Albert Square is the iconic location of BBC's EastEnders

EastEnders is one of Britain’s longest running television soap operas set in the grey streets of Albert Square in Walford of East London. It is aired four times a week on BBC One – the UK’s most-watched channel. Creators Tony Holland and Julia Smith use regular everyday people we so often associate with, only to involve them in narratives containing unlikely plots filled with twists that often include family affairs, murders and burglaries, without involving any of the needless day-to-day chores and burdens, such as drinking water, using a toilet and going to sleep.

A wide variety of innovative narratives that relate across many cultures and characters of different age and ethnic backgrounds ensures a broad range of audience, whilst also displaying a realistic replication of London’s diverse communities, including rebellious teenagers, Asian and Caribbean families and the cockney-speaking working class.

The Square is brought together by the local Queen Victoria pub; an iconic location where some of the most important storylines have taken place, including Little Mo Mitchell being raped, Pat Evans’ and Frank Butcher’s affair exposed by Peggy Mitchell, and Phil Mitchell burning the pub down.

EastEnders grabs the problems in today’s society and, in each half-an-hour episode, develops several narratives; frequently ending each episode with a cliff-hanger, relying on the audience’s curiosity to maintain their interest in the following episode. Famous cliff-hangers that left the entire nation guessing include the “who shot Phil?” and “who killed Archie?” storylines, where the plot develops several suspects, leaving the audience to make a judgement on who they believe committed the crime.
Each episode of EastEnders today is still attracting audiences in their millions. Last year, to commemorate the show’s 25th Anniversary, EastEnders aired its first ever live episode, which was watched by over 20 million viewers.

Reaching over 40 million people each week and winner of twenty-four television awards, EastEnders’ continuing popularity maintains it as one of BBC’s flagship television shows.