Episode description

As part of the EastEnders 40th anniversary Woman’s Hour celebrates this iconic soap’s track record of featuring strong female characters and exploring some of the most pressing, contentious and emotional issues for women over the past four decades.

Anita Rani presents live from the Fox & Hair salon in Walford. The salon is managed by Diane Parish’s character Denise Fox, whose love triangle storyline will be at the centre of the soap’s live interactive episode on Thursday 20th February. Viewers will be able to vote on whether her future should be with Jack or Ravi. She joins Anita to discuss the storyline.

Anita also speaks to Kellie Bright who plays Linda Carter, Michelle Collins who plays Cindy Beale and Heather Peace whose character Eve Unwin recently was part of the first lesbian wedding on the show.

With two thirds of the soap's audience being women, the executive producer Chris Clenshaw talks about his vision for putting female characters front and centre,, with lead storylines including explosive murder mystery The Six - and he explains how sensitive issues, such as Linda's alcoholism, are tackled with the help of charities and experts.

When BBC One launched its first twice-weekly serial drama, on 19th February 1985 and it was based around a solidly working class community set in Albert Square in the East End of London. Anthony McNicholas is a retired academic, reader in communications and researcher on the history of the BBC and Jaci Stephen is the Soap Critic for the Daily Mail. They discuss the original idea for the series, the public service remit and celebrate the Square’s most formidable matriarchs over its 40-year history and discuss their impact.

Presented by Anita Rani Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Deiniol Buxton