This month EastEnders celebrates 40 years on our screens, and to mark the occasion we asked our members about their experiences working on the show, what EastEnders has meant to them as a director, and the important role the programme has played in our industry.
Read what they had to say below.
What was it like to get your first credit on EastEnders?
“Getting the first credit on any show is always a huge buzz, but getting a first credit on EastEnders — a show watched by different generations in my family and a show I watched as a kid — that was extra special and an unforgettable moment.” – Alan de Pellette
“It was everything. It was my first job in TV drama and from those two episodes came the rest of my career. I owe EastEnders everything.” – Indra Bhose
What is directing an episode of EastEnders like?
“Directing a block of EastEnders is like riding the best rollercoaster in the fairground! It’s fast, it’s fun and you’re well strapped in, with machinery that won’t fail you.” – Indra Bhose
“I found it great fun. Really thrilling, exhilarating. You have to make quick decisions, focus on performance and capturing it.” – Rebecca Gatward
“Working on EastEnders was fast and furious. Occasionally, it felt like I was having an out of body experience and had fallen into my television. At those speeds, everyone had to be at the top of their game.” – Christiana Ebohon-Green
“It’s challenging! EastEnders gives you exciting stories to direct and great actors and crews to work with, but you have to have your wits about you. All directors bring the highest ambition to the show in terms of performance and shooting but you have to shoot twelve scenes a day. It’s life at the roulette wheel, constantly pitching your ambition against the clock!” – David Tucker
“Directing EastEnders is demanding. You have to think fast, it can be very difficult, but ultimately it’s more satisfying than anything else I’ve done” – Karl Neilson
“It’s quite fast and exciting but supportive, with a well oiled production machine — often giving directors their first mainstream TV break.” – Beryl Richards
“EastEnders is busy, fast and furious both in terms of story and production. The schedules are tight and complicated but also exhilarating. It’s what I imagine it’s like going in to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra, everyone knows their stuff and you better know what you’re doing.” – David Kester
What does EastEnders mean to the industry?
“EastEnders is a way in, regardless of background, to all TV jobs including directing. It has trained up and given to the industry so many talented people who without it may never have found a way in. The industry owes a huge debt to EastEnders.” – Karl Neilson
“I think EastEnders at it’s best remains a powerhouse of British drama and a real cultural barometer for the UK. As well as employing thousands of actors and crew.” – David Kester
“EastEnders is a long-running stable show, so it’s been at the forefront of a number of innovations to make working in TV less of a sacrifice on family life, and to make sets accessible so anyone with talent can join the team. Good habits formed on EastEnders have a real impact across the industry.” – Owen Tooth
“Long running soaps that tackle the issues of the day have impact far outside our industry. They add to social discourse and are an essential part of how our society views itself. In doing that, the knock on effect on our industry has been enormous.” – John Dower
“EastEnders and all continuing dramas have had an unparalleled positive impact on our industry, by giving so many cast, crew, writers, producers and directors the chance to learn and develop their craft. EastEnders has been particularly positive in portraying working class life on screen and giving working class people opportunities.” – Alan de Pellette
What has your work on EastEnders taught you about the craft of directing?
“I think it’s reinforced what I’ve always known — that good directing requires a great deal of preparation and planning that has to appear effortless, so that the work on the floor feels spontaneous and organic.” – David Tucker
“The demands of detailed camera and edit planning has unexpectedly honed my skills at visualising scenes in my head. Working with simultaneous multi-cameras means you think very three dimensionally and come to quick decisions about scene structure and storytelling emphasis.” – John Dower
“Working on EastEnders has enhanced my knowledge of using multiple cameras creatively and given me a bigger appreciation of the positives of filming in studios. It’s also given me the confidence to trust my instincts, work more efficiently and not worry about what I haven’t shot!” – Alan de Pellette
“Trust your instinct and act on it, you’ve no time to do anything else. Some of the best work is made quickly.” – Rebecca Gatward
“Working at speed enables you to think faster and to maintain your composure under intense pressure. It also forces you to make quick decisions and to come up with concise and creative notes without much time to think and hone them. I am an immeasurably better director as a result of my time on EastEnders.”– Sarah Esdaile
“The unique demands of the show taught me how to hyperfocus, to know that you can solve any problem under pressure.”– Karl Neilson
“EastEnders has really driven home to me that the first job when planning a scene is to focus on the core elements; whose perspective is the scene from? what journey are they on emotionally? and what’s the turning point of the scene? Every choice comes out of that. You know what though, one of the biggest things I’ve learned isn’t about the craft, it’s about the community. Working on EastEnders is a rare treat in that you work alongside other directors, and without fail they’ve offered advice and help, shared tips for difficult sets or ways they’ve found to streamline their work, or just chatted through ideas for a scene.” – Owen Tooth
“Leslie Grantham told me not to worry about the technical aspects as I had always worked behind the camera, but to spend my energy getting the best out of the actors. This has served me well.” – Henry Foster
“If you’re well prepared, have planned properly and can stand the intensity of EastEnders you can probably direct anything.” – David Kester
“Prep well. Be flexible. Be kind. Have fun.” – Indra Bhose
What does EastEnders mean to you?
“Now that I think back, I realise that EastEnders gave me a lot of happy memories. I remember walking around the sets on my own after killing Barry in Scotland. I was on my own, saying goodbye. I thought I’d never be back. But then, 20 years later, I was. Lots of old faces still there and they all remembered me... EastEnders is a lovely old girl. I love it.” – Tim Leandro
“I think that people understand that if you can withstand the pressures of working on EastEnders then you can do most other things! It was also very exciting to me to reach such a wide audience and to be part of telling a story that I have been watching and enjoying for many years.” – Sarah Esdaile
“I think people underestimate the immense skill required to keep a drama relevant and popular for such a long time, week in week out. When I’m there I’m always struck by how much cast and crew, who have been there for decades, still care passionately about every scene and every shot.” – David Kester
“I use the skills I have learned as a director on the show everytime I work on a new project – from video game cinematics to developing short films. The experience and confidence I gained have been immeasurable. Thank you to Sharon Batten and the rest of the team at EastEnders for giving me that opportunity.” – John Dower
“I remember watching the very first episode of EastEnders, I hope I never see the last.” – Karl Neilson
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