EastEnders first started on 19 February 1985, when its very first episode was broadcast on BBC One.

Quick Scoop: Start Date

  • The first ever episode of EastEnders aired on 19 February 1985 on BBC One.
  • Around 13 million viewers tuned in for that debut episode, instantly turning it into a major UK TV event.
  • From that date, EastEnders has continued as an ongoing British soap, running continuously from 1985 to the present.

In short: if you’re wondering “when did EastEnders start?” — the answer pinned to TV history is 19 February 1985.

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