1. Year 11 AS Media Studies Transition Unit – Zach Goodchild
RESEARCHING INTO...
EASTENDERS
2. Contents
History
Writers and notable directors
Notable actors
Fascinating storylines
Viewing figures
Personal views
Present marketing campaigns
TV spots and trailers
Print Media adverts
Specialist advertising
3. Writers and notable directors
Since first broadcast on 19 February 1985, the long running soap opera of EastEnders is one of the
most popular shows in the UK. To run for so long EastEnders has needed many writers and notable
directors such as:
Julia Smith and Tony Holland – Together these two created EastEnders, hence being an
important part of its history. Julia Smith was the producer and has played two crucial long lasting
changes to EastEnders, one of which was giving it a second capital E, as she thought it looked
better on paper. A second influence she still has on today's show is when a different theme tune
plays for a big episode that is called ‘Julia’s theme’ in memory of her. Screenwriter Tony Holland,
was Julia Smith’s partner in crime. He laid down the foundation for EastEnders with creating
families such as the Beale’s and the Watt’s. After establishing EastEnders to the UK both Smith
and Holland left the job in 1989.
Mike Gibbon – Following the departure of Julia Smith, Mike Gibbon became the new director in
1985. Gibbon will be more remembered for off-screen antics, such as wanting to kill off 10 major
character to boost viewing figures. This eventually caused him to lose the job.
Simon Ashdown – Ashdown has been writing for EastEnders since 1995, and is one of the
unique writers as he makes a character around the actor, rather than the other way around. He
has had a hand in many key storylines such as a Christmas storyline of ‘Max and Stacey’s affair’.
Diederick Santer – Santer took the post of director in 2006 and left it recently in early 2010. He
brought controversial issues to grip the viewers such as ethnic minorities and homosexuality. He
thought this made the show feel ‘more 21st century’. Also Santer was behind the shows’ first live
episode, in which the conclusion to the ‘Who killed Archie’ saga was concluded.
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4. Notable Actors
EastEnders have had many memorable actors, which most people in the UK would recognise. So naming all notable
actors would not be possible, however here are the top five people who have had ‘duff duff’ moments as the end of
the show.
5 – Pauline Fowler (122 duff duffs) was played by the late actress Wendy Richard between the long period of
1985-2006. Pauline Fowler was one of the original characters created and there is only original actor that has
lasted longer than her. Most of the stories surrounding Pauline were to do with her large family, and long
marriage with on screen husband Arthur Fowler.
4 – Grant Mitchell (131 duff duffs) was played by well-known actor Ross Kemp and kept up a solid role for 9
years, although has not been killed off so appears every now and again still. He was famous for being the
leather jacket wearing, bald headed brother of Phil Mitchell. Together the got into all sorts of trouble.
3 – Sharon Watts (138 duff duffs) was played by actress Letitia Dean and onscreen has had three surnames,
Watts being her well known one. Sharon made her first appearance in the 80’s in the most recent one in 2006.
Like Grant her character is still alive. She was the adopted daughter of extremely well known couple ‘Den and
Angie’.
2 – Ian Beale (141 duff duffs) is played by the actor Adam Woodyatt and has appeared on the show since it
was created, making him the longest running actor doing over 2000 episodes and counting! Ian now lives in
Pauline Fowler’s old house with his family. Ian is known for being a family man, yet with many weaknesses
causing big storylines.
1 – Phil Mitchell (206 duff duffs) is played by the actor Steve Mcfadden and has had this role since 1990 with a
small break in 2003-05. The fact he has got to the top of the leader board proves how many big roles Phil
Mitchell has had. One of his big storylines was the portrayal of him being an alcoholic, and also was shot
which caused a ‘who shot Phil’ scenario across the nation.
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5. Fascinating storylines
Like its actors, EastEnders has had so many storylines that have gripped the nation it is not
possible to name them all, so here are 5 which I feel are memorable:
1 – Angies Illness (1986) was a unique storyline for the amazing record it set. When the
story culminated on Christmas day it pulled in a whopping audience of 30.1 million! In a
bid to keep Den from finding another woman, Angie came up with the lie that she had a
terminal illness. When Den found this out he filed for divorce, which was the episode
which pulled in so many viewers.
2 – Mark’s HIV (1990-1992) storyline was very controversial at the time, helping the
nations views towards HIV. At the time the character of Mark Fowler came out with
having HIV the nations views were uneducated towards HIV, but the show helped in
educating. Mark’s farther did not accept it which made it even more interesting.
3 – Sharongate (1992-1994) was a love triangle played between Phil, Grant and Sharon
who were all mentioned as notable actors, this shows the storyline would have been
special. While married to Grant, Sharon slept with Phil. The episode in which Grant
confronted the pair is known as one of the best ever.
4 – Who shot Phil (2001) was an extra special storyline as everyone was talking about
who shot Phil in the real world. It almost became a game of national cluedo, the
conclusion eventually drawing in millions.
5 – Archie whodunnit (2009-2010) will be remembered as the conclusion to the story
was the first ever EastEnders live episode. The story of Who killed Archie actually made
the news, which shows how big it was at the time.
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6. Viewing Figures
Viewings could not get much better for EastEnders, as it is the
most watched soap. As previously mentioned, the most
viewed episode ever was watched by 30.1 million people!
The success is said to be down to its believable plots and
great characters, and is regarded as family viewing which is
very important. Although, it hasn’t all been good. In 2004
ratings stooped to the lowest ever of 6.2 million. Despite
this tough time after a change of staff and a bit of a reform
EastEnders had gradually pulled itself back mass viewing by
2008. Internet has helped EastEnders popularity as
thousands of people actually catch up on there episodes
online. Plus, in 2003 EastEnders was the 2nd most searched
thing on the internet in the UK – and the 10th the whole
world which shows world domination.
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7. Personal Opinion
In my life, I tune into to EastEnders every weekday evening
(except Wednesday as the show does not air), and feel if I
miss one I must catch up. But what is it which keeps me
coming back? I feel that as the storylines can be prolonged,
while this is annoying, it keeps me coming back time after
time. I also think that people could find it therapeutic to
look at other people’s problems and take their mind off
their own! Another thing which I think keeps EastEnders
popular is there are characters of every age, to keep the
audience large. In addition to all of this, EastEnders is so
widely watched I think if you don’t watch it now, you can
lose out in social conversation which is a factor to keep
people coming back for more and more.
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8. TV spots and trailers
EastEnders has the advantage of constantly being in
mainstream UK tv. Every Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday it airs, and sometimes specials
can be one hour long. In addition to this it replays
every day at 10pm on BBC 3, so you can catch it if
you miss it – plus there is an omnibus on Sunday
where you can see the whole weekends action. The
clear domination every week proves crucial for
advertising the problem. It regularly make trailers to
play on the BBC in between programs to advertise it.
These trailers are usually quite subtle and make out
something big will happen but doesn't say what, to
entice you into going to watch the show.
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9. Print media adverts
EastEnders regularly promote there big
storylines on all sorts of magazine
covers. For instance a magazine such
as ‘inside soap’ commonly has
EastEnders on the front which is a
good way to get into peoples mind.
Most gossip magazines have pages in
the book about Eastenders
storylines, sometimes true or
sometimes speculation. They also
have a place in the ‘radio times
magazine’ and other tv schedule
magazines which is good so the
viewers no when it is on.
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10. Specialist Advertising
EastEnders has recently released a spin off show called E20. In
which Diedrick Santer hopes to give the young actors chance to
progress in be involved regularly. The series plays online which
is a good play to advertisement in the form of a spin-off. Often
on BBC 3 there are shows revealing things like behind the
scenes cameras and how things were d0ne. EastEnders also
regularly does things for charity such as cast songs on Children
in Need day, which is good advertisement as to be seen doing
something for charity.
Thanks for viewing my powerpoint, here are my sources:
http://tv.sky.com/eastenders-25-top-storylines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EastEnders#Spin-offs
www.google.co.uk/images
www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders
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