BBC soap EastEnders will broadcast in high definition for the first time in the autumn, it has been announced.

The Walford serial's switch to HD ties in with the BBC's plans to simulcast "the majority" of BBC One programming before the end of the year.

Other programmes scheduled to make the transition include Holby City, Waterloo Road and Casualty.

Last year, former executive producer Diederick Santer revealed that some parts of the Albert Square set didn't "pass muster" in the high quality filming format.

He said: "Until we've either completely refurbed the exterior set or moved the programme somewhere else and built it from scratch, then we're not going to be going HD."

Preparations are currently afoot at the soap's home at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Herts, ahead of its move to HD production within the next few months.

In September, EastEnders revamped its title sequence, replacing the old blue, green and grey map with a three-dimensional version, for HD broadcast.

Hollyoaks became the first of the Big Four UK soaps to air in HD in June 2008.

On Monday, Coronation Street makes it debut on ITV HD with its stripped week of 9pm editions featuring Tony Gordon's prison break and factory siege. ITV recently unveiled new-look titles ahead of its first transmission.

Digital Spy

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262910) They'll need to update the sets massively, the houses arent even made of real brick are they?

Originally Posted by Jonathan. (Post 3262911) tbh I'm not. I thought they were real. I knew the Queen Vic wasn't though. That's like wooden.

Originally Posted by Jonathan. (Post 3262913) Are the Corrie ones real? Or was it less of a problem because Weatherfield isn't a Victorian town?

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262917) All soaps usually film indoors, the only soap that didnt was Brookside, they fitted cameras into the walls of the houses, Corrie's houses only have the basic layout (for door scenes, where you can see the stairs in the background) the new Victoria Street extention will probably all be facades though, for some places on Corrie they do have real interiors (The chippy, bookies and the butchers)

Originally Posted by Jonathan. (Post 3262918) Oh okay. The only place in EE where they have a real interior is the Minute Mart. Same with the basic door scenes.

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262921) It will be interesting to see if there are any noticeable changes on the EE set :p

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262924) Aye, interiors are easy to do up :P just slap some new wallpaper on xD Funny, I though Emmerdale would be the first to go HD after Hollyoaks, now its the last

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262928) Yeah, Emmerdale got HD cameras like back in 2008 and were looking into it then, though apparently they will go HD next year when the Yorkshire studios are done up I think Corrie going HD has made the EE producers buck up their ideas xD

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262936) I think they might have a big HD launch week like Corrie are next week Oh, and EE's titles are HD ready....but Corrie's are 3D ready xD

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262940) lmao xD that'd be weird, there isnt really anything they could do in 3D in EE's title, unless they zoomed in proper close xD

Originally Posted by Chewy (Post 3262905) Copycats :whistle: :joker: :p