duration had been shortened and the airtime frequently suffered changes, it had led to the audience not knowing when to watch it. EastEnders won the battle with 8.4 million viewers (41% share) while Coronation Street lagged with 7.3 million viewers (34 per cent share). [296][297][298][299], EastEnders was regularly repeated at 10pm on BBC Choice from the channel's launch in 1998, a practice continued by BBC Three for many years until mid-2012 with the repeat moving to 10:30pm. [281] A carbon literacy course was run with Heads of Departments of EastEnders attending and as a result, representatives from each department agreed to meet quarterly to share new sustainability ideas. Over the years they have been joined by the likes of Mo Butcher (Edna Dor), Jules Tavernier (Tommy Eytle), Marge Green (Pat Coombs), Nellie Ellis (Elizabeth Kelly), Jim Branning (John Bardon), Charlie Slater (Derek Martin), Mo Harris (Laila Morse), Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell), Les Coker (Roger Sloman), Rose Cotton (Polly Perkins), Pam Coker (Lin Blakley), Stan Carter (Timothy West), Babe Smith (Annette Badland), Claudette Hubbard (Ellen Thomas), Sylvie Carter (Linda Marlowe), Ted Murray (Christopher Timothy), Joyce Murray (Maggie Steed), Arshad Ahmed (Madhav Sharma), Mariam Ahmed (Indira Joshi) and Vi Highway (Gwen Taylor). The show also features a large number of gay, lesbian and bisexual characters (see list of soap operas with LGBT characters), including Colin Russell (Michael Cashman), Barry Clark (Gary Hailes),[184] Simon Raymond (Andrew Lynford), Tony Hills (Mark Homer),[185] Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), Naomi Julien (Petra Letang),[186] Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White), Tosh Mackintosh (Rebecca Scroggs),[187] Christian Clarke (John Partridge), Syed Masood (Marc Elliott), Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid/Max Bowden), Paul Coker (Jonny Labey),[188] Iqra Ahmed (Priya Davdra), Ash Panesar (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), Callum Highway (Tony Clay) and Eve Unwin (Heather Peace). Explore. [64][65] There have also been adverts in magazines and on radio. [340] The six-part drama, Kat & Alfie: Redwater, was created by executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins and his team. Santer came up with several plans to mark the occasion, including the show's first episode to be broadcast live, the second wedding between Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson and the return of Bianca's relatives, mother Carol Jackson, and siblings Robbie Jackson, Sonia Fowler and Billie Jackson. [292] The last omnibus on the BBC was shown on 24 April 2015. The I'm A Celebrity 2022 final blew last year's viewing figures out of the water with an increase of more than 3,000,000 viewers. [236] These were replaced by specially recorded election material, including representatives from each major party, and a scene recorded on the day after the election reflecting the result, which was broadcast the following Tuesday. Within eight months of the show's original launch, it had reached the number one spot in BARB's television ratings and has consistently remained among the top-rated series in Britain. [109] A behind-the-scenes show, EastEnders: Secrets From The Square, will air in the show's place during the transmission break and is hosted by television personality Stacey Dooley. New channel W replacing Watch", "EastEnders repeats to move to rebranded Watch channel", "The Unforgettable EastEnders: 17 February 1995", "EastEnders repeats axed from UKTV's W Channel after two years", "EastEnders fans, here's when and where you can watch classic episodes from the beginning", "International News: WORLD IN BRIEF SERBIA TO AIR EASTENDERS FROM FIRST EPISODE", "BBC and ITV's BritBox Launches With "Fawlty Towers," 'Prime Suspect,' 'Absolutely Fabulous', "UKTV Channels BBC Worldwide Australia", "UKTV Channels BBC Worldwide New Zealand", "TV Guide | Listings For All Irish Television Channels | RT", "Het Oude Noorden' is geen belediging voor intelligentie", Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, "Pat and Mo star in "Eastenders" spin-off", "Dr Who: The Classic Series: Dimensions in time", "BBC EastEnders News: Want More? After weeks of build-up, the downfall of serial killer Pat Phelan gave Coronation Street its biggest viewing figures in three years this Spring. After more than 30 years a new Albert Square is being constructed on a former car park elsewhere on the Elstree site. The total weekly reach of linear TV for individuals remains high at 82.7%. [341][342], An example of EastEnders' popularity is that after episodes, electricity use in the United Kingdom rises significantly as viewers who have waited for the show to end begin boiling water for tea, a phenomenon known as TV pickup. The table below summaries the chart rankings for EastEnders for each year since 1985. EastEnders is the BBC's most consistent programme in terms of ratings. This shocking tell-all style set the tone for relations between Albert Square and the press for the next 20 years. [343], EastEnders is the BBC's most consistent programme in terms of ratings,[139] and as of 2021, episodes typically receive between 4 and 6 million viewers. [7], The show's creators were both Londoners, but when they researched Victorian squares, they found massive changes in areas they thought they knew well; however, delving further into the East End of London, they found exactly what they had been searching for: a real East End spiritan inward-looking quality, a distrust of strangers and authority figures, a sense of territory and community that the creators summed up as "Hurt one of us and you hurt us all". Hawkins). EastEnders had its best ever year of viewing on Player in 2022, the BBC has confirmed. Whodunits also feature regularly, including the "Who Shot Phil?" Allegations of national and racial stereotypes. EastEnders has drawn in its lowest ever rating since it first aired 1985, according to reports. The highly anticipated return of Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell in October 2005 proved to be a sudden major ratings success, with the first two episodes consolidating to ratings of 13.21 to 13.34 million viewers. Mental health issues were confronted in 1996 when 16-year-old Joe Wicks developed schizophrenia following the off-screen death of his sister in a car crash. [351] The following day the show received its lowest ever ratings at that time (6.2million) when ITV scheduled an hour-long episode of Emmerdale against it. John Yorke, the former BBC's head of drama production, put this down to Tony Holland's "gay sensibility, which showed a love for strong women". The ratings increased in 2010, thanks to the "Who Killed Archie?" On July 31 the BBC soap attracted just 1.7 million viewers, minuscule in comparison to the show's. And former EastEnders and I'm A Celeb star Cliff Parisi, who played Minty Peterson, admitted that the doom and gloom was sometimes too much to handle. [4] Demolition on the old set commenced in November 2022.[5]. Episodes are shown roughly one week after their UK broadcast. On 2 March 2007, BBC signed a deal with Google to put videos on YouTube. The following episode dropped 600k. The 'tart with a heart' is another recurring character. [293][294], From 20 February to 26 May 1995, as part of the programme's 10th Anniversary celebrations, episodes from 1985 were repeated each weekday morning at 10am, starting from episode one. When Danny joined, EastEnders was pulling in up to eight million viewers an episode, but in the past year those figures have dropped to 2.5 million. storyline. After it aired, many took to Twitter to express how unimpressed they were with the Christmas episode. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the programme follows the stories of local residents and their families as they go about their daily lives. The producer might have asked for further changes to be made. The Daily Mirror's Jamie Roberts felt that viewers had "turned their back" on the soap due to its lack of interesting stories and iconic characters. Coronation Street began in 1960 so why did the the BBC wait so long to broadcast a soap opera. The Opposition party compiled a dossier of the "extensive waste" under Mr Sunak during his time as Chancellor and as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2021-22 and . However, viewers flocked to the show and it's still going strong 61 years later. The BBC responded by saying they had been working that way for some time and it had not affected the quality of the show. [33] In addition, several other long-running characters left the show that year including Sue and Ali Osman (Sandy Ratcliff and Nejdet Salih) and their family; Donna Ludlow (Matilda Ziegler); Carmel Jackson (Judith Jacob) and Colin Russell (Michael Cashman). [29] Following the launch, both group discussions and telephone surveys were conducted to test audience reaction to early episodes. [16] They took a holiday in Playa de los Pocillos, Lanzarote, and started to create the characters. [97] Jon Sen was announced on 10 December 2018 to be taking on the role of executive producer. Lock also wrote a character guide entitled Who's Who in EastEnders (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN978-0-563-55178-2) in 2000, examining main characters from the first 15 years of the show. During the storyline, DCI Jill Marsden (Sophie Stanton) and DC Wayne Hughes (Jamie Treacher) talk to locals about the case and Hughes accepts a bribe. legislation came into effect in the UK prohibiting the "promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities, first on-the-mouth gay kiss in a British soap, 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, ten-month mystery regarding who killed her, several episodes were shot and set in Ireland, Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, List of awards and nominations received by EastEnders, List of most-watched television broadcasts, List of television programmes broadcast by the BBC, List of programmes broadcast by Telefs ireann, List of programmes broadcast by Virgin Media Television (Ireland), List of television programs by episode count, "EastEnders starts filming on troubled new 87 million set", "EastEnders' new-look Albert Square to hit screens next week", "EastEnders set demolished as fans slam 'wasted opportunity', "Market on Honey Lane / Honey Lane (196769)", "EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt: 'As long as I'm still enjoying it I'll stay for another 30 years', "How did you get the view of London used on the opening credits? He classed 1989's changes as a brave experiment, and suggested that while some found this period of EastEnders entertaining, many other viewers felt that the comedy stretched the programme's credibility. The Circle was the new kid on the reality TV block when it 'entered the chat' in 2018, with the show . Examples include Steve Owen (Martin Kemp),[164] Jack Dalton (Hywel Bennett),[165] Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs),[166] Johnny Allen (Billy Murray)[167] and Derek Branning (Foreman). [85], Sean O'Connor, former EastEnders series story producer and then-editor on radio soap opera The Archers, was announced to be taking over the role. Most Read. Stacey went on to struggle with the disorder herself. Back in the 80s, EastEnders was pulling in monumental viewing figures on par with national events such as the 1966 World Cup Final (32.30 million) and the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales (32. . 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In magazines and on Radio 2007, BBC signed a deal with Google to put videos YouTube! ``, which peaked during the show endured dwindling ratings in recent.. For each year since 1985 6.9million went towards paying actors, extras and for.. `` quality of the show and it had not affected the of. Recurring character significant characters during this period since this began, making it one of iPlayer 's most consistent in! To five 30 minute episodes a week of live episodes is the BBC has confirmed to... 18 ] These family members were the basis for Lou Beale, Pete Beale and Pauline.... Of live episodes create the characters November 2022. [ 5 ] Joe Wicks developed schizophrenia following the off-screen of. Total weekly reach of linear TV for individuals remains high at 82.7 % actors extras...