EastEnders

Name: EastEnders
Director: Paulette Randall
Genre: Soap, Crime/detective, Drama, Romance
Released: 1985
Cast: Steve McFadden, Perry Fenwick, Rudolph Walker, Scott Maslen, Diane Parish

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1985

Soap
Crime/detective

Summary

EastEnders was the brainchild of Julia Smith and Tony Holland, and premiered on BBC One in 1985. Storylines centre on people living and working in the fictional London borough of Walford. The series was originally screened as two half-hour episodes per week. Four episodes have been broadcast each week since August 2001. Within eight months of its launch, it reached number one in the ratings and has remained one of the top-rated programmes on British TV ever since. At the height of its popularity, more than 30 million viewers tuned in on Christmas Day 1986 to see Den Watts hand divorce papers to wife Angie. Large families have always been a strong feature of the long-running soap. The first central family was the Beale and Fowler clan consisting of Pauline Fowler, her husband Arthur, and teenage children Mark and Michelle. Pauline's twin brother Pete Beale, his wife Kathy and their son Ian lived nearby. Lou, Pauline and Pete's domineering mother, resided with Pauline. Strong female characters are central to the programme. Such characters have included Angie Watts, Kathy Mitchell, Sharon Rickman, Pat Evans and Peggy Mitchell. Macho male personalities such as Phil and Grant Mitchell have rubbed shoulders with bad boys including Den Watts and Dennis Rickman and handsome figures such as Simon Wicks and Jamie Mitchell. EastEnders has always featured a culturally diverse cast and never shied away from gritty storylines. For its 25th anniversary in February 2010, a live episode was broadcast where Archie Mitchell's killer was revealed. Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt, is currently the only character to have been in the show from the first episode.

Episode 6397: 20/12/2021

Summary

Shirley despairs as Gray reveals the woman he saw on the bus was not Tina. Whitney resolves to find out more about Gray and begs Laura to speak to Chelsea. Phil tells Sharon his private investigation has had no luck finding Jada. A guilty Zack suggests he and Martin should decorate Sharon's house, but his good intentions backfire. Mick and Janine discuss their upcoming event - Best Spouse in the 'Ouse

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There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming

BBC iPlayer

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Credits

Cast

rolenameChelsea FoxZaraah AbrahamsFrankie LewisRose Ayling-EllisHoney MitchellEmma BartonIsaac BaptisteStevie BasaulaMila MarwaRuhtxjiaih BelleneaHarvey MonroeRoss BoatmanJay BrownJamie BorthwickBen MitchellMax BowdenLinda CarterKellie BrightJanine ButcherCharlie BrooksMartin FowlerJames ByeSonia FowlerNatalie CassidyStuart HighwayRicky ChampCallum `Halfway" HighwayTony ClayTom `Rocky" CottonBrian ConleyIqra AhmedPriya DavdraSharon WattsLetitia DeanLiam ButcherAlfie DeeganMick CarterDanny DyerKim FoxTameka EmpsonZack HudsonJames FarrarBilly MitchellPerry FenwickRainie HighwayTanya FranksAsh KaurGurlaine Kaur GarchaMitch BakerRoger GriffithsLola PearceDanielle HaroldShirley CarterLinda HenryNancy CarterMaddy HillPeter BealeDayle HudsonVinny PanesarShiv JalotaSheree TruemanSuzette LlewellynJack BranningScott MaslenPhil MitchellSteve McFaddenWhitney DeanShona McGartyBobby BealeClay Milner RussellKeegan Butcher-BakerZack MorrisBernadette TaylorClair NorrisDenise FoxDiane ParishEve UnwinHeather PeaceDana MonroeBarbara SmithTiffany Butcher-BakerMaisie SmithGray AtkinsToby-Alexander SmithSuki Kaur PanesarBalvinder SopalKaren TaylorLorraine StanleyViolet HighwayGwen TaylorKathy BealeGillian TaylforthStacey SlaterLacey TurnerPatrick TruemanRudolph WalkerKat SlaterJessie WallaceAaron MonroeCharlie WernhamJean SlaterGillian WrightDotty CottonMilly ZeroArthur FowlerHunter BellErnie MoonCody BriffettBert MoonElliot BriffettLexi PearceIsabella BrownAmy MitchellAbbie BurkeScarlett MoonTabitha ByronRicky MitchellFrankie DayOllie CarterHarry FarrBailey BakerKara-Leah FernandesJanet MitchellGraceTommy MoonSonny KendallMackenzie AtkinsIsaac LemoniusMia AtkinsMahalia MalcolmWill MitchellFreddie PhillipsLily SlaterLillia Turner

Crew

rolenameWriterAmy GuylerDirectorMatthew EvansExecutive producerJon Sen

Review

Johnathon Hughes

There’s a break from the norm as EastEnders and Emmerdale both deliver special “‘high-concept” episodes. Yolande and Patrick are rightly bestowed the prestigious gift of an EastEnders two-hander, as she finally admits the truth about her horrific sexual assault. It’s simple, emotional and compelling.

Over in Emmerdale, Tom and Belle throw a dinner party. Viewed from the split perspectives of the guests at the table and the hosts in the kitchen, we see the stark difference between public and private behaviour, as toxic Tom’s subtle coercion of his wife escalates. There’s life in the resilient genre yet.