On this day in 1985 BBC launches the British soap opera Eastenders. The show's first episode attratcted 17 million viewers and continued to attract high viewing figures from then on. Here is a still featuring the original cast from Eastenders.
A couple of notable storylines on the show included Dirty Den Watts impregnating 16 year old Michelle Fowler which was the first teenage pregnancy on the show and highly controversial for a soap opera.
Arthur Fowler suffering a nervous breakdown on Christmas Day after he stole the Christmas Club Money to finance his daughters wedding.
Another notable episode that was on Christmas day 1986 when Den Watts served divorce papers on his long suffering wife Angie after discovering her lies and betrayal. A record 30 million viewers tuned in, it remains as the highest viewed episode for a soap opera in British History.
Michelle Fowler confessing to her husband Lofty that she had aborted their baby in 1988, Lofty eventually left Walford in the same year and started a new life
Another teenage pregnancy storyline occurred in 2000 when Sonia Jackson became pregnant at 15 years old had a daughter but is put for adoption later on in the show
"Happy Christmas Ange ! " After Dirty Den serves his wife Angie with divorce papers
Eastenders is no stranger to controversy featuring hard hitting storylines from the 1980s such as teenage pregnancy, cot death, homophobia and blackmail, murder, racism and unemployment. In 1987 the show featured the first same sex kiss featuring the characters Colin and Barry.
In the 1990s more hard hitting storylines such as Diane Butcher's homeless storyline Mark Fowler revealing to his parents that he is HIV positive,another homeless storyline in 1993 featuring it's young characters Mandy and Aidan who then spiral into an addiction to drugs and alcohol when Aidan attempted suicide on Christmas day this attracted 23 million viewers edging it's rival Coronation Street. The show was made aware of stigma and the ignorance of Peggy Mitchell when she discovered that Mark Fowler was HIV positive, Mark later forgave Peggy after learning she had breast cancer this Christmas day episode in 1996 attracted over 17M viewers, the show also dealt with mixed race relationships featruing Michelle Fowler and Clyde Tavernier . Mental health was at the forefront when one of it's characters Joe Wicks developed Schizophrenia. In the 2000s the show delivered more hard hitting storylines such as Euthanasia featuring Dot and Ethel, domestic violence and coercive control featuring the characters Little Mo and Trevor, other issues such as prostitution, teenage pregnancy adult illiteracy, child abuse and drug addiction were at the forefront of the show.
One of the first domestic violence storylines in the 1980s featuring Carmel and Matthew Jackson the deep seated resentment from his childhood triggered anger issues such as jealousy and violence in their toxic marriage. After refusing help more violent outbursts and assaults ensued until Carmel plucked up the courage to end their violent marriage once and for all.
A second domestic violence storyline featured in 2001 but this one was hard hitting and raised awareness of what goes on behind closed doors this dealt with the issue of coercive control fuelled by jealousy and violence. This particular storyline featured Trevor Morgan and Little Mo Morgan he did everything he could to isolate his wife from her close knit family that despised him. One of the most humiliating scenes that prompted a lot complaints was on Christmas day 2001 when Trevor ruins her Christmas dinner by implanting her head into the gravy but later learns that she is still taking the pill despite trying for a baby leading to another violent assault. Days later Little Mo walks out on her husband after learning about his lies and betrayal when Zoe went missing and needed their help, prompting her to leave their rocky and violent marriage with her head held high knowing that he has no control over his wife.
A still from 2001 one of the most controversial and heartbreaking storylines concerning euthanasia, her oldest friend Ethel also comes to stay with the Fowlers for a time having become terminally ill. Ethel begs Dot to help her end her life. Torn between her Christian beliefs against euthanasia and her best friend's wishes she helps Ethel to die.
Away from the doom and gloom that Eastenders offered.......the show had some lighthearted moments such as Frank turning up on Pat's doorstep wearing a bow tie
Last but not least the show featured high profile whodunits such as Who shot Phil ? Who killed Archie ? Who killed Lucy Beale ?
As of 2025 Gillian Taylforth, Letitia Dean and Adam Woodyatt are the original cast members still left in the show and their respective characters Kathy Beale Sharon Mitchell and Ian Beale.
C1: Champion Christine Smith (4 wins, 376 points.)
C2: Challenger Martin Wild.
DC: Susie Dent and Colin Jackson.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: T E N R A L S I N
R02: L T G O E U D G P
R03: 25, 3, 10, 5, 7, 1, . Target: 881.
TTT: MARSBELT - "Were they Rickie's way of seeing the light at St Mary's?"
R04: M N T I A I C R G
R05: L N A E K B I W T
R06: 75, 25, 3, 9, 9, 6, . Target: 895.
R07: D T O U S N I F A
R08: T S H E A E M S D
R09: 50, 1, 3, 7, 3, 5, . Target: 243.
TTT: EELTRACT - "Melt the cheese, but try not to "Bern" it."
R10: Y R M A U G E U S
R11: P D A E S H A N S
R12: N R Q O A E W C T
R13: R S I O N R A M I
R14: 1, 9, 2, 5, 3, 10. Target: 425.
R15: M A C R O D U E L (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: T E N R A L S I N
Christine: ENTRAILS (8)
Martin: RETAILS (7)
DC: INTERNALS (18)
Score: 8–0 (max 18)
Round 2: L T G O E U D G P
Christine: PLUGGED (7)
Martin: PLUGGED (7)
DC: TOGGLED (7)
Score: 15–7 (max 25)
Round 3: 25, 3, 10, 5, 7, 1. Target: 881.
C1: -
C2: 881. Mistake in working.
RR: 881. (10 × 3 + 5) × 25 + 7 − 1 (10)
Score: 15–7 (max 35)
Teatime teaser: MARSBELT -> LAMBERTS
Round 4: M N T I A I C R G
Christine: TRACING (7)
Martin: CARTING (7)
DC: MIGRANT (7)
OT: GRANITIC (8)
Score: 22–14 (max 43)
Round 5: L N A E K B I W T
Christine: BLANKET (7)
Martin: BLANKET (7)
DC: BEATNIK (7) TWINKLE (7)
OT: BLANKIE (7) WEBLINK (7)
Score: 29–21 (max 50)
Round 6: 75, 25, 3, 9, 9, 6. Target: 895.
C1: 897.
C2: 894. (75 + 25) × 9 − 6 (7)
RR: 895. (75 + 25) × 9 − (9 + 6) ÷ 3 (10)
Score: 29–28 (max 60)
Round 7: D T O U S N I F A
Christine: ASTOUND (7)
Martin: STUDIO (6)
DC: FUSTIAN (7)
OT: FANTODS (7) STIFADO (7)
Score: 36–28 (max 67)
Round 8: T S H E A E M S D
Christine: STEAMED (7)
Martin: HEADSETS (8)
DC: SMASHED (7)
Score: 36–36 (max 75)
It's Darren central in this as our challenger Martin levels up this rather tight contest
Round 9: 50, 1, 3, 7, 3, 5. Target: 243.
C1: 243. 50 × 5 − 7 (10)
C2: 243. 50 × 5 − 7 (10)
Score: 46–46 (max 85)
A piece of piss this solve.......I'd rather count sheep instead
Teatime teaser: EELTRACT -> RACLETTE
Round 10: Y R M A U G E U S
Christine: SUGARY (6)
Martin: GRAMS (5)
DC: GAMERS (6) AUGURY (6)
OT: MAGUEYS (7)
Score: 52–46 (max 92)
Round 11: P D A E S H A N S
Christine: SHAPED (6)
Martin: SHAPED (6)
DC: PASHA (5) PHASED (6) SHAPED (6)
OT: DAPHNES (7) PASSADE (7) SANDESH (7)
Score: 58–52 (max 99)
Round 12: N R Q O A E W C T
Christine: ENACTOR (7)
Martin: carted
DC: CARTON (6)
Score: 65–52 (max 106)
Round 13: R S I O N R A M I
Christine: IRONS (5)
Martin: MOANS (5)
DC: MARRONS (7) MANOIRS (7)
Score: 70–57 (max 113)
Round 14: 1, 9, 2, 5, 3, 10. Target: 425.
C1: -Timed out
C2: 423. Mistake in working.
RR: 425. (9 × 10 − 2 − 3) × 5 (10)
Score: 70–57 (max 123)
Round 15: M A C R O D U E L
No one buzzes. The answer was CLAMOURED.
Final Score: 70–57 (max 133)
Neither contestant buzzes but it is left to our vey own recap writer to solve the elusive conundrum........firslty congratulations to Christine for holding her own in this rather scrappy contest........secondly take nothing away from Martin who put up a really good fight