Watching EastEnders

[sunshineboyuk]

Albert Square 1985 looks like one of the corners in Baltimore on THE WIRE.

[Emmerdalefan]

The Albert Square of 1985 looked like a suburban street in the Bronx. It was a true East End square with bomb damaged houses, rubbish strewn everywhere, and 2 derelict houses next to the Doctors surgery, the grubby Vic and cafe. Now it has been gentrified a lot with garish pink doors and light pink paintwork of the B&B and flashy red facade of the ground floor of the Vic exterior.

It would have been Arthur George Fowler's birthday today. 19th August. There has been slight confusion over his exact age and sometimes these contradictions make the show more interesting. When Arthur Fowler was alive the scripts gave his year of birth as 19 August 1943 and Arthur stated his DOB when in court in 1995. And when he died in May 1996 he was 52 and his headstone said born 19 Aug 1943 and even now we see the odd shot of the very same Fowler said it would have been his dads 58th birthday today. A slight continuity error.

[Emmerdalefan]

The Albert Square of 1985 looked like a suburban street in the Bronx. It was a true East End square with bomb damaged houses, rubbish strewn everywhere, and 2 derelict houses next to the Doctors surgery, the grubby Vic and cafe. Now it has been gentrified a lot with garish pink doors and light pink paintwork of the B&B and flashy red facade of the ground floor of the Vic exterior.

It would have been Arthur George Fowler's birthday today. 19th August. There has been slight confusion over his exact age and sometimes these contradictions make the show more interesting. When Arthur Fowler was alive the scripts gave his year of birth as 19 August 1943 and Arthur stated his DOB when in court in 1995. And when he died in May 1996 he was 52 and his headstone said born 19 Aug 1943 and even now we see the odd shot of the very same Fowler said it would have been his dads 58th birthday today. A slight continuity error.

It is so effing annoying when you realise you have cocked up with the post before you can edit it to make sense of it.

The whole posts I meant to put this: There has been slight confusion over his exact age and sometimes these contradictions make the show more interesting. When Arthur Fowler was alive the scripts gave his year of birth as 19 August 1943 and Arthur stated his DOB when in court in 1995. And when he died in May 1996 he was 52 and his headstone said born 19 Aug 1943 and even now we see the odd shot of the very same headstone (probably the same prop).

In August 2000 Pauline said it would have been Arthur's birthday coming up and he'd have been 56. And in an August 2002 episode Martin Fowler said it would have been his dads 58th birthday today. A slight continuity error then.

[Emmerdalefan]

I shall soon be having the entire 1986 EastEnders episodes in my collection of soap episodes, bought from ioffer yesterday. 1986 was probably one of Easties most prominent years with the Den and Angie saga, Andy's death and Pat's first appearance. I can the give reviews on the year once I have watched them all. Then I shall start collecting more 1980s eps.

EastEnders is one of the most diverse and colourful soaps ever with the fact that the square was once a shitheap now it looks like plush Kensington.

[holeinmydonut]

part of albert square is less dowdy than it was in 85, but turpin road is still a s**te heap, with the lovely mcKlunky's. a place you would not set foot in even if you were starving. we all have a mcKlunky's in our high street.

eastenders lot is the best of all of the soaps. superb. corrie has to be the worse, but if you were to ask the viewers if they knew who lived in which house, then corrie would win every time. do we know who lives where in emmerdale? i dont think even the producers know who lives where in walford.

corrie may have the worst lot but it is the most famous and the most loved. the same could be said for crossroads interior sets, (they didnt have the budget until 85 to shoot outdoor scenes) it may have been the butt of every comics joke, but we all fondly remember megs sitting room, the motel reception and shughie mcfees kitchen.

[Emmerdalefan]

Emmie and Easties have the most diverse and realistic sets. Easties is set is a bit more realistic than Emmerdale but Emmerdale is close.

Albert Square is based on an entire square (Fassett Square minus the hospital) and nearby street market and pub and Emmie set at Harewood is based on a whole village (minus a few buildings) which they had used for filming for 22 years beforehand. Corrie just copied 1 street. Emmie and Easties copied larger areas for their current sets.

[holeinmydonut]

for all its faults, the rovers being like dr whos tardis, the toilets in the rovers, (peeing in kens living room) i still love corrie to bits and it will be the last soap standing after the archers.

inside soap did a survey of where you would like to live and the village of emmerdale won hands down.

[Emmerdalefan]

EastEnders has never been an information show for the East End even in the early days. It had more grit when it began but was still different to the real East End in some ways while there were a lot of similarities. When it began some people were saying "the East End is not like that".

What I love is that it has turned quite silly and full of sensationalism while it respects its history and the gritty days of Lou and Den and Angie 1985-1988 are often getting mentioned now in 2012. Colin and Barry got mentioned by Dot a while ago and often we see photos of old characters in scenes when Ian or Dot are reminiscing.

[holeinmydonut]

steve mcfadden was superb in fridays ee, a very compelling and moving performance.

[Emmerdalefan]

Steve McFadden is a fantastic actor. He has been in Easties for just 2 years short of 25 years now. I always preferred Phil over Grant.

[Hardraw Force]

Not band for a potato, eh folks??

[Emmerdalefan]

Anyway my 1986 EastEnders episodes came this morning so when I go to bed about 11pm I shall take up a midnight feast and watch a few episodes tonight.

[Clubsoda]

Sharon seems so OUT OF PLACE in the show now

Anyone agree?

[mynameisnotfred]

No, they're working hard to integrate her and I'd say it's working fairly well. Exploring her only real links left with Ian and Phil and then working hard to create new friendships and relationships with the likes of the Brannings, Denise, Michael and Janine etc.

I used to struggle to see a continuation between 80s-90s Sharon and Noughties' Sharon but haven't noticed that as much this time around. Not sure why yet.

[Emmerdalefan]

2012 saw the brief return of David Wicks and even shorter return of Simon Wicks but it was good to see him come back for just a few seconds and put flowers on Pats grave. Wicksy and Sharon are more legendary characters and it is good to see Shazza back.

[holeinmydonut]

to be fair as much as im a fan of ee, i am not enjoying havin sharon back. imo it was not needed and hasnt really added anything to the show. time will tell if it was a good move?

linda henry has been superb, lets hope she is back in the sqaure soon to get her revenge on philip.

[Emmerdalefan]

I am looking more forward to Dorothy Cotton returning, with her burgundy barnet and "Ooh I Say". First class soap legend.

[Hardraw Force]

Missing Linda Henry already. Shirley is one of the strongest female characters in EE in my view.....

[Emmerdalefan]

I enjoy Phil and Shirley's rocky relationship.

[holeinmydonut]

who's doing kat? my moneys still on derek!!!