EastEnders, launched on February 19, 1985, emerged as the BBC's response to ITV's Coronation Street, aiming for mass appeal with a gritty portrayal of life in a fictional East London square, Walford. Co-created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland, the show captivated audiences, achieving impressive initial ratings of 17 million, which peaked at 30 million shortly thereafter. Over 40 years and more than 7,000 episodes later, the soap remains iconic, and the BBC celebrates its legacy with documentaries and special episodes, commemorating the most memorable moments in its history.
The BBC's new soap opera was its attempt to make a mass-market, twice-weekly rival to ITV's Coronation Street.
Audiences would peak at an astonishing 30m the next year, with four episodes featuring in the UK's Top 10 most-watched TV programmes.
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