EastEnders is facing a ratings crisis and a furious backlash from viewers after a string of characters were axed in quick succession. The BBC soap recorded its lowest audience of the year on Thursday, with 6.36 million tuning in, while rival Coronation Street enjoyed a year-high of more than 9.5 million last Monday.
Fans have taken to online forums to criticise the show. One user, Total Telly, wrote on Digital Spy's forum: "It will take a genius to save the train-wreck that is EastEnders." Another, Broken Arrow, said: "It used to be gritty kitchen sink drama but most of the time it's like a bad sitcom." Viewers have described the serial as "virtually unrecognisable" after the cast exodus.
The drop follows a major overhaul last year, with characters including Pat and Ricky Butcher, Derek Branning, Heather Trott and Syed Masood leaving Albert Square. Zainab Masood departed in February, while Michael Moon, Jack and Tanya Branning are all due to leave this year. Janine Butcher and Dot Cotton have also been absent from screens after actresses Charlie Brooks and June Brown took lengthy breaks.
Behind the scenes, producer Bryan Kirkwood and drama boss John Yorke left last year, to be replaced by Lorraine Newman. Ratings have been on the slide for more than a year, and it emerged last May that nearly 10% of the audience had turned off.
So far in 2013, EastEnders has averaged just 7.9 million an episode, well behind ITV rival Coronation Street's 9.3 million. A BBC insider said: "The show is no longer the top soap because while Corrie is going from strength-to-strength EastEnders has lost its way." An official spokesperson insisted: "We are confident the show is heading in the right direction."
