EastEnders bosses had to evacuate decrepit Walford set after it became ‘unsafe in winds’ prompting new £87m set

1st March 2022

WHEN it was revealed that the shiny and new HD-friendly EastEnders set had cost the BBC £87million, there was uproar.

But now bosses have revealed the revamp was a necessity for safety reasons – because the old lot was so battered “chimneys wobbled in the wind”.

EastEnders bosses revealed the new HD-friendly set that cost the BBC £87million was a necessity for safety

Speaking to Radio Times, production manager Rona McKendrick said: “The lot got shabbier and shabbier.

“Once the rain and the wind got in, it really started degrading. In recent years, it became unsafe in winds – you could see the chimneys wobbling.”

She added that, on blustery days, the team would have to measure wind pressure outside and “at a certain level, we had to evacuate the lot”.