Fears for EastEnders’ future as fans turn off over ‘desperate’ plots and ‘awake’ storylines
Fears for EastEnders’ future have reportedly been fueled by fans turning off in droves lately over ‘desperate’ plots and awakened storylines.
In the heyday of the BBC soap, the program would attract up to 30 million viewers, with storylines such as the divorce of Den and Angie Watts predominating, but today the show barely manages to attract a million viewers.
Viewers are said to have been put off by ridiculous recent plots such as soap opera legend Cindy Beale returning from the dead – which has been labeled a ‘desperate move’ – while also claiming that the stories have ‘awakened’.
The decision to build an eye-catching £87m new set is also said to have come under scrutiny on the show, despite the program winning big at the recent British Soap Awards, with four gongs in publicly voted categories .
And now according to The sunit would be a ‘worrying time’ for EastEnders, with gloomy predictions that viewers may be watching the BBC soap’s ‘last days’.
Switch off? Fears for EastEnders’ future have been fueled by fans turning off en masse in recent times over ‘desperate’ plots and awakened storylines, it has been reported
Concern: The show has seen an alarming drop in ratings in recent years
Before and after: EastEnders’ old set has finally been demolished, more than a year after the BBC soap moved to its brand new £87 million set
Highlight: In the BBC soap’s heyday, it would attract audiences of up to 30 million, with storylines such as Den and Angie Watts’ divorce predominating – today, however, it barely manages to attract a million viewers
A source told the publication: ‘It’s a worrying time for EastEnders.
“It used to be the show everyone was talking about, but it’s now in a precarious position where older viewers are dropping out and younger viewers are not interested.
“Bringing back presumed dead characters is a desperate move that rarely works, but EastEnders is really running out of options. We could look at the last few years.’
Despite the concerns, an insider said: “EastEnders still remains an institution as far as the BBC is concerned and the feedback is that young people love it…
They were especially attached to the recent pregnancy storyline where 11-year-old Lily Slater announced she was having a baby. The figures are far from what they used to be, but the bosses are very hungry.’
An EastEnders spokesperson told MailOnline: “EastEnders episodes are made live to the public every morning at 6am on BBC iPlayer, giving audiences the choice to watch where and when they want…
Changes: Filming began in January 2022 on the brand new set, which is located just a stone’s throw from the old location at the BBC’s Elstree Center in Borehamwood.
Uh oh: Viewers are said to have been put off by ridiculous recent plots like soap opera legend Cindy Beale returning from the dead – which has been branded a ‘desperate move’
“So if episodes are moved to a different day or channel because of a live sporting event, it’s no surprise that this is reflected in the captive nighttime audience…
“EastEnders has been streamed almost 18 million times on BBC iPlayer in the last two weeks and remains one of iPlayer’s most popular programmes.”
EastEnders shocked last month when Cindy Beale came back from the dead, as Michelle Collins reprized her role after 25 years.
It turned out she was given witness protection after her former cellmate wanted her dead – with Cindy also revealing that she is George Knight’s long-lost wife ‘Rose’, who has been hiding out in France with her ex Ian Beale.
However, despite the shocking turn of events, The Sun claims executive producer Chris Clenshaw’s “desperate move” to be her back has not led to “the desired uptick.”
With actress Michelle herself saying she thought it was a “ridiculous idea” when she first heard the plot.
Under pressure: Though the decision to build an eye-catching £87m new set has also apparently come under scrutiny
Oh no: It’s said to be a ‘worrying time’ for EastEnders, with gloomy forecasts viewers may be watching the BBC soap’s ‘final days’
And figures show the BBC drama is struggling to compete with ITV rivals Emmerdale and Coronation Street, which regularly attract four million fans.
The soap has also reportedly had well-known former stars share criticism of storylines, with Mick Carter actor Danny Dyer previously saying of his character, “I couldn’t remember exactly who I was playing.”
While also referring to the declining ratings, he noted that several people had asked him over the years if he was still on the soap as they stopped watching it.
Elsewhere, Heather Trott actress Cheryl Ferguson is said to have claimed the show was no longer “relatable” because it was too violent.
It comes as it’s been revealed that the soap’s writers have planned some vicious dynamite battles between the Cindy and her former mother-in-law, Kathy Beale – played by Gillian Taylforth.
Drama: It comes as it has been revealed that the soap’s writers have planned some vicious dynamite battles between the Cindy and her former mother-in-law, Kathy Beale – played by Gillian Taylforth (pictured)
They infamously despised each other after Cindy cheated on Kathy’s son Ian with David Wickes – and now EastEnders executive producer Chris Clenshaw has described the moment when they come face to face again, 26 years after Cindy left as ‘absolute dynamite’.
Chris said: “Cindy is a little bit softer because of everything that’s happened, after living another identity for 25 years and lying to her other family…
“What becomes very clear later in the year when she returns to Walford is that it won’t be long before we see flashes of the old Cindy Beale and she’s still got him, there’s definitely dynamite between Cindy and Kathy…
“It doesn’t take long and it’s still the same Cindy at the core, she’s just had an amazing journey since we last saw her.”
Tension: Executive producer Chris Clenshaw said, ‘It doesn’t last long and it’s still the same Cindy at the core, she’s just been on an amazing journey since we last saw her’