At a press event earlier this week, EastEnders' new Executive Producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, set out his vision for the future of the show - with the promise of exciting times ahead for viewers.
"We’ve all been working really, really hard behind the scenes over the last few months," he revealed. "And hopefully it all shows on screen. There’s an amazing team here who all really, really love the show.
"We’re going to take EastEnders forward into the 21st Century. We’re shaking up the show a little bit. EastEnders is not a warm bath. It’s not a show that gives you a cuddle. It’s a feral, untamed animal. It’s the show I wasn’t really allowed to watch when I was little. I used to sneak down and watch it secretly because it’s naughty, angry show about life.
"Everybody always says that EastEnders is miserable. It’s not miserable. Life, though, is difficult, and EastEnders reflects that. EastEnders shows that when life is difficult you pick yourself up, brush yourself down, paint on a smile and keep going. And, actually, if EastEnders was all warm and cuddly and comedy hi-jinks, no one would watch it. So our aim is to give EastEnders its balls back. It’s about ordinary people living extraordinary lives."
There were more hints of what's to come too.
"Some things are changing. There’s a new car lot. There are a few new sets and more to come. We’re also showing a bit more of East London on the outskirts as well."
A life-long fan of the show, Dominic also recalled his first memories of EastEnders. "I personally remember getting my Radio Times commemorative pull-out for the first episode. I was born ten minutes up the road. I put my head through the gates here, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and said 'One day, I want to work here.'
"I was story producer here for three years, then went away, missed every day, and came back at the end of August. I’m a fan, I know the show, but because I’ve been away I can hopefully look at it with fresh eyes and see what works and what doesn’t work.
"We have to be careful not to get too over-excited and be like a boy with a new toy box... You don’t want to shake it too much and make it break."
Looking forward to EastEnders' epic festive storylines and beyond, Dominic revealed that "It’s a very special Christmas. Simon Ashdown has written a beautiful episode. Michael French performs his socks off and Lindsey (Coulson), Danny Dyer and Patsy Palmer do too.
"We want to make the best drama on the telly. EastEnders is about life, and life can be difficult. I think the message is “We’re fighting. We’re fighting back.”
We'll have more exciting news about EastEnders' future and other special content from the event right here on the blog shortly, so don't forget to check back!
