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Brief history

Whose idea? Producer Julia Smith and script editor Tony Holland who had worked together on dramas like Angels sat in a Shepherd's Bush pub one afternoon et voilà! The Mitchells, Beales and Wellard were born.

Where's it set? The fictitious London borough of Walford, more specifically Albert Square, E20, dahn the East End mate.

The very start: There was a statement of intent from day one with the death of resident Reg Cox (killed it was later revealed by Nick Cotton).

Controversy! 'Enders isn't afraid to tackle such thorny issues as prostitution (unmarried mum Mary), homosexuality (lovers Colin and Barry), HIV/Aids (Mark Fowler succumbed to the illness in 2004), literacy ('Sponger' Keith) and rape (Kathy Beale and, more recently, Little Mo).

26 January 2007