About the 'EastEnders' Series

Time Frame

• "EastEnders" began on Feb. 19, 1985, on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was presented in half-hour episodes that played twice per week.
  
  

Significance

• After eight months on television, the show became the most successful program in the country, reaching No. 1 in the ratings. As of 2009, the audience share was between 35 and 45 percent.
  
  

Function

• "EastEnders" was created by producer Julia Smith and head writer Tony Holland. The concept was to tackle controversial topics within the British culture that were not being addressed on other programs.
  
  

Considerations

• As of 2009, the program has won five British Academy Television Awards. It has also won the "Best Soap" award from the UK magazine "Inside Soap" 10 times and 11 National Television Awards.
  
  

Features

• The "EastEnders" series is presented in 576i, a video format associated with the PAL method of video presentation. From 1985 to 1999, the show broadcast in 4:3 ratio before switching to 16:9.