Eastenders: First episode

Eastenders was originally screened twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) which lasted about half an hour each. However, due to the soaps popularity, in August 2001, BBC One increased to four episodes per week with each episode being repeated on BBC Three at 22.00. In addition to this, an omnibus edition broadcasted on Sunday afternoons.

The very first episode of Eastenders was a murder mystery which enabled the audience to establish each of the characters. This was done by the police officers as they questioned each character about the death of Reg Cox. They were asked;

• Who they were?
• How they knew Reg?
• Where they were at the time?

All of these questions helped introduce the soap itself and the characters that were involved.

Thirteen million viewers watched the first episode when Arthur Fowler, Ali Osman and Den Watts forced their way into Reg Cox's flat and found Reg near to death. However, several weeks later, Nick Cotton was revealed as Reg's murderer.

Th casting for the soap was important to the success of Eastenders. Many of the characters were unfamiliar but the inclusion of famous faces such as Wendy Richard and Barber Windsor who are now iconic faces of the soap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGIFPjc54ZM