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Eastenders is a UK soap set in the East End borough of Walford (Postcode
E20). Focal figures in the shows early years were the Fowler family led by the
indomitable Pauline and the her put upon husband Arthur (who would later have
a nervous breakdown in spectacular fashion) and their kids Mark and Michelle.
Pub landlord Den (Dirty Den as he became known) and his brassy wife Angie quickly
became the focus of most of the media attention lavished on the show in its early
days. Den and Angie's daughter Sharon was best friends with Michelle Fowler who
happened to get herself pregnant by Sharon's father.
Other important characters
from the shows early years included Dot Cotton and her evil son Nick, Pauline's
Mum Lou and the elderly Ethel Skinner, local GP Dr Legg, Pauline's brother Pete
Beale and his family (wife Kathy and son Ian). Asian shopkeepers Saeed and Naima
Jeffrey and Turkish cafe owner Ali Osman provided the ethnicity.
During the
early 'Den and Angie' years the show was incredibly popular beating all comers.
Since Den's departure (being 'hit' by gangsters) there has always been a 'hard
man' type character in the show with the brutish Grant Mitchell ruling the roost
at the Vic for many years, Steve Owen is the latest (he has literally got away
with murder during his time on the show).
Eastenders has never been shy of
tackling the big issues, Aids, murder, teenage pregnancy, cancer and even euthanasia
have all had an airing on the show. The show is most probably the most depressing
of the UK soaps (although Brookside runs it a close second).
During its most
popular spell several of the stars even had hit singles (Anita Dobson with a vocal
version of the theme tune and Nick Berry getting to number one with Every Loser
Wins).
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