EastEnders’ overnight ratings for key episodes
 

Also available on Walford Web. Starting from 2005 but I can knock this out up until 2012-ish for anyone who’s interested.

They’re all based solely on overnight/first-time figures.

Well it won’t be seeing any of those numbers ever again :(

More episodes from 2005. Allen-heavy in light of Ruby’s latest episodes.

Pat arranges a funeral for Andy (04/03): 11.15 million (47%)

Stacey gets mugged (05/03): 11.62 million (51.3%)

Sam demands her share from Chrissie (07/03): 11.88m (48.9%)

Tina Stewart’s debut (15/03): 11.51m (50.3%)

Ruby’s arrival (18/03): 10.25m (47.5%)

Johnny threatens the Ferreiras (21/03): 10.78m (45.2%)

Sasha and the Ferreiras leave (22/03): 11 million (51%)

Juley leaves (01/04): 10.06 million (46.8%)

Keith Miller resorts to desperate measures to make money (05/04): 9.65 million (44.1%)

Pauline vents at Sonia for keeping her in the dark about ‘Chloe’/Bex (29/04): 8.47 million (44%)

Pauline visits Chloe (05/05): 8.71m (45.2%)

Sonia gets vexed about Pauline’s visit (06/05): 9.23 million (45.9%)

Alfie admits he has feelings for Little Mo (09/05): 9.64m (44.5%)

The truth dawns on Ruby about how long Johnny and Tina have known each other (10/05): 9.12 million (46.4%)

Derek leaves (19/05): 9.4 million (47.9%)

The Millers return to their council after being chased out by rats (23/05): 9.6m (48%)

The Slaters do a welcome home party for Kat (02/06): 8.63 million (46%)

Zoe uncovers the truth about Den’s murder (13/06): 9.03m (43.6%)

Kat taunts Chrissie (27/06): 8.1m (43.2%)

Danny’s salsa night (07/07): 9 million (45%)

Alfie’s caught about about his affair: (25/07): 8.4m (39.8%)

Demi and Leo say their goodbyes: (26/06) 8.65 million (45.6%)

Leo’s overdose: (12/08) 8.17 million (41%)

Naomi’s arrival (15/08): 8.4 million (41%)

Demi returns home after Leo’s overdose (22/08): 9.88 million (44.1%)

“I didn’t do it. IT WAS CHRISSIE.” (02/09): 8.7 million (44.8%)

Chrissie turns paranoid after confessing to Jake (06/10): 9.76 million (47.9%)

Ruby learns the truth about Johnny’s past (18/10): 10.08 million (44.9%)

Stacey makes the penny drop for Dennis re. where his loyalties are (03/11): 10.7 million (48.8%)

Sam faces a charge for perverting the course of justice (15/11): 11.28 million (49.3%)

Ruby and Juley start dating (21/11): 12 million (49.9%)

Johnny invites Juley for dinner, Honey arrives (22/11): 10.78m (47.4%)

Johnny puts the frighteners on Ruby (25/11): 10.2m (47%)

Juley and Ruby do the deed (12/12): 10m (43%)

Juley gets a visit from Johnny (13/12): 10m (47%)

Phil pulls the strings on Juley (15/12): 9.6m (47%)

Johnny threatens Sharon with Dennis’ life/Phil and Juley have a showdown (27/12): 10.7 million

Admittedly half the episodes I’ve listed from ’05 weren’t exactly major episodes but for better (Chrissie/Dennis/Stacey/Peggy) or worse (Juley/Ruby, Sonia/Naomi) they moved certain storylines on and stick out in people’s memories to a certain extent even 18 years later. Sonia wouldn’t have done anything with Tina or got her away from Tosh (her abusive ex) if it wasn’t for the groundwork for her bisexuality being established with Naomi across 2005/2006. Even if the actual storyline itself was revolting.

I’ll try and do this for most of the noughties and 2010/11 but I’ve got them first-hand for any episode from September 2007 to February 2009 if anyone wants ratings for anything that happened in that timeframe that I haven’t posted.

The closest we got in recent years was the aftermath of Ian finding out about Lucy which got 8.4m and the ICONIC new years day 2015 episode which got 9m. DTC really saved the show

Nnn not Preeti exit getting record breaking views

Events weeks:

Chrissie Kills Den Week (February 2005)

14/02: 10.6 million (46%)
15/02: 12.3 million (53%)
18/02: 13.7 million (55.2%) - peak share of 57.9%

Peggy's Return Week (September 2005)

05/09: 10.68 million (49.4%) - Alfie tells Kat there's no chance of making up
06/09: 9.37 million (49.8%) - Kat prepares to leave Walford
08/09: 9.64 million (47.2%) - Patrick and Jim get bladdered in the allotment
09/09: 9.96 million (46.9%) - Peggy pays a few visits

Little Mo/Alfie reveal week (2005):

12/09: 9.58m (43.1%)
13/09: 10.1m (48.8%)
15/09: 9.46m (46.7%)
16/09: 9.52m (46.2%)

France Week (2005):

26/09: 10.28m (43.7%) - Dawn’s arrival
27/09: 9.71m (44.7%)
29/09: 9.38m (45.4%)
30/09: 8.97m (42%)

Chrissie's Defeat, Armistice (November 2005)

07/11: 12.21 million (50.5%) - Johnny has the Mitchells right where he wants them
08/11: 12.25 million (51.4%) - Sharon whacks Chrissie at the airport
10/11: 11.82 million (52.3%) - Sharon visits Chrissie in custody, Sam's reunited with her family
11/11: 11.24 million (50.1%) - Alife and Nana Moon in Normandy

Stacey/Jean, Pat/Frank, Chrissie/Jake week (2005)

05/12: 10.71m (46.3%)
06/12: 9.63m (43.6%)
08/12: 9.85m (48.1%)
09/12: 9.6m (44.3%) - Frank and Chrissie’s last appearances

Frank Butcher’s burial/Butchers’ reintroduction week (2008):

31/03: 10.33m (43.2%)
01/04: 9.75m (43.1%)
03/04: 8.96m (42.5%)
04/04: 9.24m (41.7%)

Danielle Week (April 2009)

30/03: 9.56m (40.8%)
31/03: 6.48m (30.5%) - Emmerdale clash
02/04: 10.58m (48.3%)
03/04: 9.54m (43.7%)

The Little mo and Alfie thing was so random. Our Kat was already going through enough in 2005 trying to protect ha daughter

Mhm. One of the only B-plots of that year that I didn’t like but the reveal made up for it. It weren’t even that badly executed in the main. Just a bad idea.

I think you’re forgetting about Live 2015.

Peggy’s exit and New Year’s Day 2016 spring to mind as well.

Live week too! Peggys exit was excellent

Speaking as someone that doesn't like the show very much.

I think the show doesn't pull in big numbers like they used to be able to do because the characters aren't very likeable imo, they're all identicate Chav type characters that just do the most annoying things imaginable whenever I catch the show.

I also do think that it's biggest problem that harms EastEnders ratings and why it doesn't pull in anywhere near 10-13 million viewers anymore is how dated the show is, being like 80's London in the 80's and even the 90's is fine because timeline wise it's not that far apart culturally, but I do feel that in the 2010's soon to be the 2020's and it's still writing like it's in 80's London is not relatable to me nor is it probably to a lot of the general public I reckon.

I know not everybody would agree with me on this, but I honestly do think that if those two things were fixed on EastEnders, then they might actually get some of their ratings back.

But... you don't watch.

I've still caught enough episodes to form an opinion on where I think the show has gone wrong.

nnnn sis was juggling tormenting Chrissy and dealing to Mo taking her man

:joker:

I was talking more in terms of viewing figures over quality still. Both those episodes were ratings-winners but the blame for the state of later DTC’s work lies with the Live reveal IMO. Dragging the whole square down for Bobby’s sake was probably the lowest point of 2015.

I get what you mean but the show was always at least watchable during DTC era unlike SOC and JY, and the ratings reflected that

Nah, I don't think so. The plot itself didn't ruin it, the later run of DTC was just pants across the board. R&R's plots/non-existent plots, The Hubbard MESS, Kathy's return, Kat's secret twin, all absolutely appallingly plotted and executed. They were just victim to the same terrible production that the conclusion to the Lucy plot was.

I would even say the rot only set in with the Bobby plot once Max was sent down. The live episode onwards was still a decent conclusion to it, once we got to everyone finding out, Max's silly exit and then his piss poor boring year long revenge it was absolutely dire. That Christmas plot with him shoving Jane down the stairs because Kathy had his bedroom. :skull:

The only praise I can offer that Hubbard shambles was seeing Claudette’s mamouth-sized tits in HD.

The ratings as a whole weren’t loads better under DTC but I hear that still.

One thing that showed was how much Santer was the taming force to DTC’s sensationalism during Santer’s run as EP. He didn’t have that restraining influence during his run as EP and he pretty much made a big old mess once he thought it would be a good idea to go into free reign after the Live episode.

Anyone got any requests for particular episode ratings?

Tish Dean's return please

10 million at least?

We want "Hello Peggy, bet you never thought you'd see me again!" not "My son is in the kitchen... eating a biscuit!"