EastEnders stars including Jessie Wallace, Dianne Parish and Gillian Taylforth have opened up about working on the BBC soap ahead of the big 40th anniversary celebrations

A huge 13 million people watched Albert Square be beamed onto our TV screens for the first time on February 19, 1985.

These days you might be watching EastEnders on your phone, tablet or TV, but the shocks and highs and lows remain as big as ever. Some of the great female actors who have blessed Walford including Jessie Wallace and DIanne Parish reveal have been speaking to Radio Times about what it’s really like to work on the BBC’s biggest soap….

Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Beale)

How did you get the role of Kathy?

Originally, I went in to read for [café owner] Sue Osman, but they decided I was more Kathy Beale. They worried that I didn’t look old enough to have a son of 16 [Taylforth was 29 when she appeared as Kathy in the very first episode], so I told them I’d have a couple of late nights… I got called back in with a director, who told me to put my hair up and pull it back, and then I came back again for a read-through with some of the cast. I read, and then at about four o’clock they said, “You can go now,” while everyone else was still there. I thought that was me done. Then my agent rang to congratulate me: “You’ve got the part of Kathy Beale.” So that was that.

Kathy has suffered a lot over the years — does that take a psychological toll?

Some storylines do. I remember going home with the scripts [when Kathy was raped by Wilmot Brown in 1988] and feeling very down and sad about it all. Learning those lines was a dark time. And actually, when it all happened in the Dagmar [wine bar], it was quite scary. Then, doing the big scene in the police station, having to go through it all again… It was gruelling.

You’ve now played Kathy on and off since that first episode 40 years ago — how much of Kathy is you and how much of you is Kathy?

Kathy’s a bit more outspoken than me. I’m not very opinionated and I don’t like confrontations, unless I’m really pushed, but Kathy is very strong, bolshie, and she’s not afraid to say what she thinks. I wish I was a bit more like her sometimes. But I protect her and if I think something’s wrong, I will say so. Just recently, I’ve had to say, “Oh, I don’t think so…” Because I’ve invested in her for 40 years and I love her.

Diane Parish (Denise Fox)

When you joined the cast, did you think you’d still be here for the 40th anniversary?

No, I thought I’d be lucky to see out my first year! Actors always say, “Never unpack your bags.”I did another year, then had my second daughter and only then did I think, “I’ll stick around a bit longer.” You never assume you’ll be offered another contract. I’m lucky that I’ve never thought my character has run her course. I still see all kinds of possibilities for Denise.

How much input do you have in the scripts?

I’m not an actor who thinks, “My character wouldn’t say that…” Steve McFadden [who plays Phil Mitchell] says we don’t know what our characters would say, because we don’t know what we’d say in real life. Denise wouldn’t be who she is without our storyliners creating her life as she’s evolved. Nobody plans to end up at a food bank or have a baby with Phil Mitchell!

What do you admire most about Denise?

She’s never heartbroken for long. You don’t see her under the duvet watching Bridget Jones and scoffing Milk Tray – she’s over it! She’s resilient and keeps her zest to keep going. Although I wish she’d stop going for younger fellas. She never learns.

Why are these strong women so integral to soaps?

Women were always the silent, tragic heroes, and until recently their stories were told through men’s voices. Soap has given women their own voice – you see how they run the household and keep everything together. Peggy Mitchell [played by Barbara Windsor] is a big example: the matriarch keeping her family in line and giving her boys a clip round the ear.

Kellie Bright (Linda Carter)

When did you get the part of Linda?

As a working actress for over 40 years, I’d been up for parts before Linda. The biggest of those was Tanya Branning, when it got down to myself and Jo Joyner [who played Tanya 2006–13 and briefly again in 2018]. When I auditioned for Linda Carter, I screen-tested with someone I won’t name [for the part of Linda’s husband Mick], who was primarily known for being a model. I came out and threw my scripts in the bin because I just couldn’t see it happening – in my opinion, there was zero chemistry between us and he couldn’t act! I didn’t hear anything for a week and I thought it was gone. But then they called and asked if I’d go in to read with other men. I said yes, but then two days later, they rang me back and offered me the job – but they wouldn’t tell me who they’d cast as Mick. I knew it must be a name. It turned out to be Danny Dyer.

Was it daunting joining EastEnders as the new landlady of the Queen Vic?

I had the easier time of it, because all eyes were on Danny! He had to prove himself, to prove the critics wrong. And even though we didn’t read a scene together until we were on set and actually doing it, there was chemistry. I don’t know how Dom [producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins] knew that the chemistry would work between all of us – not just Danny and me, but Maddy [Hill, who played their daughter Nancy] and Sam [Strike, originally cast as son Johnny] – but it did. It really did, and it made such a difference. When you start on a show like this, if you start with other people, you come in as a gang and you look after each other. It would be much harder to start solo, arriving as an individual. It was an exhausting time, because we were so busy that first year, but it was very special.

Are you looking forward to the 40th anniversary and the live episode?

I sent executive producer Chris Clenshaw a text on my first day of filming for that week. It just said, “This is so exciting, I think I might wet myself.” Because I genuinely was beside myself, as a viewer and as someone who loves the show. I still get excited about it – and that’s pretty cool after over 11 years.

Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater)

Did you ever think Kat would become so iconic?

I came in as the troublemaker of a new family and didn’t know she would become as big as she has. Kat has developed over the years and I love dressing up as her, she makes such a statement with the red lipstick and the mini-skirts. To create a character that stands out, who people love, makes me very proud.

Did you watch EastEnders when it started?

I was drawn in straight away, even as a child. In that first episode a man was found dead in his house, someone punched through a window in the pub, there was so much going on. When I played Pat Phoenix in [2010 BBC drama] The Road to Coronation Street, there was a scene where the cleaning lady watches rehearsals on the monitor and gets really invested – and producers realised this was the people’s drama. Everyone can relate to soaps.

Do you relate to your character?

I fall in love with every character I play so I can do them justice. When you play someone for so long, they do become a part of you. I can hear members of my family in Kat sometimes – certain things remind me of my nan Iris, who was proper East End, or my cousin.

Would you be friends with Kat?

Definitely. Kat is loyal, funny and sticks to her guns. She has her own beliefs and won’t be swayed by anyone. I love that about her.

Do heavy storylines ever take their toll?

I love getting a heavy storyline. It doesn’t matter what it’s about, you grab it, make it work, give the best performance you can to show another side to the character and hope people enjoy it. I love it when a really full-on storyline comes along – especially if it’s been quiet for a while.