EastEnders

13 million viewers watched the first episode of EastEnders, broadcast on 19th February 1985. It began with a bang as, Arthur Fowler, Ali Osman and Den Watts forced their way into Reg Cox's flat and found Reg near death. Several weeks later Nick Cotton was revealed as Reg's murderer. "Poor old Reg" was written by Gerry Huxham.

EastEnders was created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland as a soap opera to rival Coronation Street and draw big audiences to BBC One. Set in the fictional Borough of Walford, E20, it dramatised the lives of working class east end Londoners. Introducing the soap in the Radio Times Tony Holland wrote that "gossip, intrigue and scandal are high on the list of daily events".

Clever casting was important to EastEnders success. Many faces were unfamiliar, but the inclusion of Wendy Richard - famous as the glamorous Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? - playing against type as dowdy cardigan clad Pauline Fowler, was an imaginative move. This strategy continued with Barbara Windsor joining the cast.

EastEnders was broadcast at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with an omnibus on Sunday.

The first character to be seen was Den Watts, followed by Ali Osman and then Arthur Fowler, all of whom find Reg Cox dying in his flat. Ethel Skinner, Harold Legg and Pauline Fowler appear, after Den alerts them of Reg's death. With Ethel is her pug Willy along with Lou Beale.

As from September 2021, medium-sized characters on popular British TV shows like EastEnders might earn anywhere from £30,000 to £60,000 per year. However, it's important to note that these figures can change over time and may be subject to negotiation.

Two hours are made every week, plus extra episodes for the Christmas and New Year period. It is a complex operation and there can be up to three multi-camera film crews recording at any one time, across six studio floors, on the Albert Square lot or on location.

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