EastEnders

1 9 8 5 - Current (UK)
millions x 30 minute episodes

At the start of 1984 a patch of land at the back of the BBCs newly acquired Elstree studios lay dormant and derelict. It had last been used six months earlier by the previous owners, Central, for their hit series Auf Weidersehen Pet.  

Just over a year later, that wasteland had been transformed into the bustling Albert Square in the imaginary London borough of Walford (with the non-existent postcode of London E20) and the BBCs long-denied dream of a twice-weekly serial to battle Coronation Street had become reality, in the shape of EastEnders. In another 8 months it would be the most popular television show in Britain, and eventually the BBCs most successful program ever. 

The first episode of EastEnders, in which Reg Cox was found dead, was watched by over 17 million people.  Three days later, the story broke that Leslie Grantham was a convicted murderer, and the love-hate relationship between EastEnders and Fleet Street began.

Britain's tabloids were soon obsessed with the show. This hysteria blew the programs importance out of all proportion, but it did wonders for the ratings. On 24 October, three weeks after Michelle told Den he was the father of her baby, East Enders topped the viewing figures for the first time, thereby ousting Coronation Street.

The show continued to go from strength to strength in 1986. Viewing figures constantly topped the 20 million mark. Den's mistress Jan turned up at the Queen Vic, Angie tried to commit suicide, Arthur was arrested and Michelle finally married Lofty. 

Then at Christmas, Angie and Sharon left Den, and deeply depressed Arthur broke up the Fowler household. Those two episodes on Christmas Day attracted audiences of 30 million - the highest ever recorded viewing figures in Britain! The miracle continued through 1987 as the show began to screen in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Norway, Barcelona and  parts of America.

On screen, Arthur went into hospital in January and came home in April, Jan walked out on Den and the Dagmar reopened. Gay Colin's Barry ended the affair. Ethel left the square at the start of 1988, followed a few months later by Lofty and Angie. 

EastEnders has always showed inner London as an unlovely place. It is never cute. And yet the series remains at the top of the ratings over 15 years on . . .  Prisoners at HM Dartmoor staged a riot when  they couldn't see Michelle marry Lofty, couples flooded Marriage Guidance counselors after Den and Angie broke up.  

And the program has even been included on the syllabus for thousands of inner-London school children.