15 Interesting Facts About ‘EastEnders’

The British soap opera The EastEnders has been on air since 1985 and continues to pull in audiences with storylines about the everyday lives of the people who live around Albert Square in the fictional London borough of Walford. Over the years, they’ve tackled many controversial and taboo issues, as well as family and relationship conflicts that are typical of soaps. The popular show has even pushed long-running Coronation Street off the top of the ratings from time to time. Here are some things you might not know about the The EastEnders.

1. Walford is a mix of Walthamstow and Stratford

The name Walford comes from a mixture of Walthamstow and Stratford, which are the areas of London that the show creators Julia Smith and Tony Holland are from.

2. Emma Bunton was an EastEnder

Before she was a Spice Girl, Emma Bunton played a troubled teen on the show in 1992. She also auditioned for the role of Bianca Jackson.

3. The death count is ridiculous

It’s a fact of life that people expire for all sorts of reasons, and the characters from EastEnders are no exception. Since the show began there have been at least 111 deaths written into the show. This has included assisted suicide (Ethel Skinner), alcohol poisoning (Billie Jackson), a cliff push (Barry Evans), AIDS complications (Mark Fowler), a car crushing (Fatboy), heroine overdose (Nick Cotton), gas explosion (May Wright), rake impaling (Trina Johnson), speedboat accident (Joel and Stephanie Reynolds) and assorted bludgeonings (too many to mention). Even the dogs in the cast have bit the dust.