When did EastEnders first air on BBC One?
EastEnders first broadcast on BBC One at 7 p.m. on the 19th of February 1985. The first episode attracted 17 million viewers.
Questions about EastEnders
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who created EastEnders?
EastEnders was created by producer Julia Smith and script editor Tony Holland. They were approached by David Reid, then head of series and serials at the BBC, in March 1983 and given roughly 11 months to write, cast and shoot the show.
What is the most-watched EastEnders episode ever?
The most-watched EastEnders episode is the 1986 Christmas Day episode, which was seen by more than 30 million viewers. It holds the number one spot in the all-time list of most-watched programmes in the UK.
Where is EastEnders filmed?
EastEnders has been filmed at the BBC Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire since the show began. The original exterior set was built in 1984 at a cost of £750,000. A new set costing approximately £86.7 million began filming in January 2022 and was first seen on-screen in March 2022.
What was the first same-sex kiss on a British soap opera?
EastEnders featured the first same-sex kiss on a British soap in 1987, when Colin Russell, played by Michael Cashman, kissed his boyfriend Barry Clark, played by Gary Hailes, on the forehead. In January 1989, the same character shared the first on-the-mouth gay kiss in a British soap, watched by 17 million people.
What is the fictional setting of EastEnders?
EastEnders is set in the fictional London Borough of Walford, centred on Albert Square. The name Walford blends Walthamstow and Stratford, the areas where the show's creators were born. The square's design was based on Fassett Square in Dalston, and the fictional postcode E20 was chosen over the real East London postcode E8.