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Eastenders

(22 Posts)
Brendawymms Mon 30-Dec-13 13:07:05

I know many, many people are devoted Eastenders fans but do we really need it EVERY week night for the last two weeks at prime time in the evening.
As a genuine Cockney, born within sound of Bow bells, I find nothing to like about it. Not the false accent, not the lives of the characters. Eastenders are of course a mixed lot, the good, the bad and the ugly but none of them, even the notorious criminals, were as horrid as some of the characters in this programme.
My sister, I have to admit, would not miss an episode!
I am sure I will upset some but my main point is, does it have to be on every night?

dollie Mon 30-Dec-13 13:28:15

i think there are too many episodes of all soaps on the tv...the story lines drag on for weeks and they get really stupid!!!

Bellasnana Mon 30-Dec-13 13:29:34

I stopped watching it some years ago as all they seemed to do was shout and fight. Too depressing sad

Anne58 Mon 30-Dec-13 13:35:17

We used to watch the Omnibus edition years ago (around 2003?) gave up and wouldn't have a clue who many of the current characters are!

However, I do have a bit of an Archers addiction.......

kittylester Mon 30-Dec-13 13:47:23

I love Eastenders - it's the only soap I watch. The thing that worries me is that they seem to leave the babies and children at home on their own quite often tchshock. I drive DH mad by continually asking where Lola's baby is, or who has Scarlett etc!

tanith Mon 30-Dec-13 13:51:10

I'm also a watcher of Eastenders but for those that don't like it there is an off button or a channel changer... why complain about something that it is completely within your control to ignore.. IYSWIM!

jinglbellrocks Mon 30-Dec-13 14:20:49

I love Eastenders too. Good sound characters.

Was sad that Michael had to go. He was so funny. And weird.

annodomini Mon 30-Dec-13 14:37:07

Too right Tanith. I used to watch it for a course I was teaching. Was so glad to be able to use the off button!

ninathenana Mon 30-Dec-13 15:59:44

I do watch it but agree 'the soaps' are on too often. kitty I frequently comment on that too tchgrin I also wonder why non of them posses a washing machine.

Michael was seriously weird.

glammanana Mon 30-Dec-13 16:01:16

It does seem that once the children go up the stairs they never seem to return again for a long while,and I do remember in Coronation Street the "Platts" children survived on beans on toast that's all they where ever offered for their tea !! how sad am I ?

numberplease Mon 30-Dec-13 17:49:44

I LOVE Eastenders, it`s the only British soap I watch since Brookside finished. The only other soaps I watch are Neighbours and Home and Away, miss them when they go off for a couple of weeks over Christmas. Actually, most days over Christmas, Eastenders has been the only thing we`ve switched on for!

Pittcity Mon 30-Dec-13 21:02:02

I have watched Eastenders since the first episode, it drives my DH mad so I record it and watch when he is out. It is one of those programmes you can have on in the background while browsing Gransnet and still not miss much!!
I always wonder how they manage to invite people for Christmas with 5 minutes notice and get them all round the table and where do they all sleep?
Also how can they afford to drink at the pub and eat at the cafe every day?

granjura Mon 30-Dec-13 21:54:44

East Enders is the only UK soap I watch- but only if I am at home. I never record it if I have to miss it or if I am on holiday, etc.

And yes- where on earth fo they all sleep? Sometimes about 15 in a 2 up 2 down- and half of them who don't even speak to each other smile

Soutra Mon 30-Dec-13 22:16:04

But ( although I haven't watched it for at least 5 years ) from observation, they do all seem to be sleeping with each other!! tchgrin. Maybe it is because of the overcrowding???

Deedaa Mon 30-Dec-13 22:40:18

I haven't watched it for years. I gave up once they started all the murders. I used to enjoy it when it first started (only twice a week of course) and the characters were actually believable. Emmerdale was the same, when it was Emmerdale Farm it had recognisable characters like the people in my village and the plots were pretty much country life as I knew it.

Flowerofthewest Mon 30-Dec-13 22:49:19

Love Eastenders too. Does anyone agree there is an awful lot of snobbery around soaps and watching them. I think there are many closet watchers myself. My DDH moans about them but he will walk into the room and ask 'Oh, what happened to so and so?' or 'Did she have the baby then?' and such like.

Tegan Mon 30-Dec-13 23:07:14

I can't watch a programme that has Phil Mitchell as a babe magnet, even though it is fiction [I can't suspend disbelief that much].

Ana Mon 30-Dec-13 23:10:11

Yes, I agree about the snobbery aspect, Flowerofthewest. I don't watch Eastenders, but I do watch Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

If others only watch earnest documentaries or don't watch tv at all, that's fine by me!

KatyK Tue 31-Dec-13 13:52:57

When I am feeling particularly low, I watch Eastenders and instantly feel worse! I love Cornonation St though and Flower my DH is exactly the same. He says 'why do you watch this tripe?' Then if he comes in while it's on he says 'what's happening there then?' or 'I thought he had died'. confused

littlegran Tue 31-Dec-13 16:15:22

i enjoy watching all the soaps including Doctors and miss tthem over Xmas. that does not mean i dont watch other more serious programmes. especially like documentaries. living on my own i can please myself.

Flowerofthewest Tue 31-Dec-13 21:34:21

KatyK think we are married to a bigamist grin

Deedaa Tue 31-Dec-13 22:25:59

Phil Mitchell was a neighbour of ours in Cornwall years ago and definitely not a babe magnet Tegan ! It's the total character changes I object to. When the Mitchells arrived Phil was Mr Nice Guy, looking out for Grant (I saw something nasty in the Falklands) then, all of a sudden, he's a multi shagging, aggressive alcoholic!