British soap operas, once a cornerstone of UK television, have seen a dramatic fall in viewership over the past few decades. In their prime, shows such as Coronation Street drew audiences of up to 27 million, with a 1987 episode becoming one of the most-watched in TV history. Similarly, EastEnders captivated millions, including 10.84 million for its 30th anniversary live episode in 2015.
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00:00British soap operas, once a cornerstone of UK television, have seen a dramatic fall in
00:05viewership over the past few decades. In their prime, shows such as Coronation Street drew
00:10audiences of up to 27 million, with a 1987 episode becoming one of the most-watched in
00:16TV history. Similarly, EastEnders captivated millions, including 10.84 million for its
00:2230th anniversary live episode in 2015.
00:26Today, the picture is starkly different. Recent episodes of Coronation Street have
00:30drawn as few as 2.5 million viewers, while EastEnders has struggled to maintain an audience
00:36of 4 million. In 2021, some episodes of the BBC soap fell to just 1.7 million viewers.
00:44The decline has coincided with a shift in viewing habits, as audiences turn to on-demand
00:49streaming services and alternative entertainment options. For commercial broadcasters, the
00:55decline poses a serious challenge. Soap operas rely on high ratings to secure advertising
01:00revenue, which funds their high production costs.