“Eastenders” is set in the fictional district of Walford, London E20. (When this was introduced it did not exist as a real postal district. Until 2011 East London postal districts went up to E18 (Woodford) but E20 was added to encompass the Olympic Park area). A further clue to the area intended in the fictional portrayal is that, when the London tube map is displayed in association with the series, “Walford” occupies the space which is, in reality, Bromley-by-Bow. So it seems reasonable to assume that this is the area the writers intend their audience to believe Walford is.
So now to the reality. I know East London very well, having lived there for the first 24 years of my life and it is an area which I still visit from time to time. Bromley-by-Bow is roughly half way between Mile End and West Ham and lies in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Just 25% of the ward (Bromley North) described themselves as “white British” in the 2011 census. 42% were of Bangladshi origin. The current councillors for the ward are Khales Udin Ahmed Mohammed Mufti Miah.
I have never really watched Eastenders but have caught the occasional snippet. (Most of the scenes I have caught seem to take place in the pub. The participants’ lines always seem to begin “Woss your game? Woss goin’ on? Wot you up to? Woss ‘appenin’?” However, I don’t seem to recall seeing only one in four of the characters being white British. Of course those of Bangladeshi origin are unlikely to be found in the pub. However, looking at the names of the current list of characters (which number about 70) I can only find three or four with names likely to identify them as of Asian origin.
I would suggest if the BBC really wants the make the series a true reflection of life in Bromley-by-Bow they should:
- Shut the Queen Vic and turn it into a Bangladeshi Community centre.
- Construct a mosque in the open space in the Middle of Albert Square
- Get rid of 75% of the current cast and replace them with people who are not “white British”
- Run a story line about a corrupt elected Muslim mayor who was thrown out of office for electoral offences and barred from politics.
- Run the Friday edition to include street scenes from around 3pm showing vast numbers of males making their way home from “Friday prayers”.
- Run a story line showing a Sharia Court deliberating on a woman’s divorce settlement.