"EastEnders" (1985) TV series 1985-????

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Directors:

Indra Bhose
Dermot Boyd

Writers:

Colin Brake (writer)
Andrew Collins (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

19 February 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The everyday lives of the inhabitants of Albert Square in the East-End of London.

Plot Keywords:

East End | Famous Opening Theme | Social Realism | Working Class | Soap Opera

Awards:

112 wins & 136 nominations

Cast

Steve McFadden	...	Phil (1,823 episodes, 1990-2009)
Adam Woodyatt	...	Ian / ... (1,792 episodes, 1985-2009)
Pam St. Clement	...	Pat / ... (1,544 episodes, 1986-2009)
Wendy Richard	...	Pauline / ... (1,405 episodes, 1985-2006)
Barbara Windsor	...	Peggy (1,324 episodes, 1994-2009)
June Brown	...	Dot / ... (1,261 episodes, 1985-2009)
Todd Carty	...	Mark (986 episodes, 1990-2003)
Ross Kemp	...	Grant (971 episodes, 1990-2006)
Sid Owen	...	Ricky (954 episodes, 1990-2009)
Letitia Dean	...	Sharon / ... (928 episodes, 1985-2006)
Natalie Cassidy	...	Sonia (881 episodes, 1993-2007)
Perry Fenwick	...	Billy (846 episodes, 1998-2009)
John Bardon	...	Jim (777 episodes, 1996-2008)
Gillian Taylforth	...	Kathy / ... (745 episodes, 1985-2000)

Also Known As:

"East 8" (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (1985-1991) | Stereo (1991-)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Albert Square was reputedly based on the architecture in Fasset Square in Hackney, London E8 (just off Graham Road).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Phil and Grant are in the woods with Danny, the camera's shadow is visible several times.

Quotes:

Frank Butcher: What do ya take me for? Some kind of ice cream?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Room 101: (#11.3)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Theme

The anti-Dallas

After almost 20 years, 'Eastenders' is still going strong. It suffers from most of the faults of traditional soap operas: bad acting, inevitably over-hyped plots (especially as the weekly frequency has risen from 2 to 4 episodes overs it's lifetime), moments of dullness and daftness. But there's a mordant humour, and a detailed attention to its own history, that saves it. In places, it's very black for a piece of popular entertainment. 'Eastenders' might not be the best thing on television, but it's grim addictiveness keeps it on the schedules.. And every so often (Pauline hitting Arthur with the frying pan, Roy telling Pat he never liked her earrings), it strikes a grade of gold that can only be hit after years of digging. The best of a limited genre.