EastEnders writer responds to fan complaints about ITV soaps disrespecting BBC anniversary

ok.co.uk:

EastEnders writer Daran Little has addressed a fan's complaint about the lack of "solidarity" between BBC and ITV soaps during momentous occasions like EastEnders’ big 40th anniversary celebrations.

It's a landmark week for soap fans as EastEnders toasts to its ruby milestone with a feast of episodes, including a live broadcast on Thursday.

Over on ITV turf, Emmerdale is delivering its own drama with a catastrophic limo plunge into a freezing lake poised to claim lives.

Yet, amidst the festivities, one viewer grumbled over the absence of camaraderie amongst the soaps, sharing on X (formerly known as Twitter): "I do wish there was more solidarity between the soaps, because it feels quite slimy that both Corrie and Emmerdale have got big event weeks, seemingly out of nowhere, that perfectly line up with EastEnders' 40th anniversary big week." They elaborated on their point mentioning potential fallout for the viewership: "I doubt it'll end well, viewing figures wise, for either ITV soap, but especially Emmerdale which usually overlaps with Eastenders." Diving into the discourse, writer Daran Little, who has been penning EastEnders scripts from 2010, chimed in: "When it was Corrie's 50th, I wrote Kat telling Dot she was going home to watch it," reports the Mirror.