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Cast members past and present celebrate 30 years of EastEnders with an evening of music, song and a good old cockney knees-up at London's Hackney Empire.

Friday Night is EastEnders Night . As part of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One soap's 30th anniversary celebrations Bobby Davro and EastEnders past and present gather for an evening of music, song and a good old cockney knees-up at London's Hackney Empire.

In February 1985 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Controller Michael Grade launched his new look evening schedule. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays a live chat show hosted by none other than Radio 2's Terry Wogan. Tuesdays and Thursdays were to be a brand new drama series - a soap - to challenge its 25 year old ITV rival Coronation Street - the series was called EastEnders.

Created by producer Julia Smith and script editor Tony Holland EastEnders was set in a fictional square in London E20. It was a world of strong East End families (the Fowlers, the Beales, the Watts, the Mitchells) and cantankerous East End matriarchs ( Lou Beale, Pauline Fowler, Mo Harris, Pat Butcher and Peggy Mitchell). Plus, of course, a splattering of East End villains - Dirty Den, Nick Cotton, Trevor Morgan and Archie Mitchell. Its aim was to portray real life with gritty and often controversial storylines.

How we love a whodunnit! Who did kill Lucy Beale? Who shot Phil? Who murdered Archie Mitchell? 30 years on EastEnders is a substantial success for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.Sold and shown worldwide , 3 decades on it is still attracting a large share of the TV viewing audience.

Tonight, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra conducted by Mike Dixon invite EastEnders past and present to let their hair down and take to the stage of the Hackney Empire. As it turns out many EastEnders are also West Enders having trod the boards and learnt their trade in musical theatre. Tonight's guests include Shona McGarty(Whitney Dean), Tameka Empson(Kim Fox)Declan Bennett(Charlie Cotton), and Johnny Partridge(Christian Clarke). We recall the history and some favourite doff-doff moments - the cliff-hanger at the end of each episode illustrated by a drum break to entice us back to the next episode...doff, doff, doff, doff, doff,doff,doff, doff,doff.....

Concert first broadcast in February 2015.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 May 2015 20:00

Music Played

  • BOBBY DAVRO

    LONDON IS LONDON

  • Simon May

    Eastenders Theme (2009 Version)

  • Johnny Partridge and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB. Mike Dixon

    Feeling Good

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    DANCING IN THE STREET

  • Shona McGarty and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    ONE NIGHT ONLY

  • Declan Bennett

    ROMEO AND JULIET

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    CAN'T BUY ME LOVE

  • Bobby Davro and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    Come Fly With Me

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    Thriller

  • Sharon D Clarke and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH

  • Johnny Partridge and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB. Mike Dixon

    Lambeth Walk

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    FLASHDANCE

  • Bobby Davro and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    ALL THE WAY

  • Tameka Empson and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    Big Spender

  • Johnny Partridge and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB. Mike Dixon

    Me And Liza

  • Declan Bennett

    Freer

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

  • Sharon D Clarke and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    I've Got To Sing My Song

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    Peggy's Theme

  • Sharon D Clarke and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra CB Mike Dixon

    My Old Man

  • Simon May

    Eastenders Theme (2009 Version)

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Ken Bruce
Performer Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra

Broadcasts

  • Fri 13 Feb 2015 20:00
  • Fri 15 May 2015 20:00