The iconic British soap opera, EastEnders, first graced television screens on 19 February 1985. Garnering an impressive audience of 17 million people, the debut episode captured public attention as the second most-watched program on the BBC that week, trailing only behind The Two Ronnies. Initially, the show was conceived to reflect a real street in Hackney, London, but creators Julia Smith and Tony Holland ultimately established the fictional setting of Walford. The dynamic duo developed an extensive framework for the show, crafting 23 character biographies, three years' worth of storyline overviews, and 20 detailed story breakdowns during a productive session in Lanzarote.
The opening episode of EastEnders set the stage with dramatic intensity. It began with a forceful entrance made by Den Watts breaking down a door to discover the nearly lifeless body of Reg Cox. The tension escalated and concluded with a climactic moment when Nick Cotton, suspect number one in the attack, shattered the glass of the Queen Vic's doors with his fist. Among the notable character pairings, Angie and Den Watts emerged as a fan favorite, particularly highlighted by the Christmas Day 1986 episode, in which Den served Angie divorce papers. This episode remains unparalleled in UK television history as the only scripted program to have attracted more than 30 million viewers.
Despite its eventual success, EastEnders faced initial skepticism from critics and audiences alike. A Sunday People poll revealed that 56% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the first episode. The show's creators had deliberated on various locations for their new soap opera, considering cities such as Manchester, London, and Birmingham before settling on the East End of London as their backdrop. The creators' meticulous planning was evident in early storylines, including a blockbuster plot in which Michelle Fowler became pregnant by an unknown man, later revealed to be none other than Den Watts.
The show's distinctive theme tune, composed by Simon May, became an integral part of EastEnders' identity. May's knack for creating memorable music led him to produce several EastEnders-related singles for cast members Anita Dobson and Nick Berry.
"In those days, if a theme tune was popular, you'd often release it as a single. So I would make longer versions of the themes to allow for that," – Simon May
The iconic drumbeat known as the "doof doofs" was a last-minute addition to the theme.
"The longer version gets a bit more Cockney, so I asked the drummer to play something to transition into the end theme. He played those 'doof doofs' and Tony and Julia happened to be in the studio at the time." – Simon May
Initially met with mixed reviews, EastEnders faced stiff competition from rival shows like Emmerdale Farm.
"We were going out at the same time as Emmerdale Farm at 7pm. It felt like Emmerdale Farm gave us an absolute kicking in the ratings until they shifted us to half past seven." – Adam Woodyat
Casting choices also played a pivotal role in shaping EastEnders' success. Anita Dobson's casting as Angie Watts occurred at the eleventh hour, adding an element of unpredictability to the show's production process. Derek Martin recounted his experience working alongside Leslie Grantham.
"Leslie got it, and he was very good, he was the ladies' man, and I was more the hard man," – Derek Martin
Despite early skepticism, television critic Hugh Hebert offered a tempered perspective on EastEnders' potential.
"probably take a year before anyone knows whether the BBC has got it right" – Hugh Hebert
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