A SOAP IS BORN
EastEnders began 30 years ago this week – though at the time some critics thought the BBC had lost the plot
northern viewers would not take to events in the fi ctional London borough of Walford.
Then there were rows over the title, which could have been East 8 to signify the postcode, or London Pride.
The launch of EastEnders on February 19 at least solved the mystery of why the BBC had spent a big chunk of licence payers’ money buying Elstree Studios, where it is still fi lmed.
A lavish set was built and a cast of 24 actors assembled. Wendy Richard, who had played the glamorous Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served?, was probably the best known.
The Beale and Fowler families were the mainstays and a Turkish- Cypriot café owner and a black father and son refl ected the real, multicultural East End.
Julia Smith, who had worked on Z- Cars, was the producer, and right down to the breezy theme tune the mantra was that EastEnders must offer something different to Coronation Street.
Shortly before the launch Jean Fennell, who was originally cast as landlady Angie Watts, was told she was being axed and unknown actress Anita Dobson took her place. There had reportedly been clashes between Fennell ( who died of lung cancer four years ago) and the producer.
The programme aired twice weekly but despite the impressive debut audience it initially struggled to gain momentum and viewing fi gures dwindled to seven million.
“At fi rst EastEnders was up against Emmerdale Farm, which was well established,” explains Stacey. “It really took off when it was moved to a slot half an hour later.”
The soap achieved the unthinkable eight months after launch when it toppled Coronation Street from the top of the ratings. EastEnders eventually became essential viewing for up to half the nation’s population.
More than 30 million people tuned in on Christmas Day 1986 to watch “Dirty” Den Watts serve divorce papers on his cheating wife, Angie. That remains the record audience for a TV soap.
The apparent assassination of Watts was another ratings winner and when they dipped he was simply revived. The arrival of new characters such as the Mitchell brothers kept the show fresh.
With no- holds- barred storylines, including rape and child abuse, EastEnders holds the dubious honour of being the most complained about programme on the BBC. Mary Whitehouse described it as “a
MARKING THE MILESTONE
THE BBC is clearing the schedules for a week of shows for EastEnders’ 30th birthday.
The culmination is a live programme, on Friday, by which time millions of viewers will know who bumped off Lucy Beale.
The ten- month murder mystery will fi nally unravel in an additional 35- minute fl ashback episode on Thursday, at 9.25pm. Cast violation of family viewing time”.
Today audiences hover around the seven million mark and the BBC hopes the anniversary will provide a shot in the arm.
Daily Express TV critic Matt Baylis worked on the show in the 1990s, when he was responsible for plots. He says: “It’s always been realistic and that very fi rst episode also contained a storyline about racism. The magic formula of EastEnders is its mix of grittiness and tenderness.”
It’s a recipe that has stood the programme in good stead for more than 5,000 episodes.
The Queen Vic and other buildings on the set are to get a makeover. Otherwise, the occasional murder apart, life in the Square will go on as usual.
Baylis adds: “Thirty years on EastEnders is undoubtedly the BBC’s fl agship show. It’s well written, well produced and well acted. I think it is going to be around for a long time.” members have been sworn to secrecy to stop the solution to the whodunit from leaking out, and only a handful of scripts are circulating.
However, there will be a scene in which a door is kicked in to deliberately mirror the action from the very fi rst episode.
Several old faces will also return to Albert Square, including Peggy Mitchell ( Barbara Windsor).