Why do people like Eastenders?

Question

What is it about Eastenders that people like so much? Its so gloomy and depressing with over the top storylines. Is it seen as trendy to like Ee rather than Coronation St which is far better even though thats gone stupid lately?, but at least its got plenty of humour in it. I just wonder if southerners don't 'get' the northern humour or perhaps southerners are just more serious in general?

Answer 1

It's become a habit for me to watch EastEnders. I've never been into Coronation Street or Emmerdale and I just seem to have stuck with EE. I don't watch it because it's 'trendy' to do so, it's just part of habit.

Answer 2

You have answered your own question, in part.

Eastender, like Corrie and other soaps in that style appeal to others because they generally show people having a worse off time than the viewers - even if it is unrealistic and silly. In fact, when Corrie was first aired, it was predicted that it would never last, as it was gloomy... A simple case to point to is that when someone in Eastenders loses a job, their world falls apart and they are at risk of losing their home - rather than the reality of going to sign on and get housing benefit, which never seems to arise - lol.

As for the North South divide, I think that is really just a case of having more appreciation for similar settings - with the possible chance of Corrie also being seen to be rather old and aimed more at an older audience (no matter how untrue this may or may not be).

There is also plenty of humour in Eastenders, although it is not always present.



Interestingly, there is a completely different style of soaps, that appeals due to showing a much better quality of life, that is out of the reach of most people - this goes as far back as Dallas and includes many new US soaps, as well as Hollyoaks.

Answer 3

I've watched both soaps on and off (I'm not from UK originally). I live in Manchester so I preferred Corrie, but once something happened there which annoyed me a lot so I dropped it (if you care to know, some years ago there were Polish workers in the factory and somebody called immigration on them, which was totally idiotic--Polish people couldn't be illegal if they wanted to!, maybe it's the writers, not viewers, who should "get a life" and check up on news occasionally, then they wouldn't make such ridiculous mistakes), I've watched it during the tram crash week and maybe two episodes since.



I settled on Eastenders as my boyfriend also likes to watch it and as you say, it's harmless escapism. Most of the characters on Corrie just annoy me, Sally, Gail, Maria is so stupid and whiney, Steve always sounds nervous when he speaks and don't get me started on Fiz. As for John, he couldn't scare a fly. I like the characters in EE better, which is the main thing for me. I don't know about the humour thing, I never found either of the soaps particularly funny and bad things happen in both (come on, half the people on Corrie work in a factory and never seem to progress anywhere, even I managed to get a decent job after coming here!).



Anyway, thinking about it now, London is a huge city, much larger than Manchester of course, people in larger city are less warmer and friendlier than in smaller ones, it's completely natural, I guess big city is quite cut throat and the attitude is different (generally, not just in this country.) That may be what makes them more serious, like you say.

Answer 4

As others have said EastEnders is seen as a 'young' soap while Corrie & especially Emmerdale are seen more for older viewers.

That of course doesn't explain why Hollyoaks, which is specifically aimed at teenagers, doesn't get more viewers.



This perception is all wrong.

I've just totted them up & here are the stats for characters under 30 years old:



EastEnders - - - 24 out of a cast of 67.

Coronation Street - - - 31 out of a cast of 72.

Emmerdale - - - 33 out of a cast of 71.



As you can see, it is Emmerdale which has the younger cast, not EastEnders.



There is also some snobbery from Southerners who think that nothing outside of London is worth bothering with.

Answer 5

Brookside was the best soap until the last producer ruined it with too many far fetched stories. Eastenders is going the same way with Bryan Kirkwood as producer.

I used to watch Eastenders, Coronation Street and Brookside but I gave up on Corrie about five years ago due to boredom and haven't watched it since, it sounds like that's going the same way as the others, too far fetched and over sensational.

I just watch Eastenders now, more out of habit than anything else. It does have plenty of humour if you find people's bad attempts at acting funny, I do.

Answer 6

People seem to think its trendy to like EE. If you tell someone you like Corrie or emmerdale they say 'its full of old people' They associate those 2 soaps with the older generation for some reason. Its daft because Emmerdale especially has a very young (and good looking ) cast!

EE doesn't really have any old characters apart from Dot. And the youngsters are qute chavvy like Whitney, Fatboy, Darren, Jodie etc. These type of people appeal to teens for some reason!

I like EE when its on form but lately it has been terrible. Emmerdale is much better.

Answer 7

I think the rot set in with these soaps when they started having them on 4 times a week.



They are not interesting enough to be shown that much (plus the omnibus editions). I watch EE under duress with my better half and it is so repetitive you can miss it for 2weeks and still pick up the story line with ease.



I dont know about Corrie but I used to enjoy Neigbours in the old days cos it was rubbish but fun and cheerful.

Answer 8

Well I'm a Southerner and I have to say that I wouldn't watch Eastenders for all the money in the world. As you say, it's so depressing! To be honest, I don't watch any soaps but Eastenders seems to top the list for thoroughly pi$$ing me off!

Answer 9

I agree with Tinkerbell, its a habit. i started watching it in my childhood when the first episode came out. Its grown up with me and vice versa if you get me. Lots of memories.. Its part of my weekly routine plus Im a londoner. I do appreciate Corrie but its too dull for me personally, almost a bit simple. Eastenders despite not being better is a bit more intelligent.

Answer 10

i think its more every day drama stuff that happens everytwhere in the world everyday i love estenders and coronation street they both have huour and cover real life stories and different ways people deal with things at the edn of the day uve just got to remember its only a soap!

Answer 11

cos they're gloomy folk emmerdale is easily the best soap it doesn't take it's self to seriously and you are guarenteed a laugh almost every episode

Answer 12

I'm not sure why, I find it quite depressing, yet, it always wins the soap awards??