Portal:EastEnders

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The EastEnders Portal

EastEnders is a popular BBC television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on 19 February 1985 and continuing to date.

EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in Albert Square, a Victorian square of terraced houses, a pub, a street market and various small businesses, in the East End of London, England.

The series was originally screened as two half-hour episodes a week. Today four episodes are broadcast each week and an omnibus edition screens on Sunday afternoons. It is one of the UK's highest-rated programmes, often appearing near or at the top of the week's BARB ratings. Within eight months of its launch, it reached the number one spot in the ratings, and has almost consistently remained amongst the top-rated programmes in Britain ever since. The average audience share for an episode is currently between 45 and 50%.

The invention of producer Julia Smith and script editor Tony Holland, EastEnders has remained significant in terms of the BBC's success and audience share, and also the history of British television drama, tackling many controversial and taboo issues previously unseen on mainstream television in the UK.

EastEnders has won five BAFTA Awards, and consistently won the Inside Soap Award for 'Best Soap' for ten years running, as well as eight National Television Awards for 'Most Popular Serial Drama' and five awards for 'Best Soap' at the British Soap Awards. It has also been inducted into the Rose d'Or Hall of Fame. More...

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Selected article

Patricia "Pat" Evans (née Harris; previously Beale, Wicks and Butcher) is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. She has been played by Pam St. Clement since 12 June 1986, just over a year after the show first aired. Pat was also played by Emma Cooke in a soap 'bubble' Pat and Mo: Ashes to Ashes, delving into the her past with Mo Harris, which aired in 2004.

Pat is a tough enemy, a good friend, a straight talker and a woman who won't be messed with. She's had a rough life and made many mistakes, but she's a survivor and she refuses to let her past grind her down. She's mellowed a bit in recent years, but there are still not many who'd care to get on her wrong side. Pat has been married four times, making her the most-married character in the whole of EastEnders, until 2007 when Ian Beale completed his fourth marriage to Jane Collins.

Born and bred in Walford, Pat Harris emerged as a looker in her early teens, and at the age of sixteen she won the Miss Butlins title in Clacton. Here she met a young Frank Butcher, who was holidaying with his girlfriend, June, soon to become the first Mrs Butcher. After the contest Frank became besotted with Pat, and it wasn't long before he'd coaxed her into his bed. Frank was the first of what would be many lovers in Pat's life, and so began a love affair, that has continued, on and off, ever since. Soon after, June became pregnant and gave birth to Clare, Frank married her and a heartbroken Pat began playing the field. More...

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Selected biography

Tommy Eytle (16 July 1927–19 June 2007) was a Guyanese musician and actor. Although born in Guyana, Eylte's career was based in the United Kingdom, where he lived after emigrating in 1951.

Eytle's career began in the 1950s. He initially found success playing African and Caribbean music with his Tommy Eytle's Calypso Band. He continued to perform musically until the mid 1990s. He had many roles on television, radio, film and stage, but he was most famous for playing the role of Jules Tavernier in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1990-1997. He died in June 2007, less than a month before his 80th birthday.

Eytle was born in Georgetown, Guyana (then British Guiana), to James—a gold miner— and Gertrude Eytle. Eytle attended St Philip's Primary School, Central High School and Queen's College of Guyana. After finishing his education he worked as a gold and diamond miner with his father for a year, before joining the Civil Service and qualifying as a land surveyor. More...

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Did you know...

...that the only characters ever to be credited with their full names are Ian Beale, Dot Cotton and Dr. May Wright?

...that Pam St. Clement has over 125 pairs of earrings for her character, Pat Evans?

...that Gerry Cowper (Rosie Miller), David Spinx (Keith Miller), Shaun Williamson (Barry Evans), Mona Hammond (Blossom Jackson), Billy Murray (Johnny Allen) and Carol Harrison (Louise Raymond) all had minor roles in the show before being introduced as other, regular characters?

...that the whisky in The Queen Vic is actually burnt sugar and water?

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EastEnders news

2008-03-08 Actor Larry Lamb will join the cast of EastEnders later in 2008, playing the role of Archie Mitchell, the father of Ronnie and Roxy.[1]
2008-02-22 Actor Aaron Sidwell, who plays the character of Steven Beale, is to depart from the show in 2008. David Spinx and Joe Swash (Keith and Mickey Miller) have also been axed.[2][3]
2008-02-03 Three new characters are to appear in the soap. Lucas Johnson, Chelsea Fox's father, will be played by Don Gilet, Ricky Butcher's partner Melinda will be portrayed by My Family actress Siobhan Hayes, and Gus Smith's aunt Opal will be played by Rustie Lee.[4][5][6]
2008-01-23 The BBC and Ofcom have received a total of 191 complaints following the 22 January 2008 episode showing scenes where 13-year-old Jay Brown (played by Jamie Borthwick) was stabbed by a gang member.[7]