The name of the EastEnders neighbourhood was devised by the show’s creators
EastEnders, the beloved BBC One soap, has officially celebrated its 40th anniversary with a week of dramatic episodes, including a terrifying fire at The Queen Vic. Since its debut in February 1985, the residents of Albert Square have kept viewers on the edge of their seats with endless scandals, murders, and affairs.
Even if you’re not from London, you’ll likely know where the fictional London Borough of Walford is located. Despite not being real, the E20 neighbourhood feels authentic, complete with its own London Underground station and local pub, The Queen Vic.
Bridge Street, with its bustling city market atmosphere, is a perfect place to pick up fresh produce (two apples and a bunch of bananas, please, Martin), and the greasy spoon is always open for a bacon roll and a cup of tea.
However, despite our love for this seemingly genuine pocket of the capital, it’s all make-believe. Without taking away any magic from the show, EastEnders is actually filmed several miles away at Elstree Film Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
So while the TV show tells the lives of families in the capital, it’s all being acted out on a TV set.
So, where did the name Walford come from?
According to the BBC, show creators Julia Smith and Tony Holland came up with the name, reports Plymouth Live.
Tony desired for the fictional area to resonate with Walthamstow, his birthplace in East London where he had familial ties.
‘Wal’ was thus merged with ‘ford’ – inspired by the East London district Stratford and a common suffix found in place names across the region including: Chingford, Ilford, and Romford.
It also happens to be the name of a street in Dalston, an East London neighbourhood, where Holland resided as an adult. Hence, that’s how Walford acquired its name and why it sounds like a plausible location in East London.
EastEnders airs Monday – Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer
