EastEnders is a popular BBC television soap opera, first broadcast on
19 February 1985. It has been running ever since, generating strong viewing figures for much of that time, and has been the
UK's highest rating programme on numerous occasions.
Despite the strong criticism of the show by critics in 2004 and 2005, EastEnders won the prestigious National Television Award for "most popular Serial Drama" (an award it has won several times in the past ten years) in October 2005, was inducted into
the Rose d'Or Hall of Fame in April 2006, and in May 2006 won the
BAFTA for "Best Continuing Drama". It also won seven British Soap Awards in May 2006, including the award for "Best British Soap".