Soaper1234/Secrets | |
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Genre | Documentary |
Directed by |
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Presented by | Stacey Dooley |
Starring |
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Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 14 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Caroline Wright |
Producers |
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Production location | BBC Elstree Centre |
Camera setup | Video, multiple-camera setup |
Running time | 29−41 minutes |
Production company | BBC Studios |
Original release | |
Network | BBC One BBC One HD |
Release | 22 June 2020 2020 | –
Related | |
EastEnders | |
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) |
EastEnders: Secrets from the Square is a 2020 British television documentary series celebrating the British soap opera EastEnders and its history. Hosted by television personality Stacey Dooley, the programme features two cast members being interviewed about their experience on the soap and sharing its "best-kept secrets". After it became apparent that EastEnders would go on a transmission break, having paused production in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plans were developed by BBC Studios, BBC Entertainment and the EastEnders production team to fill the gap in the schedule. Consequently, EastEnders: Secrets from the Square was commissioned for fourteen episodes, airing while the show is on a tranmission break.
The show was announced on 3 June 2020 and begins broadcasting in the United Kingdom on 22 June 2020 with episodes airing weekly on BBC One, in the timeslot normally occupied by EastEnders. Filming for the show took place on the set of EastEnders, marking the first time cast had returned to set, and each episode was filmed across a single day. Cast and crew had to comply with the British government's enforced social distancing measures and only a small production team was involved. EastEnders: Secrets from the Square was promoted through a promotional trailer and press and media interviews. Additionally, clips from the show were regularly released. The show received a positive response from television critics with Stephen Patterson of the Metro opining that the show is "a perfect way to fill that EastEnders-shaped hole".