Soap doom hits ratings

2:01pm Friday 11th May 2012 in On My Mind.... Photograph of the Author By Lorelei Reddin , Entertainments Editor

You'd be much better off watching Southampton's own Kai and Natalia in action You'd be much better off watching Southampton's own Kai and Natalia in action

DEATH, murder, rape, cancer, misery.

And BBC bosses wonder why no one watches EastEnders any more.

Ratings have plunged to less than six million for the first time in its history, down from a historic high of more than three times that.

They’ve attempted to blame ratings sensation Britain’s Got Talent, which clashes with the soap on ITV. But as big a draw as BGT is, particularly the fancy footwork of our fabulous local talents Kai Widdrington and Natalia Jeved, that’s just an excuse.

Millions of fed up fans have deserted the show over months and even years because the storylines are so dreadfully depressing.

I gave up on the soap a long time ago, but from what I can gather from the odd few minutes I do catch, cheating and beating is about all they can muster at the moment.

At least rival Corrie, which is still pulling in around 8.5 million viewers, brings a touch of humour to life on the cobbles with Norris at his belligerent best and the Platt mob up to their usual ridiculous antics.

But, Enders has bumped off even the vaguely amusing characters Pat with her comedy earrings and George Michael obsessed Heather.

There’s plenty enough doom and gloom in the world and, as well as much needed scandal, I’d like to see the EastEnders scriptwriters bring a little joy to Albert Square.

Perhaps The Queen could pay a visit to Walford Market as part of her Jubilee tour, Billy Mitchell will win the lottery, Dot Cotton could discover a cure for lung cancer and I’d choose Kat and Alfie to live happily ever after.

Go on, make my day.

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Comments(4)

lowe esteem says...
2:33pm Mon 14 May 12

...and Simon Cowell could script write and star in a 'Soap'...oh, he already is!

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BillyTheKid says...
1:05pm Thu 17 May 12

The quality of studio-bound TV programmes, generally, is so poor, that people are probably watching DVDs instead. Kids in nasty suits masquerading as comics, soaps that plunge the depths of human misery and depravity, chat shows that lack any substantial content, so-called "talent" shows dominated by hammy teams of judges - it's "holiday camp" entertainment at its worst. And whenever they actually come up with something good, like Merlin, they drag it out and milk it to death.

There should be modern equivalents of David Frost, the Pythons, the Sweeney, oh...I could list dozens of people, programmes, and shows from the past that still outclass anything on offer today.

TV lacks inspiration, imagination and talent, and where there is any, it is not exploited. My own personal view is that, for instance, Jonathan Ross is an appalling chat show host, but excellent on serious things like Film2000, or whatever it was called.

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good-gosh says...
10:01pm Sun 27 May 12

I nicknamed the BBC’s theatrical troupe “The BBC Angry Shouting Department” many years ago. Perhaps the actors get aggression bonuses?

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lowe esteem says...
11:54am Fri 1 Jun 12

Name a character you've actually liked on Eastenders and I bet you they've killed'em off.

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