I think that's an increasingly common experience. When I was a teenager the majority of my peers watched the soaps or dropped in as a casual viewer for a nose but so much has changed since then -so much choice and so much more on offer to the young!

Only a few of my friends watch EastEnders properly, and the rest don't at all.

Over the last few weeks though it's appealed less to me, I'm finding it really boring with this whole Gavin/Kathy thing, the few episodes I've missed I haven't bothered catching up on which is a first as I used to.

It doesn't seem to have that many positive examples of young people.

Stacey is had it away with her best friend's (now) husband and is carrying his baby, Lee and Nancy still live at home and are effectively still children, Ben's s hiding in the closet, Abi's in denial, Jay just hangs about at Phils.

There aren't many 'successful' or independent under 30s in the show at all.

Perhaps the truth is despite how trendy the EE team may or may not believe they are that they simply don't know how to write interesting realistic young characters as much as they think they do?

I think you're right. I think they need some younger writers. I have a feeling one or two (maybe more) writers have been there since the 1980s. I'd like new younger characters, maybe two friends of Nancy's who have a flat share in Albert Square and have just moved in for example.

They've gone from having a bunch of young people getting drunk, partying and failing exams to young people who are old before their time and hang out with their parents all the time.

It does make me wonder how many young people the writers know properly in real life!

I'd guess none. Or at least they don't have teenage children. They all hang around in the lounge like it's still the 50s instead of taking themselves off to their rooms or hanging around the park or café with their mates.....not that any of them have mates anymore.

I prefer the focus on the 25+ characters. (besides Jay, who I wish would be given a storyline..)

Couldn't agree more.

The roles of Ronnie, Roxie - two people who are early to mid 40s, should be being portrayed by characters in their late 20s/early 30s. Same with Kat an Alfie, a middle aged couple playing a 'young couple'

I'm 25 now and I've watched it religiously since I was 4 or 5... my parents didn't even introduce me to it, it was my own discovery that I've stuck with for my whole life.

When was this?

Pardon? Who is your question directed to please and concerning what?

Speaking as a recently-turned 25, in my experience the soaps don't really resonant with people my age and younger anymore - glossy TV dramas and reality shows rule all. Unless you're like me and the people on here who are really into soaps. I think a lot of young people grew up watching them with their parents but didn't become hardcore fans themselves, and now only tune in for the 'big' episodes. But the soaps have become more a lot more niche all round and I actually don't think that has much to do with age - even middle-aged people are either really into them or just not arsed.