Research suggested that people found the characters true to life, the plots believable and, importantly in the face of criticism of the content, people watched as a family and regarded it as viewing for all the family. 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). In 2006, EastEnders became largely dominated by the Mitchell, Masood and Branning families, though the early 2010s also saw a renewed focus on the Moon and Slater family, and, from 2013 onwards, the Carters. The BBC responded by stating: "EastEnders has been a pre-watershed BBC One staple for over 37 years and has a rich history of dealing with challenging and difficult issues and Ben's story is one of these. These included the wedding of Michelle Fowler and Lofty Holloway, the revelation of the father of Michelle's baby, a two-hander between Dot Cotton and Ethel Skinner and the 1986 Christmas episode featuring Den Watts presenting Angie Watts with divorce papers. "[219] The BBC announced that they would rebuild the EastEnders set[220] to secure the long-term future of the show, with completion expected to be in 2018. [386] In September 2008, EastEnders began a grooming and paedophilia storyline involving characters Tony King (Chris Coghill), Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), Lauren Branning (Madeline Duggan) and Peter Beale (Thomas Law). All you need to know about Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright in real life", "EastEnders viewers beg for Martin and Stacey to reconcile as she returns to screens", "EastEnders: 7 reasons the Taylor family went from hated to loved", "EastEnders' Panesar family look unrecognisable in an epic behind-the-scenes snap", "EastEnders spoilers: Beloved resident returns as former star drops huge hint? Mick went missing after jumping in the river to save Linda from. Today all UK audience figures are based on readings from meters fixed to a sample set of televisions across the country and the information they collate being published to show a television chart ranking. [352] Under new producers, EastEnders and Emmerdale continued to clash at times, and Emmerdale tended to come out on top, giving EastEnders lower than average ratings. Many other cast members only found out at the same time as the public, when the episode was broadcast. The poor ratings motivated the press into reporting viewers were bored with implausible and ill-thought-out storylines. We have a very wide range of content - there's a strong 80s focus with trivia on EastEnders and Grange Hill, but you can also find articles on popular contemporary TV programmes such as Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. [272], Since 2010, EastEnders no longer uses tapes in the recording or editing process. In January 2021 veteran EastEnder Adam Woodyatt took an extended break to tour in the play Looking Good Dead, in which he starred alongside former on-screen wife Laurie Brett. [37] Ferguson introduced other characters and was responsible for storylines including HIV, Alzheimer's disease and murder. [22] When all the characters had been created, Smith and Holland set about casting the actors, which also involved the input of lead director Matthew Robinson, who supervised auditions with the other directors at the outset, Vivienne Cozens and Peter Edwards. 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. [220], In May 2016 the rebuild was delayed until 2020 and forecast to cost in excess of 15million,[221] although the main part of the set is scheduled to be able to start filming in May 2019. But data has shown that Walford's woes outdo those on the Corrie cobbles. It should be noted that before the establishment of BARB, not only did BBC and ITV collect audience data separately but they collected and collated it using different methods. Most of the buildings on Albert Square have no interior filming space, with a few exceptions, and most do not have rears or gardens. The lowest estimate we received was 7.2 million. 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). When Emmerdale Farm began it started off as just a regional programme. The railway bridge is based upon one near BBC Television Centre which carries the Hammersmith & City line over Wood Lane W12, and the Queen Vic on the former College Park Hotel pub in Willesden at the end of Scrubs Lane at the junction with Harrow Road NW10 just a couple of miles from BBC Television Centre. Brake indicated that the production team decided that 1989 was to be a year of change in Walford, commenting, "it was almost as if Walford itself was making a fresh start". On one occasion following a scene in an episode broadcast in October 2002, where Phil brutally beat his godson, Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder), 31 complaints came from viewers. [202] The issue of illiteracy was highlighted by the characters of middle-aged Keith (David Spinx) and his young son Darren (Charlie G. Now the viewing figures are in, and it seems that Doctor Who didn't do too badly at all.. On the actual night, 3.71 million viewers tuned in to see the Doctor fighting against the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Master; as well as a number of other treats, not least the return . The soap won the award for Best Continuing Drama at the 2019 British Academy Television Awards; its first high-profile award since 2016; however, in June 2019, EastEnders suffered its lowest ever ratings of 2.4million due to its airing at 7pm because of the BBC's coverage of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. [383] A suicide was also planned, but the character this storyline was assigned to was not revealed. Stacey went on to struggle with the disorder herself. [263] In January 2013, on-location filming at Grahame Park in Colindale, north London, was interrupted by at least seven youths who threw a firework at the set and threatened to cut members of the crew. In the United Kingdom, viewing figures - the number of viewers or households watching a television programme - have been recorded by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) since 1981. [1] EastEnders has been important in the history of British television drama, tackling many subjects that are considered to be controversial or taboo in British culture, and portraying a social life previously unseen on UK mainstream television. When they compared the characters they had created, Smith and Holland realised they had created a cross-section of East End residents. "[93] Yorke initially returned for three months but his contract was later extended. 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. As what Mal Young described as "two of EastEnders' most successful years", Yorke was responsible for highly rated storylines such as "Who Shot Phil? [113], On 9 April 2021, following the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the episode of EastEnders that was due to be aired that night was postponed along with the final of Masterchef. Take viewing figures for 14-20 March. [116], On 12 October 2021, it was announced that EastEnders would partake in a special week-long crossover event involving multiple British soaps to promote the topic of climate change ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. [349] The highest rated episode of EastEnders is the Christmas Day 1986 episode, which attracted a combined 30.15million viewers who tuned into either the original transmission or the omnibus to see Den Watts hand over divorce papers to his wife Angie. [230] Episodes are produced in "quartets" of four episodes, each of which starts filming on a Tuesday and takes nine days to record. This year's Rugby League World Cup is officially the most-watched tournament in rugby league history. [317], EastEnders is shown on BBC Entertainment (formerly BBC Prime) in Europe and in Africa, where it is approximately six episodes behind the UK. All you need to know about Leo's dad and Whitney's abuser", "Sets too shabby for latest TVs force EastEnders out of town", "High-definition television forces BBC to fix sets", "EastEnders announces plans to build new exterior set at Elstree", "BBC's new EastEnders set delayed until 2020", "EastEnders' new and improved set won't be ready until 2020", "BBC's new EastEnders set over budget by 27m, watchdog finds", "EastEnders filming will begin again next month but with major changes for cast", "EastEnders starts filming on troubled new 87m Albert Square sets", "Revamped "Top of the Pops" returns to old home after a decade in exile", "Let it snow airports and schools closed", "EXCLUSIVE: "EastEnders" to reference election result", "EastEnders film last-minute scene to mark Michael Jackson's death for Friday's episode", "Exclusive: "EastEnders" to reference spending review", "EastEnders to reference Andy Murray Wimbledon victory", "The BBC's management of the costs of producing continuing drama", EastEnders Vixens: The Rise and Fall of Stella, "Streaker storms EastEnders film set in St Albans", "Pics: Ronnie shops for a wedding dress in 'Enders? His mother, Ethel Holland, was one of four sisters raised in Walthamstow. Kyle Slater (Riley Carter Millington), a transgender character, was introduced in 2015. This theme encompasses the whole Square, making the entire community a family of sorts, prey to upsets and conflict, but pulling together in times of trouble. He said: Life is tough in the East End. ", "EastEnders Dot Cotton filming in Thorpe Bay", "EastEnders stunt actor smashes head while filming Ryan Malloy horror fall", "Live ep for "EastEnders" 25th anniversary", "EastEnders: The Olympic flame comes to Walford! She commented, "I don't want to be disloyal, but I think you need a few mature people in a soap because they give it backbone and body if all the main people are young it gets a bit thin and inexperienced. EastEnders Christmas Day special is reported to have only pulled in pulled in 2.9 million viewers, which was less than Emmerdale and Coronation Street. The shows lost its sense of humour. Episodes airing on Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 (which featured an hour long episode and a second episode) all featured at least one live insert. The BBC1 soap is in crisis after drawing the lowest ever viewing figures in its history, scraping in with just 1.7 million viewers on July 31. [166] Another recurring male character seen in EastEnders is the "loser" or "soft touch", males often comically under the thumb of their female counterparts, which have included Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher),[148] Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen),[168] Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves),[169] Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt)[170] and Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick).[171]. Corrie meanwhile had an average of 7.6 million viewers that year but by last year. [28] Anticipation and rumour grew in equal measure until the first transmission at 7p.m. on 19 February 1985. 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