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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''EastEnders'' in popular culture}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
Since its premiere in
==In television==
A charity
[[
▲A charity special crossover between the [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and ''EastEnders'', ''[[Dimensions in Time]]'', was filmed in 1993 for [[Children In Need]] and ran in two parts on [[November 26]] and 27, 1993. It has been proven as non-[[canon (fiction)|canon]] by various refences of ''Doctor Who'' as fiction in ''EastEnders'', and vice versa.
Characters have also been [[Parody|spoof]]ed in the successful BBC comedy sketch show, ''[[The Real McCoy (TV series)|The Real McCoy]]'' (1991–1995). ''EastEnders'' and its characters were frequently [[Parody|spoof]]ed in the [[impressionism|impressionist]] [[sketch show]] ''[[Big Impression]]'', starring [[Alistair McGowan]] and [[Ronni Ancona]]. ''Big Impression'' once screened a one-off special, focusing on ''EastEnders'', called ''Alistair McGowan's BigEnders''. The cartoon sketch show ''[[2DTV]]'' has also spoofed ''EastEnders'' on many occasions.
The character of [[Pauline Fowler]] was mentioned in the successful [[BBC]] [[drama]] ''[[This Life (1996 TV series)|This Life]]'' in 1997. In one episode of the show two key characters, Anna and Ferdy, watched an episode of ''EastEnders'' on television and mocked Pauline's hysterics and her well documented tendency to wear cardigans.▼
▲[[Image:2dtveastenderscast.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Barry, Sharon, [[Phil Mitchell|Phil]], Pat, Peggy, [[Beppe di Marco|Beppe]], [[Mark Fowler|Mark]] and Dot in ''2DTV''.]]
EastEnders was mentioned in the first episode of [[Channel 4]] [[sitcom]] [[Spaced]], as Tim and Daisy are finding out about each other in order to pose as a couple to get a cheap flat.
▲The character of [[Pauline Fowler]] was mentioned in the successful BBC drama ''[[This Life]]'' in 1997. In one episode of the show two key characters, Anna and Ferdy, watched an episode of ''EastEnders'' on television and mocked Pauline's hysterics and her well documented tendency to wear cardigans.
A special episode of ''[[A Question of Sport]]'', ''[[A Question of EastEnders]]'', was screened in 2000 to mark the show's fifteenth [[anniversary]].
A sketch in a 1995 episode of ''[[A Bit of Fry & Laurie]]'' is set in the Fowlers' kitchen, with [[Stephen Fry]], [[Hugh Laurie]], [[Imelda Staunton]] and [[Clive Mantle]] parodying the speech and mannerisms of the characters of Pauline Fowler and Pete Beale. The dramatic drums at the end of every episode were parodied by ''[[SMTV Live]]'' in a ''[[Friends]]'' spoof entitled ''[[SMTV Live#Chums|Chums]]''. The name ''EastEnders'' is spoofed in a series of pornographic films called ''RearEnders'', which also spoof the ''EastEnders'' logo.<ref>"[http://image.bizrate.co.uk/resize?sq=160&uid=438004633&mid=134141 ''RearEnders 2'' video cover] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929065350/http://image.bizrate.co.uk/resize?sq=160&uid=438004633&mid=134141 |date=29 September 2007 }}". URL last accessed 2007-02-07</ref>
▲''EastEnders'' and its characters were frequently [[spoof]]ed in the [[impressionism|impressionist]] [[sketch show]] ''[[Big Impression]]'', starring [[Alistair McGowan]] and [[Ronni Ancona]]. ''Big Impression'' once screened a one-off special, focusing on ''EastEnders'', called ''Alistair McGowan's BigEnders''. The cartoon sketch show ''[[2DTV]]'' has also spoofed ''EastEnders'' on many occasions.
In the last
In the third series of ''[[Bo' Selecta!]]'', there was a weekly sketch called 'EastEndings', featuring [[Ali Osman]], [[Alan Jackson]], [[Pete Beale]], [[Nick Cotton]] and [[Kat
An episode of ''[[Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps]]'' entitled "War, Hurrgh!" contains references to [[Peggy Mitchell|Peggy]] and [[Grant Mitchell (EastEnders)|Grant Mitchell]]
In November
▲In the last ever episode of ''[[Gimme Gimme Gimme]]'', "Decoy", [[Linda La Hughes|Linda]] faked a terminal illness to stop her flatmate, [[Tom Farrell (Gimme Gimme Gimme)|Tom]], from moving out. When Tom discovered her lie, Linda defended herself by saying "Well, it worked for [[Angie Watts]]!", to which Tom replied "[[Den Watts|Den]] and Angie were married!" In this episode, Tom also mentioned throughout the series that he had had a role in ''EastEnders'', as an [[extra (actor)|extra]], buying a cagoule from [[Bianca Jackson]]'s clothes stall. Linda also has a stuffed toy called [[Carol Jackson]].
[[Shaun Williamson]] frequently plays himself in [[Ricky Gervais]]'s ''[[Extras (TV series)|Extras]]'', where he is referred to at all times as "[[Barry Evans (EastEnders)|Barry]] from ''EastEnders''". [[Dean Gaffney]], who played [[Robbie Jackson]], appeared in the Christmas Special. [[Derek Martin]] ([[Charlie Slater]]) appeared in episode three in the third series of ''[[Little Britain (sketch show)|Little Britain]]'' in 2005. The sketch primarily focused around the character [[Marjorie Dawes]] telling her Fat Fighters group not to mention the fact that Martin is in ''EastEnders'', then mentioning it herself. In the [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]] special of ''Little Britain'', the character [[Dennis Waterman (Little Britain)|Dennis Waterman]] refers to his "daughter - the one in ''EastEnders''". This is a reference to the real actor [[Dennis Waterman]], who is the father of [[Hannah Waterman]], who played [[Laura Beale]] in the show. In
▲In the third series of ''[[Bo' Selecta!]]'', there was a weekly sketch called 'EastEndings', featuring [[Ali Osman]] and [[Kat Moon]].<ref>"[http://www.thecustard.tv/thecrumble/thecrumble_32.html Reviews]", ''thecustard.tv''. URL last accessed [[2006-11-19]]</ref>
In one episode of children's show ''[[TMi]]'', featuring an interview with [[Matt Di Angelo]] ([[Dean Wicks|Deano Wicks]]) and [[Belinda Owusu]] ([[Libby Fox]]), host [[Mark Rhodes]] dressed up as Pauline Fowler, clutching a stuffed toy dog and grimacing at the camera, for a game.
▲An episode of ''[[Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps]]'' entitled "War, Hurrgh!" contains references to [[Peggy Mitchell|Peggy]] and [[Grant Mitchell (EastEnders)|Grant Mitchell]], Bianca Jackson, Angie Watts and [[Pat Evans|Pat Butcher]]. The episode also ended with the same [[EastEnders theme tune|theme music]] as ''EastEnders''. Another episode, "Speedycruise!" referred to Pauline and [[Martin Fowler (EastEnders)|Martin Fowler]], and the episode "Finger Sniffing" also refers to Peggy. Also, in the episode "[[List of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps episodes#Musical Special (2003)|When Janet Met Johnny]]", Donna sings the line "Don't stay in watching ''EastEnders''." Also, in an episode of ''[[Pulling]]'', the character of Donna asks "Who am I going to tell when I have an idea for a new plotline in ''EastEnders''?".
In the 2006 [[Doctor Who]] episode [[The Impossible Planet]]
The Doctor says "That's almost as bad as nothing can possible go wrong, or this is going to be the best Christmas Walford's ever had." In the episode [[Army of Ghosts]], [[Barbara Windsor]] appears as [[Peggy Mitchell]] where she [[wikt:bar#Verb|bar]]s a ghost whom she presumes to be [[Den Watts]] from [[The Queen Victoria]]. Watts, presumed killed in 1989, returned to the soap in 2003, before being killed a second time in 2005 after being written out of the show.
For [[Red Nose Day 2007]], [[Aardman Animations]] created a ''[[Creature Comforts]]'' style short featuring the dog [[Wellard]], who appeared in various places including [[Albert Square]] and outside a pub called The [[Dirty Den]], asking other dogs for charity donations, attempting to sell his offspring and being put in prison.<ref>"[
▲In November [[2005]], [[Catherine Tate]] appeared in another sketch for Children In Need. The segment was a crossover between ''EastEnders'' and ''[[The Catherine Tate Show]]'', featuring [[Barbara Windsor]] as Peggy Mitchell, [[Kacey Ainsworth]] as [[Little Mo Mitchell]] and [[Lacey Turner]] as [[Stacey Slater]] from ''EastEnders'' and Tate as her well-known character [[Lauren Cooper]] from ''The Catherine Tate Show''. The sketch saw Lauren arrive in [[Walford]] in search of [[revenge]] on Stacey, who had apparently stolen her boyfriend. She appeared in [[List of buildings in EastEnders#Launderette|the launderette]] in a scene with Little Mo, and in [[The Queen Vic]] in a scene with Peggy and Stacey, where she made various references to [[Cockney]] culture, such as asking Peggy whether she knew [[Chas & Dave]].<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4450000/newsid_4452400/bb_rm_4452426.stm Catherine Tate appears in Walford]", ''[[bbc.co.uk]]''. URL last accessed [[2007-02-18]]</ref>
In the 2007 documentary ''F*** Off, I'm Ginger'', [[Charlie Clements]] discussed his character [[Bradley Branning]]'s geekiness, and the relation to his ginger hair. Pauline and Sonia Fowler were mentioned in the fourth episode of ''[[Gavin & Stacey]]''. The fifth episode also referred to [[Shobu Kapoor]] by her character name, [[Gita Kapoor|Gita]], and mentioned Pat Butcher. It was also mentioned by the character Mick Shipman played by [[Larry Lamb]] in the 2008 Christmas special. Coincidentally, Lamb was also appearing in ''EastEnders'' at the time as [[Archie Mitchell]]
In ''[[The Kevin Bishop Show]]'', [[Kevin Bishop]] portrays the actor [[David Mitchell (comedian)|David Mitchell]] who arrives in Albert Square as the third Mitchell brother. The sketches include parodies of the characters [[Peggy Mitchell]] and [[Stacey Slater]] and are filmed in the style of ''[[Peep Show (British TV series)|Peep Show]]'', in which David Mitchell stars.
In a 2008 episode of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' entitled "[[The Mark of the Berserker]]", Rani physically forces her father to make an over exaggerated impression of the character Bianca yelling "Ricky!"
▲[[Derek Martin]] ([[Charlie Slater]]) appeared in episode three in the third series of ''[[Little Britain]]'' in 2005. The sketch primarily focused around the character [[Marjorie Dawes]] telling her Fat Fighters group not to mention the fact that Martin is in ''EastEnders'', then mentioning it herself. In the [[Comic Relief]] special of ''Little Britain'', the character [[Dennis Waterman (Little Britain)|Dennis Waterman]] refers to his "daughter - the one in ''EastEnders''". This is a reference to the real actor [[Dennis Waterman]], who is the father of [[Hannah Waterman]], who played [[Laura Beale]] in the show. In ''Little Britain Abroad'', [[Vicky Pollard]] refers to an acquaintance's [[breasts]] as looking "like the Mitchell brothers".
The show was mentioned on a 2010 episode of [[Channel 4]] [[sitcom]] [[The IT Crowd]].
In 2010 in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "[[The Beast Below]]", [[The Queen Victoria]] pub can be seen briefly in the background. Later in ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]'' in the episode "All About the Girl" it was revealed not to be the real Queen Vic pub but a set cut out.
▲In one episode of children's show ''[[TMi]]'', featuring an interview with [[Matt Di Angelo]] ([[Deano Wicks]]) and [[Belinda Owusu]] ([[Libby Fox]]), host [[Mark Rhodes]] dressed up as Pauline Fowler, clutching a stuffed toy dog and grimacing at the camera, for a game.<ref>"[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa9fi1zyDXo&NR=1 Matt Di Angelo & Belinda Owusu On TMI]", ''YouTube''. URL last accessed [[2007-04-29]].</ref>
In 2010 in ''[[Miranda (TV series)|Miranda]]'' series 2 episode 3 "Let's Do It", Miranda plays the EastEnders Drumbeat over an episode of EastEnders.
▲For [[Red Nose Day 2007]], [[Aardman Animations]] created a ''[[Creature Comforts]]'' style short featuring the dog Wellard, who appeared in various places including [[Albert Square]] and outside a pub called The [[Dirty Den]], asking other dogs for charity donations, attempting to sell his offspring and being put in prison.<ref>"[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_headline=&method=full&objectid=18741966&siteid=89520-name_page.html You'll Love The Big One!]", ''[[The Daily Mirror]]''. URL last accessed [[2007-03-23]].</ref>
In 2011 at the start of the [[National Television Awards]] a mini episode of ''Doctor Who'' entitled ''Dermot and the Doctor'' sees [[Dot Cotton|Dot Branning]] ([[June Brown]]) implying [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|The Doctor]] only has one set of clothes and he regularly visits Bridge Street Laundrette.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Television Awards Doctor Who Scene|url=http://news.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/national-television-awards-doctor-who-scene/|access-date=10 March 2017|date=26 January 2011}}</ref>
==In music==▼
[[BBC Radio 1]] [[DJ]] [[Chris Moyles]] remixed the [[Shaggy (artist)|Shaggy]] [[single (music)|single]] "[[It Wasn't Me]]", singing about the "[[Who Shot Phil?]]" [[storylines of EastEnders|storyline]]. The [[EastEnders theme tune|theme tune]] of ''EastEnders'' has been parodied by MC [[Devvo]], [[Osymyso|DJ Osymyso]] and [[Oxide & Neutrino]]. ''EastEnders'' is also mentioned in [[Sway DaSafo]]'s remix of the [[Lily Allen]] song "[[LDN (song)|LDN]]".▼
A main character in the 2012 series ''[[Line of Duty]]'' is nicknamed Matthew "Dot" Cotton in reference to the EastEnders icon.
In 2013 ''[[Mrs. Brown's Boys]]'' Series 3 Episode 5, Kathy answers the door and the ''EastEnders'' drum beat plays while she realises Mick her ex-boyfriend has returned.
The Punk band The [[Dead Milkmen]]'s 1988 album [[Beelzebubba]] contains a song called "Bad Party", which contains the lyrics, "I'm gonna shoot somebody / If they don't stop talking about ''EastEnders''." British rap group Fierce Girl have a song, called "What Makes a Girl Fierce", with a chorus containing the lyrics, "[[Kat Moon|Kat Slater]] is our sister."<ref>"[http://www.redflagrecords.com/music/fierce/What%20Makes%20A%20Girl%20Fierce%20-%20Fierce%20Girl.mp3 What Makes a Girl Fierce]", ''Red Flag Records''. URL last accessed [[2007-04-11]].</ref>▼
In December 2014, [[Olly Murs]] appeared in a special episode made for his ITV TV special ''A Night in With Olly Murs''. In the episode, Murs stops off at Albert Square and meets [[Alfie Moon]] who mistakes him for [[Bruno Mars]].
In 2014, [[Not Going Out]], Series 7 Episode - 10 Christmas Special, Geoffrey asked why Lee is sitting on his backside watching EastEnders. Later he also tells him that he is going to need another best man for this wedding and the Doof Doof drums plays.<ref>{{cite web |title=Not Going Out Series 7: 10. Christmas Special |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04wrvzx |publisher=[[BBC Online]] |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref>
In 2015, the American adult animated science fiction sitcom ''[[Rick and Morty]]'' referenced ''EastEnders'' where in the episode "[[Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate]]", where-in [[Rick Sanchez|Rick]], [[Morty Smith|Morty]], and [[Summer Smith|Summer]] watch [[BBC Two]] where a British narrator states that the next programme to be on was the "Northsiders".<ref>{{cite web| last = Apple Stone| url = https://twitter.com/APPLESToNEPiX/status/854534630346764288| title = #RickAndMorty RiFF on #EastEnders😂😂😂 (As #NorthSiders😹😹😹) <5> 2-4=Wikipedia snippets abt <<EE| via = Twitter}} </ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/RonMitchellEE/status/913920276072628224| title = Twitter}} </ref>
A scene from ''EastEnders'' of characters [[Mick Carter|Mick]] ([[Danny Dyer]]) and [[Linda Carter]] ([[Kellie Bright]]) talking could be seen in an episode of the [[BBC Three]] series ''[[This Country]]'' in 2018.
▲== In music ==
▲[[BBC Radio 1]] [[DJ]] [[Chris Moyles]] remixed the [[Shaggy (artist)|Shaggy]] [[single (music)|single]] "[[It Wasn't Me]]", singing about the "[[Who Shot Phil?]]"
▲The Philadelphia-based Punk band The [[Dead Milkmen]]'s 1988 album [[Beelzebubba]] contains a song called "Bad Party",
EastEnders is also mentioned in the song "[[Sirens (Dizzee Rascal song)|Sirens]]" by [[Dizzee Rascal]], "[[Kill the Director]]" by [[The Wombats]], "Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way" by [[The Streets]], and [[Tippa Irie]]'s 'Complain Neighbour'
The 2015 [[Stormzy]] song "[[Know Me From]]" samples EastEnders, using an audio clip where [[Shirley Carter]] exclaims "I've got a gun Phil!", before she shoots him.
EastEnders is also sampled in the 2021 Mr Traumatik song, Absolute, with the viral clip of [[Kat Slater]] - "I didn't become a little bit of a slag, I became a total slag".
==In theatre==
''EastEnders'' is referred to in [[John Godber]]'s 1987 play ''[[Teechers]]''. The drama students, Gail, Salty and Hobby, say that they have acted out a part of ''EastEnders'', quoting "Hello, [[Arthur Fowler|Arfur]]... All right, my love".
When ''[[Emmerdale]]'' actor [[Nick Miles]] (who plays [[Jimmy King (Emmerdale)|Jimmy King]]) starred in a play at the [[Edinburgh Festival]] called ''Meeting Joe Strummer'', his character was from Walford.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20070722015251/http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/reviews.cfm?id=1205782006 Meeting Joe Strummer]", ''Edinburgh Festivals''. URL last accessed
==In advertising==
During the 1990s, whilst on a hiatus from ''EastEnders'', [[Mike Reid (actor)|Mike Reid]] starred in an advert for the soft drink [[Oasis (drink)|Oasis]], whose slogan at the time was "Open, pour, be yourself once more". In the advert, Reid
In
Leslie Grantham also appeared in an advertisement for [[Radox]] Everfresh in the late 1990s. The first line of the commercial was "Not so [[Den Watts|Dirty Den]] now, eh?", and the final line was "Life after soap... no problem".
==Other==
In [[Squidgygate]], [[Princess Diana]] likens her situation to that of one of the characters, presumably [[Angie Watts]] ([[Anita Dobson]]).
A promotional picture of Pauline Fowler and [[Joe Macer]] was used on the official ''[[Torchwood]]'' website, in a fictional magazine article about [[List of Torchwood monsters and aliens|aliens]].<ref>"[http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/gadgets/magazine.shtml MAGAZINE ARTICLE, 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218063959/http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/gadgets/magazine.shtml |date=18 February 2007 }}", ''BBC''. URL last accessed
|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|date=6 February 2008|access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref>
The [[Office for National Statistics]] have attributed the rise in babies called Ruby in 2006 to the character of [[Ruby Allen]].<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6192247.stm Jack and Olivia top baby names]", ''BBC News''. URL last accessed
The monthly Dot Cotton Club, a gay club night in Cambridge, is named after the character of [[Dot Branning]], who was previously named Dot Cotton.<ref>"[http://www.dotcottonclub.com/ Dot Cotton Club]" ''Dot Cotton Club website''. URL last accessed
[[Chris Moyles]]' ''Difficult Second Book'' contains a chapter called "There Is No ''[[Carry On (film series)|Carry On]]'' in ''EastEnders''", referring to many things that cannot exist in the ''EastEnders'' fictional world, due to actors appearing in both TV shows, including [[Spandau Ballet]] ([[Martin Kemp (entertainer)|Martin Kemp]]), ''Carry On'' ([[Barbara Windsor]]), ''[[Grange Hill]]'' ([[Todd Carty]] and [[Susan Tully]]), ''[[Hotel Babylon (BBC series)|Hotel Babylon]]'' and ''Red Cap'' ([[Tamzin Outhwaite]]), ''Jonny Briggs'' and ''[[Star Wars]]'' ([[Leslie Schofield]]), ''[[Lovejoy]]'' and ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' ([[John Bardon]]), ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'', ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' and ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' ([[Perry Fenwick]]), ''[[The Sweeney]]'' and ''[[Eldorado (TV series)|Eldorado]]'' ([[Derek Martin]]), ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' and ''[[Dad's Army]]'' ([[Wendy Richard]]), "[[Parklife]]" and ''[[Quadrophenia]]'' ([[Phil Daniels]]) and ''[[A Touch of Frost (TV series)|A Touch of Frost]]'' ([[Wellard|Kyte]]).
▲A promotional picture of Pauline Fowler and [[Joe Macer]] was used on the official ''[[Torchwood]]'' website, in a fictional magazine article about [[List of Torchwood monsters and aliens|aliens]].<ref>"[http://www.torchwood.org.uk/html/gadgets/magazine.shtml MAGAZINE ARTICLE, 2007]", ''BBC''. URL last accessed [[2006-11-19]]</ref>
The comic book ''[[League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'' vol 1 #6 included characters named Mitchell and Watts (described as a "dirty denizen of the East End") in the [[Artful Dodger]]'s gang in the late 19th century.<ref>[http://enjolrasworld.com/Jess%20Nevins/League%20of%20Extraordinary%20Gentlemen/Notes%20on%20League%20of%20Extraordinary%20Gentlemen%206.htm Jess Nevins' Notes On ''League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'' #6] URL last accessed 2009-3-14</ref>
▲The Office for National Statistics have attributed the rise in babies called Ruby in 2006 to the character of [[Ruby Allen]].<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6192247.stm Jack and Olivia top baby names]", ''BBC News''. URL last accessed [[2006-12-23]]</ref>
On [[April Fools' Day]] 2019, [[TheJournal.ie]] published a report on [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Theresa May]]'s scheduled appearance on that night's special live episode of ''EastEnders'', details of which had been leaked by [[Taoiseach]] [[Leo Varadkar]] overnight.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sean|last=Murray|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/theresa-may-eastenders-4559197-Apr2019/|title=Theresa May to make appearance on Eastenders in bid to win over Brexit doubters: Leo Varadkar leaked the news last evening, surprising the British press ahead of tonight's show|work=[[TheJournal.ie]]|date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401084418/https://www.thejournal.ie/theresa-may-eastenders-4559197-Apr2019/|archive-date=1 April 2019}}</ref> May's purpose was to issue a final plea for unity as [[Brexit]] entered a critical stage. The internet publication featured a photograph of May in [[The Queen Victoria]] pub, with the caption "Rehearsal shot of hostile locals witnessing May's arrival". It even went so far as to compose fake documents to back up its claim, including a draft script said to have been provided by the [[BBC]] to highlight the ever-changing difficulties of keeping up with political events as they rapidly unfolded: "'This is the 416th draft' the source said. 'And her appearance was only confirmed at the start of March. Brexit won't stop f*****g, c*****g changing every two seconds. It's driving the actors mad.'" A short video clip shows actor [[Adam Woodyatt]] (who portrays the character of [[Ian Beale]]) being comforted by colleague [[Steve McFadden]] (who portrays the character [[Phil Mitchell]]), as Woodyatt bursts into tears due to the protracted rehearsals.
▲The monthly Dot Cotton Club, a gay club night in Cambridge, is named after the character of [[Dot Branning]], who was previously named Dot Cotton.<ref>"[http://www.dotcottonclub.com/ Dot Cotton Club]" ''Dot Cotton Club website''. URL last accessed [[2006-10-11]]</ref> Dot is probably the most notable smoker on British television as she rarely appears on-screen without a cigarette. The character is so synonymous with smoking that the term "Dot Cotton syndome" is used within the health industry to: "describe the elderly population who continue to smoke heavily without registering the health problems they are or will soon suffer from, seeing it as their only pleasure left in life".<ref>"[http://www.studentbmj.com/issues/06/04/life/168.php Medical education via the mass media]", ''Student BMJ''. URL last accessed [[2006-10-23]].</ref>
The preliminary script – which, TheJournal.ie reminded readers, was "contingent on what the hell happens in Brexit over the course of today" — had [[Dot Cotton]] (played by [[June Brown]]) gasping as Theresa May enters the pub. May, having begun her speech, is interrupted by [[Mick Carter]] (played by [[Danny Dyer]]) who knocks over a pint and a chair in his efforts to have the Prime Minister leave the pub. May departs and perches herself despondently on a park bench, whereupon [[Kat Slater]] (played by [[Jessie Wallace]]) approaches her with "Alright love? What's getting you down?" May tells Slater she has already blamed everyone – the Irish, the [[Democratic Unionist Party]], the [[European Union]] — and is at a loss for who is left for her to find fault with now. Slater advises her to be honest. May finds solace in this, thanks Slater, remarks on the chilliness of the night and Slater hands the Prime Minister her [[Animal print|leopard print]] jacket to put on. May returns to the pub and seemingly converts all the customers bar Dot Cotton, who is promptly ejected onto the street.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gavin|last=O'Callaghan|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/april-fools-roundup-best-gags-16057867|title=April fools roundup: The best gags from across Dublin and Irish newspapers - We've seen a lot of great efforts across the capital and in today's media|date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401122914/https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/april-fools-roundup-best-gags-16057867|archive-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{EastEnders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastenders in Popular Culture}}
[[Category:EastEnders|Popular culture]]
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[[Category:United Kingdom in popular culture]]
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