Eastenders Out Of Date?

[EDDIE51]

Apparently houses in Fassett Square ( the 'real' Albert Square) now sell for £700,000 each! Should this be reflected in the show?
http://www.itv.com/news/2014-01-28/eastenders-new-boss-says-show-must-reflect-the-modern-east-end-including-shoreditch/

[FredPuli43]

If it does, the younger men will all be driving Audis and the pub will be a gastro pub.

How much did the pub sell for? Not much, as I recall, but pubs aren't priced as houses and the terms of the sale weren't explicit, so that might have been right. The legal aspects were rather glossed over !.

[Old_Geezer]

It is meant to depict folks' traditional view of London/cockney characters. It wouldn't be the same show and may not appeal to the same folk if they muck around with the formula.

[andy-hughes]

Soaps have to exist 'in aspic' as the producer refers to EastEnders.

Any soap, from any country, falls apart under the slightest reasonable scrutiny.

The level of drama that affects the small locations of any soap would attract national headlines in 'real life'.

The large number of deeply unpleasant people that populate Albert Square would mean that anyone with a modicum of sanity would be running for the hills in less than a week - not remaining there to become embroiled in the nasty small-minded pointless endless petty minutia that makes up daily 'lives' in Albert Square.

So I would suggest they leave well alone - and leave soap islands where they exist, in the imaginations of writers and viewers alike. It's not broke, don't fix it.

[EDDIE51]

In the real area depicted as Albert Sq all the houses are owned by millionaires or high profile city financiers, no one else can afford them. Shoreditch (Walford) is now one of the most desirable areas in London.

[andy-hughes]

I remember Alistair McGowan used to do a running Eastenders slot on his impressions show, and one of these involved everyone having sold their expensive properties to ruch buyers, making them millionaires.

Let's face it - huge Victorian terraces in walking distance a tube station = ker-ching!

[ToraToraTora]

why? Nothing else in the show is remotely connected to real life. It's basically tabloid TV competing with it's rivals for the viewers of the lowest common denominator.

[gingejbee]

EDDIE: and do the inhabitants of Fassett Square all work within 15 metres of their front doors?

[EDDIE51]

I very much dought it gingejbee, I bet their is no lauderette either

[ToraToraTora]

I haven't watched for about 20 years so forgive me but have any of them got washing machines yet?

[EDDIE51]

The one thing you NEVER see any 'soap' character doing is watching television.
I think some of the 'Enders' houses still have outside toilets never mind a washing machine.

[Ric.ror]

To be honest I thought £700k was an underestimate. You'd struggle to get a decent one up here for that.
And it's much nicer up here

[March-Hare]

The Queen Vic sold for £400,000 I think