Ex-EastEnders star Derek Martin has stated the 'miserable' soap needs to bring back its humorous side, as fans fear for its future after ITV announced a huge schedule shake-up.
The actor, who played Charlie Slater on the soap for 15 years, said the series needs to stop focusing on appealing to younger viewers, and bring back some of its old scriptwriters.
In recent days EastEnders fans have expressed concern that their beloved soap could see its ratings plunge, after rivals Coronation Street and Emmerdale move timeslots in March.




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Views: The actor, who played Charlie Slater on the soap for 15 years (pictured in 2006), said the series needs to stop focusing on appealing to younger viewers

'You used to have Charlie, Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) and Jim Branning (John Bardon) sitting at the allotments with a few beers, just talking about silly things. That's what happens in real life. You need that on EastEnders.
'EastEnders has been losing viewers for years and it's sad.'
Former EastEnders script editor and BBC head of continuing drama Oliver Kent, also offered his thoughts to the publication, stating the soap's focus on 'sensational' storylines has taken it away from its humorous roots.





History: Referring to one of the show's iconic moments, when Den Watts handed his wife Angie divorce papers (pictured), Derek added: 'EastEnders has been losing viewers for years'

The broadcaster has confirmed both shows will change time slots - putting them in direct competition with EastEnders - as ITV expand their news programme for an hour between 6:30pm and 7:30pm. 
Coronation Street will change to three hour-long episodes a week airing at 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while Emmerdale will now air at 7:30pm directly following the news.
The announcement left fans reeling, debating whether the BBC soap, which started in 1985, will be axed and comparing the soap to Channel 4's Brookside, which was axed following a decline in viewership in 2003. 





Scare: The broadcaster has confirmed both shows will change time slots - putting them in direct competition with EastEnders 

Another wrote: 'Bit of a bummer for #EastEnders this Face with tears of joy. It'll clash with either #Corrie or #Emmerdale constantly. I don't watch any of them live anyway but there's bound to be some people who like to watch all of them live and will now have to choose.'
A third typed: 'I'm not keen on it either really. It's gonna clash with EastEnders which will be a nightmare unless the BBC decide to move #EastEnders to the 19:00pm slot which would be more beneficial. If you loved this article and you would like to get a lot more facts about ____________ kindly pay a visit to the page. '
Others took a pragmatic approach, saying: 'I don't think ITV is doing it to kill EastEnders. Their Evening News program is a success and they wan't to build off that. 
'Plus airing a solid 90 min soap block keeps their soap viewers. Currently since their is a 30 min gap at 8, viewers can leave before the 2nd Corrie episode 





End of an era: Channel 4's Brookside was axed following a decline in viewership in 2003 (pictured), and fans fear EastEnders could suffer the same fate







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[url=]Inside EastEnders' demise as ex-star Derek Martin says the soap is 'irrelevant'[/url]