1. Episode length is the same for every episode
Every episode made has stuck to the same timing, with each episode being 27 minutes and 15 seconds long. The only exceptions are for specials over the Christmas period, as well as other specials. Episodes released during the pandemic are only 20 minutes long due to restrictions with production.
2. The Most Married Man in Walford?
Ian Beale has become the most married man in Walford after marrying Cindy, Laura, Mel and Jane and Sharon.
You might be right in thinking Ian has married the same number of women as
Phil, that's because Ian married Jane for a second time, so technically Ian is
the most married man in Walford.
3. How Much is Filmed Per Day?
You have heard in the past how much work goes into filming each episode, with actors and crew putting in long hours, but you will probably be surprised to hear that each filming day produces just 13 minutes of usable footage.
4. Playing Different Characters
Some of the actors you see on screen probably auditioned for a completely different character. Kellie Bright who plays Linda Carter, auditioned for the role of Tanya Branning.
Derek Martin who played Charlie Slater, originally auditioned for the parts of
Den Watts and Frank Butcher.
Lacey Turner impressed producers so much when she auditioned for the part of
Demi Miller, that the role of Stacey Slater was created just for her!
Our favourite Karen Taylor actor Lorraine Stanley also appeared in the soap
before, once playing a young Mo Harris in a flashback episode, and also Thelma
Bragg, the mother of Star.
5. Fake Weather?
Because EastEnders film episodes between six and twelve weeks in advance, the outdoor weather is faked in order to be as realistic as possible for when the episodes are aired.
When the soap films the spring episodes in the winter, fake leaves are put on
the trees and daffodils are placed around the square!
6. Dirty Den Return
The late Leslie Grantham played one of the shows most iconic characters, 'Dirty' Den Watts. What you may not know is when the character was killed off in 1989, there was footage of Den's body, but seeing an opportunity for a possible return in the future, soap bosses decided to remove the footage from the episode.
Dirty Den made a sensational return to the soap 15 years later.
7. Don't Lean on The Set!
We've all seen the promo shots, but what you might not know is they are putting as little pressure on the iconic Albert Square railings as possible, that's because they're plastic!
Most of the set built in 1985 was only made to last six months, but much of it
remains today, an impressive 36 years later. That is until the new set is
ready.
8. Laid to Rest
Although many of the big funeral scenes are filmed in nearby North Watford, the small scenes of characters visiting a loved-ones graveside is usually filmed on a patch of grass in the studio's backlot.
9. Bromley-by-Bow
The fictional Walford tube map, first shown in 1996, shows Walford East station situated between Bow Road and West Ham on the Hammersmith & City and District lines.
In real life, the station on the map is actually Bromley-by-Bow.
10. Keeping up to Date
In order to remain as realistic as possible, EastEnders film last-minute scenes to be slotted into an episode airing that same day!
This has been done in the past when acknowledging events such as the death of
Michael Jackson, the Royal wedding and General Election results.
EastEnders airs weeknights on BBC One.
Comments
Post a Comment