EastEnders bosses to ‘move soap to 30-minute slots in a bid to keep viewers interested

EastEnders bosses are reportedly looking to move the show to 30-minute slots in a bid to halt ratings slump. The programme, which currently airs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, could be changed to make it more “appealing” to viewers. The news comes as the soap continues to struggle with viewing figures, following the decision to air it for half an hour every week in the wake of the 2017 flu pandemic.

EastEnders bosses are planning to move the soap to 30-minute slots in a bid to keep viewers interested. The move comes after the soap, which airs in the UK on BBC One, suffered a 5.1% ratings drop – the highest in its 29 year history. Ratings have been on a steady decline since the show was disrupted by the swine flu pandemic in May.

EastEnders bosses are reportedly plotting to stop the soap from sliding out of favour with viewers by moving the show to a 30-minute slot after being hit by a ratings slump. The BBC1 show has been off air for two weeks after producers decided to stop filming to give the cast and crew time to recover from a bug sweeping through Walford. The show had already been taking a hit in ratings after a dramatic storyline featuring the domestic abuse of Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) and a police corruption scandal. But now reports claim executive producer Sean O’Connor will use the time off to experiment with a brand new format, including moving the show from a twice-weekly to a weekly 30-minute slot.

EastEnders bosses are planning to move the soap to 30-minute slots in a bid to halt the ratings slide. The BBC has reportedly ordered the change in a last-ditch attempt to halt broadcaster’s ratings slide. According to The Sun, the corporation has come up with the new plans to turn around the soap’s fortunes after the show was hit by a swine flu outbreak earlier this year.