When did EastEnders start to lose it for you?

[Redway]

I think everyone’s noticed that the Christmas episodes and so-called memorable moments aren’t up to scratch these days but the show’s never been as irrelevant in the public eye since they killed off Ronnie and Roxy. Was the show already long heading into late Brookie territory for you or was that the final straw?

[Gstar]

When DTC left. The final nail in the coffin was R&R

[Redway]

It’s had problems since 2002-ish but it stopped being watchable in the Newman era and has never recovered since despite two good stock years (2014 and 2019) in that interval. Even Gavin and Stacey couldn’t keep more than 5 million watching Eastenders this Christmas so you can see how much damage has been done to the brand.

If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s fun to take the piss out of it on here I probably wouldn’t still be watching for the most part.

[Marsh.]

It's had problems in different periods but picked itself up and recovered. However, the issues that began with Kirkwood have only been exacerbated and made worse with each and every production team.

DTC (and currently Sen/Oates) managed to put the show through a short good patch by focusing on the show's strengths. But because they didn't fix the issues it was shortlived. They only papered over the cracks.

SOC took the show to new depths of sh*te too actually.

Sen/Oates EE is falling apart at the minute IMO. I'll switch off if there's no end in sight for the Ben/Martin guff.

[Dogeatdog]

I got bored of EastEnders around 2009 when they killed off Ronnie’s daughter Danielle. That’s when I pretty much stopped watching it regularly but I gave up completely on the show when they did that bizarre storyline of Ronnies baby dying of a cot death and then she swapped it over for someone else’s baby (can’t remember who’s).

It just seemed beyond ridiculous at the time for me and I never bothered to watch it again.

[Marsh.]

It’s had problems since 2002-ish but it stopped being watchable in the Newman era and has never recovered since despite two good stock years (2014 and 2019) in that interval. Even Gavin and Stacey couldn’t keep more than 5 million watching Eastenders this Christmas so you can see how much damage has been done to the brand.

If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s fun to take the piss out of it on here I probably wouldn’t still be watching for the most part.

I don't think you can really judge off ratings like that anymore. TV ratings are plummeting as are soaps viewership across the board. The fact EE was the highest rated soap is an achievement considering the last few years of it falling behind ED.

[Tony Montana]

I lost interest after Bobby was revealed as Lucy's killer back in 2015. I did watch Peggy's final episodes and when Roxy and Ronnie died though.

[Firewire]

It dipped 2011-2012 but it hasn't lost it.

2019 has been the best year since 2014.

[Redway]

I don't think you can really judge off ratings like that anymore. TV ratings are plummeting as are soaps viewership across the board. The fact EE was the highest rated soap is an achievement considering the last few years of it falling behind ED.

But the fact is that EastEnders has bled the most viewers out of all the soaps over the past ten years. Changing viewing climates and technology has a lot to do with it but given the state of the show this decade compared to Corrie and Emmerdale (for the most part) a lot more of it ak be down to people actually switching off in droves.

[Marsh.]

But the fact is that EastEnders has bled the most viewers out of all the soaps over the past ten years. Changing viewing climates and technology has a lot to do with it but given the state of the show this decade compared to Corrie and Emmerdale (for the most part) a lot more of it ak be down to people actually switching off in droves.

Not really. If you're comparing it to the show's highest peaks those were only really for special occasions anyway. It was never the norm even ten years ago.

[Crimson Dynamo]

about 20 years ago

its pathetic nowadays, how can anyone watch it??

:umm2:

[Marsh.]

If EE lost it for you 20 years ago why on earth are you still watching?

[Redway]

Not really. If you're comparing it to the show's highest peaks those were only really for special occasions anyway. It was never the norm even ten years ago.

It’s still a lot of viewers to lose in a short space of time. I’m not sure how much is down to technological advances alone.

[Redway]

I’m not one of those nostalgic people who look back on Santer’s so-called golden era with rose-tinted spectacles either. Outside his fluke first year the show wasn’t amazing outside blockbuster episodes and moments but something changed in viewer perception around 2012/13 and not for the better. Only DTC managed to recapture a bit of casual interest.

[Marsh.]

It’s still a lot of viewers to lose in a short space of time. I’m not sure how much is down to technological advances alone.

They've lost viewers for all kinds of reasons, no doubt about it.

But in an era when it can beat the other soaps with a measly 5m on Christmas Day and still make the top 10 of the day then it's not as drastic as people make out IMO

[Marsh.]

I’m not one of those nostalgic people who look back on Santer’s so-called golden era with rose-tinted spectacles either. Outside his fluke first year the show wasn’t amazing outside blockbuster episodes and moments but something changed in viewer perception around 2012/13 and not for the better. Only DTC managed to recapture a bit of casual interest.

For all his faults DTC was imaginative. That's what's lacking now. Oates' BenEnders is getting so tediously repetitive already.

[Daniel-X]

There’s been a noticeable change since Santer’s era came to an end (funnily enough the first era of the show I watched as a child). Kirkwood made the show into a glorified version of Hollyoaks with mainly decent actors but terrible storylines/horrible new characters introduced (see: Antony, Joey, Alice, Derek, Tyler, Vanessa and Jodie). Newman wasn’t actually too bad, she didn’t do any damage to the show but it was just incredibly boring and not EastEnders.

I’d argue DTC has been the most detrimental to the show, it was more watchable under him than Kirkwood and Newman but the lengths he took the show to to create a ‘fanfic’ version of EastEnders for himself were ridiculous. The whole Who Killed Lucy? storyline is one the show will never recover from now.

Less said about SOC and Yorke 2.0 the better.

It’s finally back on track under Sen & Oates but even then it’s not without it flaws, but it’s definitely the best the show has been since Santer. They need to get a grasp of the actual history of the show more but it’s decent.

[Jessica.]

When they got rid of the actor who played Ben when he got abused by stella

[Marsh.]

When they got rid of the actor who played Ben when he got abused by stella

:joker:

[Daniel.]

It's always been a load of crap, really.

Entertaining crap though.

[Amy Jade]

Ronnie and Roxy dying is still painfully stupid.

Both would have come back in a few years and they were fan favourites, still no idea who thought killing them off was the best idea.

[Jason.]

2011

Stace took the show with her.

[Amy Jade]

Also even though it has improved I am sick of them ramming ****ing Ben into every single storyline, currently I am more annoyed by him being involved in EVERYTHING than anything I can remember on the show.

Still disgusted they wrote out the Cokers for the old man who played chess and his dead wife. I can't remember either of their names...

*Ted and Josie

[Cal.]

Ronnie and Roxy’s deaths.

And the show is really suffering without Stacey atm whilst Lacey Turner is on maternity leave.

[Redway]

Ronnie and Roxy dying is still painfully stupid.

Both would have come back in a few years and they were fan favourites, still no idea who thought killing them off was the best idea.
None other than O’Connor.
Also even though it has improved I am sick of them ramming ****ing Ben into every single storyline, currently I am more annoyed by him being involved in EVERYTHING than anything I can remember on the show.

Still disgusted they wrote out the Cokers for the old man who played chess and his dead wife. I can't remember either of their names...

*Ted and Josie

Joyce.

[Redway]

Ronnie and Roxy’s deaths.

And the show is really suffering without Stacey atm whilst Lacey Turner is on maternity leave.

Do you think she’s more indispensable than Phil Mitchell?

[Marsh.]

Stacey doesn't really do much when she's there. Just gets a ludicrously stupid exit story when she's taking a break.

Like Phil. Doesn't do anything at all but decides to take 6 months off when he actually has a storyline.

[Marsh.]

Killing everyone off is its main problem.

When you look at the family groups and think of all the former members of it and 90% of them are deceased then it's a problem.

There's literally Janine and Grant in terms of possible major returns for the future. And Sam bloody Mitchell who is about as useful as Lola.

[Nancy.]

I've been on and off with Eastenders for years, but always watched out of habit (like Corrie). The new years episode where they killed off Roxie and Ronnie in one fell swoop was utterly ridiculous. What with that and stupid "duff duff's" like Denise boiling pasta, you just knew EE has reached it's lowest point.

[Redway]

I’d have no problem with Sam coming back if Kim Medcalf resumes Marsh. She made that character her own and she’s more relevant than Janine at the moment.

I agree Stacey should’ve stayed away after her first exit.

[Amy Jade]

I liked the Denise storyline when she had no money, the writers just handled it very poorly and yeah we understood she was too proud to admit that she was struggling but it just became tedious.

Diane Parish in general needs more screen time and a meaty storyline because she is one of the best actresses on the show. They need to bring sassy Chelsea back.

[Cal.]

Do you think she’s more indispensable than Phil Mitchell?

Certainly!

[Redway]

That reverse image of Dennis Rickman dying in the last episode of 2005 and Deano Wicks popping up in the next episode’s probably the most jarring transition period there’s ever been. It took a while for EastEnders to properly get going again and even in the first half of Santer’s era those dodgy hangover characters (Gus, Naomi, Mickey Miller) kept it in 2006 zones tonally up until the last of them were weeded out and Lucas/Danielle started coming into their own. That’s when Santer’s era began in its quintessential form.

That 2006/2007-mid-2008 period I just see as a transition between Harwood and Santer and that era doesn’t have much in common tonally with the Archie/Chryed era that most people think of when they remember Santer.

[Nancy.]

Diane Parish in general needs more screen time and a meaty storyline because she is one of the best actresses on the show. They need to bring sassy Chelsea back.

Yes, I agree. I'm not sure what the writers are playing at with her at the moment. She hasn't had a decent storyline since Kate Oates came onboard, although, I did enjoy her recent scenes with Patrick and Sheree. It's a shame they've never brought Chelsea back. I'd much rather see her than the god awful Squiggle.

[Redway]

Yes, I agree. I'm not sure what the writers are playing at with her at the moment. She hasn't had a decent storyline since Kate Oates came onboard, although, I did enjoy her recent scenes with Patrick and Sheree. It's a shame they've never brought Chelsea back. I'd much rather see her than the god awful Squiggle.

She hasn’t had a story of note since Owen/Lucas tbh. You can’t blame Oates and Sen for everything.

[Amy Jade]

I'd like them to explore something between Jack and Denise, I like them together but we need something to go on to bring them together more - feels like a relationship out of nowhere.